Reading

Our aim at the Mill is to have every child develop a love of reading.

Beyond The Basics

In addition to our Read Write Inc programme of phonics which helps children learn the mechanics of how to read, we have a broad reading offer.

Class books

Teachers read class books to the children. We have designed our progression in books thinking about female, male authors, those from other cultures and given a mix of classic, older and newer authors.

Books home

Our younger children take home a book where they know the sounds of the letters; a book they have practised in class and one for them to share with an adult at home. our older children take home books in their reading zone.

Encouraging reading

We have a fantastic library that children love and use on a frequent basis. We make sure we never run out fo books that children can and want to read. All children will read during the school day and be read to.

Teaching reading

We run a whole class reading session which rotates on a programme focusing on questions on the text, exploring characters, contexts and wider concepts through a shared understanding.

Parents’ engagement

Our first Parents’ Evening concentrates on reading. We explain and encourage our approach and your own child’s reading age. We will take you through the data we collect on reading. This is their key to future educational success.

Vocabulary

A note about expanding vocabulary. We use key words in all our curriculum and have developed our own child friendly definitions which we test the children on. This, in itself, will not expand vocabulary to the depth we would like but we feel it is an important first step and models the love and use of language that we want your children to develop.

Curriculum
Our curriculum is bespoke to us and is driven by the fact that we want children to leave the Mill secure in their own identity; familiar with their own community and sense of family; skilled in making connections with friends and the wider world.
Pupil Premium
The pupil premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities. We continuously reflect on the best practice there is available in order to have the greatest impact.
Newsletters
Our regular newsletters are one of many ways that we celebrate their amazing successes, hard work and adventures. We always love to share how 'Forever Proud' we are of the children in The Mill community.