Literacy

Disciplinary literacy recognises that literacy skills are both general and subject specific; it asks students to think critically and consider the academic context of their communication, supporting them to read, write and speak like the experts: scientists, historians, mathematicians etc.

Teachers are accountable for supporting the literacy of students by:

• Explicitly teaching of reading skills such as chunking and skimming/scanning, modelling annotation, using guided questions to aid comprehension, and supporting students to evaluate and summarise information effectively

• Using high-quality academic texts to aid reading proficiency, as models for academic writing and to help students understand the conventions, style and tone of a range of texts

• Supporting students’ understanding of academic texts by explicitly teaching and modelling subject specific reading, writing and oracy skills (e.g. Use of the passive third-person to write about experiments in science, use of balanced debate and summary of key ideas in history)

• Using reciprocal reading approaches to support students’ independent reading skills (examples and models below)

• Explicitly teaching T2 and T3 vocabulary and spelling, which should be embedded through the use of knowledge organisers, re-call tasks and homework, as well as weekly WOW which should be encouraged and promoted in lessons and explored in tutor

• Using the literacy marking and feedback policy across all subject areas to ensure a consistent approach to feedback, correction and improvement

• Using reading age data to inform planning and to ensure reading material is effectively differentiated or adapted so that it is suitable for the students’ reading ages

• Supporting extended writing and addressing common misconceptions using subject-specific literacy mats, when appropriate

• In English lessons, ‘class book clubs’ will be used to promote reading for pleasure and discussion about reading

• Form Tutors will be responsible for the promotion and management of the form ‘Padlet’ where students post about what they are reading and make recommendations to each other, and facilitating other disciplinary reading and speaking activities

• World Book Day and other annual/school specific events will be used to raise the profile of reading. Teachers are responsible for the promotion of these events and to support where appropriate.

• Teachers should actively model reading for pleasure and to speak positively about what they’re reading to students

• Students will complete reading logs to help them celebrate what they are reading and to allow teachers to support independent reading. These will be overseen by English teachers and Form Tutors

• School writing challenges and competitions will be used to encourage writing for pleasure; teachers are responsible for promoting and talking positively about these to students.

• Whole-school debating topics/challenges in form time and extracurricular events will be used to encourage speaking for pleasure; teachers are responsible for promoting and talking positively about these to students, as well as participating where appropriate

• All students will sit the NGRT reading test and the calculated reading age will be added to Bromcom to ensure all teachers and TAs have access to relevant data

• Students with the lowest reading ages will have KS2 reading and, where appropriate, phonics intervention through their English lessons, literacy lessons and form time

• All teachers will explicitly pre-teach T2 and T3 vocabulary, checking these students’ understanding first and providing additional support where needed

• Some students identified may be offered 1:1 reading intervention with teachers and TAs to help build confidence and identify/tackle barriers to reading

• Some students identified may benefit from a specially adapted Year 7 English curriculum to embed KS2 knowledge and skills. This will be actioned only with the support of the Executive Headteacher.

• For phonics intervention, teachers or TAs will use activities and guidance from the Sounds Write programme of study

A great selection of realistic tips to support parents with encouraging reading : How to support your child's reading at home - BBC Bitesize 

Tips for reading with your child | BookTrust

10 top tips for parents to support children to read - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)