READING

For reading, we use the Oxford Reading Tree books and the Book Banding System.

The books are phonically decodable and are used in line with the Anima Phonics Programme, which is used to teach phonics. 

Books in our scheme are grouped into colours from lilac through to lime. The scheme has been produced in consultation with publishers. Educational publishers consider a number of factors when determining the ‘level’ of a book including phonic knowledge, vocabulary, sentence length, number of words on a page and use of illustrations. The lilac, pink, red, yellow, blue, green and orange are phonically decodable books (fiction and non-fiction). The turquoise, purple, gold and lime (fiction and non-fiction) are not phonically decodable. They are for more confident readers who are secure with their phonics. 

In Key Stage Two,  we have a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books in each classroom. The fiction books are banded. The colours are purple - Band 2, red - band 3, blue - band 4, yellow, band 5, green - band 6 and orange - Band 6+. The band numbers roughly equates to the year groups. Children who are not secure with their phonics have access to the ORT Scheme books.