Our Bespoke Reading Curriculum

Whole Class Guided Reading Intent

At Crow Orchard Primary School, we believe that reading has the power to transform lives. It opens doors to new worlds, develops curiosity, builds knowledge and enables children to thrive both academically and personally. Through our whole-class guided reading approach from Year 2 to Year 6, we aim to develop confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers who leave our school with a genuine love of reading that lasts a lifetime.

Our vision is rooted in our school values of Love, Growth and Strength.

Love is nurtured through carefully chosen, high-quality texts that captivate, inspire and encourage children to read for pleasure. We create classrooms where stories are celebrated, books are treasured and every child is encouraged to develop their own reading identity.

Growth is achieved through an ambitious, carefully sequenced reading curriculum that exposes pupils to a rich and diverse reading spine. Children encounter classic and contemporary fiction, poetry and high-quality non-fiction, alongside texts that reflect a wide range of cultures, experiences, perspectives and voices. These texts broaden children's understanding of the world, enrich their cultural capital and deepen their knowledge across the wider curriculum.

Strength is developed by equipping pupils with the skills, resilience and confidence to tackle increasingly complex texts. Through explicit teaching, expert modelling and purposeful discussion, children become thoughtful readers who question, infer, predict, summarise, evaluate and justify their ideas using evidence from the text. We foster readers who are resilient, independent and prepared for the next stage of their education.

Our whole-class guided reading lessons ensure that every child has access to ambitious literature regardless of their starting point. High expectations for all are combined with skilful adaptive teaching so that every pupil is supported to achieve success while being challenged to think deeply. This inclusive approach enables all learners to participate in rich literary discussions and experience the same high-quality texts together.

Vocabulary development lies at the heart of our reading curriculum. We explicitly teach ambitious vocabulary, explore the richness and precision of language and revisit new words in meaningful contexts. Through regular discussion, partner talk and opportunities to articulate their thinking, pupils develop the breadth of vocabulary needed to become successful readers, writers and communicators across the curriculum.

Oracy is woven throughout every guided reading lesson. Children are encouraged to listen carefully, respectfully challenge ideas, explain their thinking and build upon the contributions of others. These meaningful discussions deepen comprehension, strengthen critical thinking and develop the confidence to communicate effectively.

Our carefully planned reading spine also supports pupils to become knowledgeable, informed and empathetic citizens. By encountering diverse characters, settings, histories and viewpoints, children develop understanding, compassion and respect for others whilst making meaningful connections between reading and the wider curriculum.

Above all, we want every child to experience the joy of reading. We want books to spark imagination, fuel curiosity and inspire lifelong learning. By the time pupils leave Crow Orchard Primary School, they will not simply be able to read—they will choose to read. They will possess the fluency, knowledge, vocabulary and confidence to access the wider curriculum, embrace new opportunities and stand strong as lifelong learners.

At Crow Orchard Primary School, we learn with love, grow with purpose and stand strong through every challenge—and reading is at the very heart of that journey.