Kew Green Prep on reading for joy

Kathryn Loh, Head of Year 1 and 2 at Kew Green Prep, on the impact of its approach that develops both reading skills and joy in books

A common question and focus from parents at the start of their child’s educational journey, from Early Years into Lower School is ‘when will my child learn to read’.  

At Kew Green, the answer to that question embodies more than simply teaching the skill to read words or applying the necessary phonetic and grammatical skills. It remains our mission to instil and nurture a love and passion for reading, hooking the young minds that enter our classrooms so that they eagerly engage with storybooks. This sparks the ability to imagine and explore new worlds and characters, to learn new facts, share knowledge and discover more.

The first three years of school, from Reception through to Year 2, mark a critical period when children develop the foundational skills in reading. This not only enhances their academic progress but also enriches the development of their mind, their personal development and their understanding of the wider world.

“The impact of an adult reading aloud to a child or group of children should never be underestimated”

Encouraging our young learners to find joy in reading requires a multifaceted approach. This includes exposure to a wide variety of books, an engaging phonics programme, and a positive reading routine both at school and home – with effective partnership in place to motivate and encourage our children at every turn of the page.

Most recently at Kew Green we have found success in pivoting to a new phonics programme which leads with a dynamic, fun and in-depth approach. It finds the joy in phonics. The impact of this is that, through carefully crafted lessons which boost engagement, all our pupils are propelling through the early stages of our reading scheme.

For example, by the end of Spring Term last academic year, 84% of our Year 1 pupils were already working within the reading expectations for Year 2 and 33% were assessed as having a reading age of a child over seven years. Looking beyond the outcomes and data, the phonics programme has unlocked their ability to decode and understand sentences and stories, sparking joy, passion and enthusiasm for reading and writing.

Curating an environment that champions the importance of reading and provides opportunities to read is paramount. A library of diverse books that cover a wide range of subjects and genres is essential for maintaining the interest of curious minds. In our classrooms, we encourage children to choose books from our library, to fill our book corners with their choice of texts. Giving children a choice further engages them in the opportunity to read.

Each class also embraces a ‘whole-class reader’ – a book read aloud by the class teacher every day.  The impact of an adult reading aloud to a child or group of children should never be underestimated – from Early Years right through to Year 6 (and even beyond). A ‘whole-class reader’ gives children exposure to chapter books, also introducing more complex sentence structures, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and literary techniques.

Kew Green Prep School kgps.co.uk

Further reading: RMS for Girls on ensuring a smooth transition from nursery to school