Whole Child Curriculum
Reading at Goldwyn
At Goldwyn School, we believe that reading is fundamental to success. It supports pupils to access the curriculum, develop confidence and independence, build vocabulary and understanding, and make sense of the world around them. Our aim is for every pupil to develop as a confident, capable reader, equipped to succeed in school and beyond.
Our approach is inclusive, ambitious and personalised. We use regular assessment to understand each pupil’s reading strengths and areas for development, ensuring that support is matched to individual need. Our Goldwyn Reading Strategy, based on the principles of Scarborough’s Reading Rope (see below), develops both the skills needed to recognise and decode words and the language and knowledge needed to understand what is being read.
Reading is not taught only in English lessons. Every teacher at Goldwyn is a teacher of reading. Across the curriculum, pupils encounter subject-specific vocabulary, academic texts and opportunities to discuss, question, clarify and summarise what they read. Our universal reading offer includes Bedrock Learning, which develops vocabulary, language comprehension and understanding, alongside classroom approaches such as reciprocal reading, pre-teaching vocabulary and Click Reading.
For pupils who require additional support, we provide targeted interventions including Lexia and Little Wandle. These programmes provide structured and personalised support in phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, helping pupils develop the foundational skills they need to become increasingly confident and independent readers.
We also recognise that reading should be enjoyable and meaningful. Pupils have opportunities to read books, magazines and other materials linked to their personal interests, alongside group reading, discussion, debate and daily news activities. These experiences develop comprehension, critical thinking, communication and a genuine enjoyment of reading.
Our commitment to reading reflects our REACH values. Through reading, pupils develop Resilience as they tackle challenging texts, Empathy as they encounter different experiences and perspectives, and Aiming High as they develop the literacy skills needed for their future. We build Commitment through regular practice and Heart by creating a culture in which every pupil is supported to discover the value and enjoyment of reading.
At Goldwyn, reading opens doors — to learning, communication, independence, imagination and life beyond school.
