Reading Schemes We Use In The EYFS and Key Stage One
At Mark Cross, we use a range of reading schemes that link in with our approach to phonics. Children in EYFS and Key Stage One are taught daily, systematic, synthetic phonics which follow the DfES scheme; “Letters and Sounds”.
Our home/school reading books are colour banded according to their level of difficulty, using a book band system used widely in schools. Within each band, the children experience real breadth to support their confidence as a reader as well as to give an appropriate level of challenge. Within our scheme, children will also have the opportunity to read “real” books which we hope will help them to develop a love for reading.
The colour bands are: Lilac, pink, red, yellow, blue, green, orange, turquoise, purple, gold, white and lime. Within the colour bands we can level more accurately with specific numbers. e.g. Pink 1-2, red 3-5, yellow 6-8, blue 9-11etc. Once the children have achieved Lime Level they wil become a Free Reader. (This allows them to read from a selsction of unlevelled books).
In Reception and Key Stage 1 the children learn to read primarily using Nelson PM books. This is a finely levelled reading scheme ensuring the children are on the exact number level. As the children move up through the levels and the school they will move from the number banding to the broader colour bands.
Children are assessed regularly (using a rigorous assessement tool) throughout the year to ensure they are on the approprite level and that they are making good progress in their reading as they move up through the school. It is important to be secure on a level rather than race through the bands. To move up a level it is not jut the ability to rad but to be able to comprehend what they are reading and the ability to read fluently and with expression.
The reading schemes we use include the following;
PM Books (Nelson)
Songbirds (OUP)
Floppy’s Phonics (OUP)
Oxford reading Tree (OUP)
Big Cat Phonics (Collins)
Jelly + Bean (Jelly + Bean Ltd)
Rigby Star Readers (Heinemann)
Literacy Links (Shortland Publications)
Rhyme World (Heinemann)