Reading
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
— Dr. Seuss
Reading: Our Greatest Strength
We are immensely proud of our vibrant, inclusive reading culture where every child develops into a confident, enthusiastic and independent reader who genuinely loves books.
Reading unlocks learning across our entire curriculum, broadens horizons and nurtures a lifelong love of literature. Through our carefully designed reading curriculum and the rich experiences we provide, we:
- Inspire a genuine passion for reading by immersing children in high-quality, diverse texts from outstanding authors across all genres – ensuring every child sees themselves reflected in the books they read and discovers new worlds through stories
- Ensure every child succeeds regardless of their background or starting point, achieving fluency and comprehension that enables them to access the full curriculum and thrive academically
- Develop skilled, strategic readers who can understand, interpret, analyse and truly enjoy what they read, building the critical thinking skills they need for future success
- Celebrate reading for pleasure both in school and at home, creating a community where books and stories are valued, shared and celebrated daily
- Build a whole-school reading community where children, staff, families and the wider community come together to share their love of reading
Building Strong Foundations from the Start
Children start to learn to read with Little Wandle Phonics as soon as they start school. This systematic synthetic phonics programme provides a structured and consistent approach that ensures every child develops the essential skills they need to become confident readers.
Our commitment to excellence in early reading is reflected in our Phonics Screening Check results, which are exceptionally high – always above 90%. This outstanding achievement demonstrates that our children are developing strong foundational reading skills that will support them throughout their education and beyond.
Our Reading Culture in Action
Weekly Celebrations
Every week in assembly, we celebrate our dedicated readers, recognising their commitment and achievements. This regular recognition reinforces that reading matters at Southill and motivates all our children to develop their reading habits.
The Rebel Reading Society
We are proud to collaborate with The Rebel Reading Society to excite and motivate our readers. Our Rebel Readers meet every week, creating a community of enthusiastic readers who inspire others and drive our reading culture forward.
Our Library
All classes visit our beautiful library every week, ensuring that reading is prioritised across the school. We invest heavily in the latest titles, ensuring our children have access to contemporary, engaging books that reflect their interests and the world around them.
Book Week
Our jam-packed Book Week is a highlight of the school year, featuring a myriad of events that bring stories to life and celebrate reading in all its forms. From author visits to creative activities, every child experiences the joy and excitement that books can bring.
National Reading Championships
We compete in the National Reading Championships every year, challenging our pupils and celebrating their reading achievements on a national stage. This demonstrates our commitment to excellence and gives our children the opportunity to showcase their reading skills.
The National Year of Reading 2026
We're excited about a big new adventure for The National Year of Reading in 2026 – we're going all in! This commitment demonstrates our ambition to take our already impressive reading culture to even greater heights.