Reading

Our aim is for all pupils – irrespective of their needs, abilities or background – to learn to read fluently and with understanding. We want to develop confident, independent readers who enjoy and understand the benefits that reading brings.

Our approaches are in line with current research. Early reading is taught through the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, with pupils learning to link letter sounds to written text through a detailed sequence of steps. In KS2, daily reading lessons are based around themed reading units. These ensure that pupils are immersed in a wide range of texts and overlying foci (e.g. the wider curriculum, equality, diversity) in order to develop vocabulary and word-recognition skills, and to build a wide-ranging knowledge base to support comprehension.

Reading for Pleasure and Our Library

At Wavertree CE School, we believe that reading for pleasure is the key to unlocking a lifelong love of learning and imagination. Our wonderful, vibrant library serves as the heart of this mission—a cosy, beautiful sanctuary filled with an inspiring collection of books where children can curl up, explore new worlds, and discover authors who ignite their curiosity. Whether they are diving into an adventurous story or sharing a picture book with a friend, our library provides a magical space that fosters a deep, lasting joy of reading.

Writing

We believe that every child deserves the tools to become a fluent, confident and motivated writer. Grounded in the principles of the DfE Writing Framework, our curriculum design recognises that transcription fluency is an absolute prerequisite for high-quality composition.

When children struggle with the mechanics of sentence construction, their working memory becomes overloaded, leaving little room for composition and creative thought. By systematically honing foundational skills in handwriting, spelling, punctuation and clause structure, we free up cognitive capacity for text generation—allowing ideas, words, and sentences to flow—and empower children to engage confidently in higher-level planning, drafting, and reviewing.