Reading at Merley First School

At Merley First School, we cultivate a vibrant culture where a love for reading is at the heart of everything we do. 

Our early reading journey begins with a strong foundation in phonics through the Unlocking Letters and Sounds programme, ensuring every child gains the essential decoding skills needed for fluent reading. From Year two, children will begin to use Black Belt Reader both in school and at home.

To support their individual growth and support imagination, children bring home both a stage-appropriate book tailored to their developing phonic knowledge or reading level and a self-chosen library book to share for pure enjoyment. In the lower school, rich whole-class reading sessions and targeted guided reading foster deep comprehension and critical thinking. Higher up the school, children take part in whole class reading to further develop their fluency, prosody and oracy skills. 

Throughout our curriculum, rich oral language and oracy flow continuously, empowering pupils to speak with confidence and listen attentively. By encouraging children to "read as writers," we guide them to analyse texts thoughtfully, inspiring their own creative writing and embedding a lifelong passion for literature.