Implementation
Early reading is currently supported through 'Letters and Sounds', although this is currently under review as key staff are familiarising themselves with the recently published list of the  DfE validated Systematic Synthetic Phonic schemes for use in schools. Key Staff have recently attended training and observed phonics teaching in the local 'English Hub' school and have recently purchased RWI reading and spelling scheme.  Training and development days for relevant staff are now timetabled for summer term 2022 to ensure they are equipped to deliver the programme.

Once the children have completed the Phonic Scheme,  they develop deeper reading skills through reading texts from a variety of structured reading schemes. The order of the books has been carefully designed to ensure progression in complexity of text ( as measured by sentence and word length and the frequency of unfamiliar words) and also to offer both fiction and non-fiction titles. The children's reading skills are further developed by regularly reading both at home and at school. From Year 1 upwards, the children read books that are recognised by Accelerated Reader. Each class has a well resourced library and children chose their own titles from the up-to-date selection that is regularly updated as new titles are published. The children begin their school day with 30 minutes of quiet reading time. At the end of every half term, certificates are awarded to a selection of children from each class for their varied successes.  The children also take part in 

organising and developing their classroom reading area.

When planning literacy lessons, teachers make links to other areas of the curriculum to ensure that cross curricular links provide further context for learning. Teaching blocks focus on fiction, non-fiction or poetry, in line with the 2014 National Curriculum and comprehension, grammar and writing are embedded in lessons. Lessons sequences themselves build progressively towards an extended piece of writing. Handwriting is also taught within literacy lessons, and outcomes in KS2 are recorded in literacy books to promote a high level of pride and presentation across all written outcomes.

To enrich the literacy curriculum, the school reaches out to invite local authors into school or visit if there is an author in the area. This ensures that children have access to writers from the local and wider community as positive role models.  Children regularly take part in poetry and creative writing competitions and Bridekirk Dovenby School often have winners from local events - both in writing and speaking competitions.

Assessment for Learning is embedded in literacy lessons and children are active in reviewing the successes in their work and identifying, with support from their teacher, target areas for development to ensure a continuous and individualised approach to improving their work.