Reading
Growing Lifelong Readers
At Moston Fields, we are passionate about developing avid, skilled readers who love books. Reading opens doors to learning, imagination and opportunity – it's at the heart of everything we do.
Our approach combines high-quality teaching, a love of stories, and strong partnerships with families to ensure every child becomes a confident, enthusiastic reader.
Early Reading and Phonics
We use the Read Write Inc (RWI) Phonics Programme to ensure pupils develop the skills and knowledge needed to become confident readers. Phonics Guidance This systematic approach helps children to:
Decode words quickly and effortlessly
Read with fluency and expression
Understand and discuss what they've read
Develop spelling and writing skills
RWI is delivered to pupils in EYFS to Year 2, with targeted support continuing in Years 3-4 for those who need to catch up rapidly. In Reception, children learn sounds through simple rhymes and daily practice. In Key Stage 1, children work in carefully matched groups, reading books linked to their phonic ability and developing comprehension skills.
For pupils in Years 5 and 6 who need additional support, we use the Read Write Inc Fresh Start programme – a more age-appropriate approach that builds reading and comprehension skills.
Developing Comprehension Skills
In Key Stage 2, we teach reading through a whole class model using the Complete Comprehension Scheme, ensuring that text choices and teaching strategies are pitched accurately to develop comprehension and inference skills at the right level for each class. Children learn to:
Retrieve information from texts
Make inferences and predictions
Understand vocabulary in context
Summarise what they've read
Read fluently and with expression
Fostering a Love of Reading
Reading for pleasure is woven throughout school life at Moston Fields:
Story time opportunities – Teachers share high-quality texts daily, bringing stories to life and inspiring curiosity
Assemblies – We celebrate reading achievements and introduce children to new authors and books
Our school library – A dedicated, welcoming space where all pupils can explore books, discover new favourites and develop their reading interests
Book recommendations – Staff share their love of reading, helping children find books that excite them
Reading at Home – Your Support Matters
We know that reading at home makes a huge difference. Even just 5-10 minutes of reading together each day helps your child:
Build confidence and fluency
Develop vocabulary and understanding
Strengthen their love of stories
Make faster progress
Children bring home phonetically decodable books matched to their reading level. We ask families to read with their child at least 3 times per week and sign their reading diary to help us track their progress.
How You Can Help
Make it enjoyable – Find a cosy spot and make reading time special
Talk about the book – Ask questions about characters, events and predictions
Revisit favourites – Re-reading builds confidence and fluency
Visit your local library – We actively encourage families to explore Manchester's local libraries together, discovering new books and making reading part of family life.
We provide workshops, information sessions, newsletters and online resources to support you in helping your child with phonics and reading at home.
Our Commitment to Every Reader
Read Write Inc is designed to be inclusive for all pupils. Some children receive teaching in smaller groups or one-to-one sessions tailored to their individual needs, with daily tutoring for those who need extra support. We assess all pupils at least half-termly, ensuring children receive targeted teaching quickly according to their needs and progress at the right pace.