Teaching children to read and write independently, as quickly as possible, is one of the core purposes of a primary school. These key skills not only hold the keys to the rest of the curriculum but also have a huge impact on children’s self-esteem and future life chances.
Parental Reading Support
Please do come and have a read of our new Reading Support document. It is packed full of resources to further support reading at home. With links to digital books, author discussions apps and much more. Look out for it in you child's class email.
Library Photos
Class Book Corners
We love reading at Shoreditch Park Primary School and linked with our Power of Reading Project we like to make sure that every classroom from Nursery to Year 6 has a well stocked and inviting Book Corner. In our Book Corners you can find everything from newspapers to poetry, non-fiction to fairy tales and picture books to classic popular fiction. In all year groups, we encourage children to be reading at home every night. Sharing a book together with your child is bonding, relaxing and gives you the opportunity to escape into another world with your child. Reading for pleasure will help develop your child’s vocabulary, communication, concentration, empathy and imagination. Whether this is sharing books by reading together (when children are in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 this is crucial) or beginning to read more independently, we advise that all children read for 20 minutes a day.
Class Authors
100 Best Books
Which is your number 1?
How you can help at home
Reading with your child at home (Years 3-6)
How can you help at home and encourage your child to read for pleasure?
In Reception, Year 1 and 2 we encourage parents to practice the phonic sound cards at home with their child. These are available to buy from the school office.
The Ruth Miskin Training website has lots of top tips and videos for parents to help you support your child at home with reading. Take a look at these for some simple, fun and brilliantly effective ideas.
Most importantly of all, in all year groups, we encourage children to be reading at home every night. Sharing a book together with your child is bonding, relaxing and gives you the opportunity to escape into another world with your child. Reading for pleasure will help develop your child’s vocabulary, communication, concentration, empathy and imagination. Whether this is sharing books by reading together (when children are in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 this is crucial) or beginning to read more independently, we advise that all children read for 20 minutes a day.
Top tips for sharing books with your child
Five ways you can help your child enjoy stories and rhymes
- Take time to look together at the words and pictures in a story
- Use your hands and face as well as your voice – your child will love to see you smiling
- Use animal sounds like woof, growl and hoot – this will really help to bring the story to life
- Stories and rhymes can be shared with the whole family so why not invite siblings or other family members to join in?
- Don’t be shy, relax and enjoy – if you are having fun so will your child.
Why not try these top tips?
- Sit close together when sharing a book and encourage your child to hold the book themselves and/or turn the pages
- Don’t be afraid to use funny voices – it’s a great way to make your child giggle. And don’t be afraid to sing either – they won’t care whether or not you sing in tune or know the words!
- When you talk to your child about what’s going on in a book, give them plenty of time to respond. Try to ask questions that don’t require just yes or no answers. For example, ask them what they think will happen next ask or about how a character might be feeling
- Sharing books isn’t just about the words - point to the pictures and relate them to something your child knows
- Using a puppet to act out a story can help your child to understand what's going on and learn how to pretend play. Why not pick a character from your book and use the puppet to show what they are doing? Watch the video below for more guidance.
- And lastly – make it fun! It doesn’t matter how you read with a child, as long as you both enjoy the time together!
Take a look at the Book Trust website for more ideas for sharing stories, interactive books and interesting videos
Look out for our Reading Workshops for parents and carers, where you can find out more details of how to help at home.
If you need further advice or help with how best to help, please do ask your child’s class teacher who will be really happy to meet with you.
Reading Highlights
There aren't any highlights for this school year just yet, but you can still take a look at our best bits from past years.
