At Stanley Grove Academy, we believe that reading is at the heart of learning and should be a source of joy, curiosity, and inspiration. We are passionate about creating a strong reading culture where every child is encouraged to read widely, often, and for pleasure—both in school and beyond.

Read Write Inc at Stanley Grove Academy

At Stanley Grove Academy, we believe that learning to read is one of the most important journeys a child will take, and it starts the moment they enter our school. To give every child the best start, we follow a consistent and highly effective phonics programme: Read Write Inc. This programme allows our children to develop the essential skills needed to read, write and spell with confidence. Our pupils make strong progress and achieve excellent results in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check.

We teach Read Write Inc. with enthusiasm and consistency across the school. Every member of staff is committed to delivering high-quality phonics teaching that builds both skills and a love of reading.

Whole Class Reading Lessons

After children have successfully completed the Read Write Inc. programme, they move on to whole class reading sessions. At Stanley Grove Academy, these sessions are designed to develop fluent reading, strong comprehension, and deeper understanding.

We recognise that strong reading comprehension is built on both linguistic knowledge and background knowledge of the world. That’s why we prioritise spoken language, reading aloud, and structured discussion around a wide variety of texts. This approach helps children develop a rich vocabulary and deeper understanding.

Reading for Pleasure

At Stanley Grove Academy, we are committed to developing a lifelong love of reading. We encourage children to read widely, regularly and for enjoyment. Each classroom has a dedicated Reading Area, offering a rich selection of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for independent reading.

Reading is woven into everyday school life. Teachers act as reading role models—sharing favourite books, reading aloud, and recommending texts. Weekly ‘Book Talk’ sessions help children discuss and reflect on what they’ve read.

Our Reading Leaders promote reading during playtimes by bringing book bags outdoors, and children can also enjoy stories in our well-stocked outdoor reading shed. We celebrate reading through events like World Book Day, National Poetry Day, author visits, and themed reading challenges, which create excitement and motivation.

We also build regular DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) sessions into our timetable, giving pupils uninterrupted time to enjoy reading for its own sake. Across the school, reading is celebrated, shared, and embedded as a joyful part of daily life.