Celebrating the National Year of Reading
At our school, we are proud to be celebrating the National Year of Reading, a national initiative that shines a spotlight on the importance of reading for enjoyment and lifelong learning. We place reading at the heart of our curriculum and school life, encouraging every child to discover the joy, imagination and confidence that books can bring.
We believe that reading is one of the most powerful tools a child can have. It opens doors to new worlds, builds vocabulary, strengthens understanding, and nurtures curiosity about people, places and ideas. Most importantly, reading for pleasure helps children develop a lifelong love of learning.
Across the school, we are working hard to foster this passion in a variety of ways. From story times that bring texts to life, to class novels that spark discussion and excitement, to dedicated reading corners and author-inspired activities, children are immersed in rich and engaging reading experiences every day. We also encourage regular opportunities for independent reading, giving pupils time to explore books that match their interests and reading journeys.
Equally important is the role of families in supporting reading at home. We know that sharing books, stories and conversations about reading has a lasting impact. Whether it is reading aloud together, discussing favourite characters, or simply enjoying quiet reading time, these moments help to build confidence and a genuine love of books.
Through our celebration of the National Year of Reading, we aim to inspire every child to see themselves as a reader—someone who reads not just for learning, but for pleasure, curiosity and joy.
Buddy Reading (Every Friday Afternoon)
Every Friday afternoon, we take part in our whole-school Buddy Reading sessions, where children are paired with a different class to enjoy reading together. This special time allows pupils to build relationships across year groups while sharing their love of stories, poems and non-fiction texts. Older children develop confidence and responsibility as reading role models, while younger pupils gain inspiration and enjoyment from listening to and discussing books with their buddies. It is a much-anticipated weekly highlight that strengthens our reading community.
Community Take and Swap Library (Every Tuesday)
Every Tuesday, we host a community Take and Swap Library outside the school gates, where children and families can browse a selection of books and take one home completely free of charge. This simple but powerful initiative encourages reading at home and supports families in accessing a variety of texts. It also promotes a sense of community sharing, as children are encouraged to return and exchange books, helping reading to remain a visible and valued part of everyday life.
Book Boxes in the Playground
To encourage reading at every opportunity, we have introduced book boxes in the playground, providing easy access to a wide range of engaging texts during break times. Children can browse and choose books to enjoy independently or with friends, helping to make reading a natural and enjoyable part of playtime. These accessible and inviting resources promote curiosity, relaxation and a shared enjoyment of reading in an informal setting.
The Children’s Book Project & Our Library Book Hut
We are proud to continue our partnership with the Children’s Book Project, which enables us to provide every child with free books each term to enjoy at home. Alongside this, our exciting “book hut” in the library offers a welcoming and imaginative space where children can explore and select books that spark their interest. These initiatives ensure that every child has access to high-quality reading material, helping to remove barriers and nurture a love of reading beyond the classroom.
Teachers Sharing Stories Across Year Groups
As part of our commitment to inspiring a love of reading, at different points throughout the year, teachers move across year groups to share stories with different classes. This means children experience a variety of voices, styles and reading experiences beyond their usual classroom teacher. Hearing stories read aloud by different adults helps to bring texts to life in new ways and exposes pupils to a wider range of books, authors and storytelling approaches, deepening their enthusiasm for reading.
World Book Week Celebrations (Every March)
Each March we celebrate World Book Week with a range of exciting activities that bring reading to life across the school. Children take part in our Book Character Parade, proudly dressing up as their favourite characters and sharing their love of stories.
Our popular “Masked Reader” challenge adds fun and mystery as children guess which staff member is reading behind the mask. We also hold book swap sessions for different key stages, welcoming families into school to share and exchange books together.
Alongside this, we continue our buddy reading sessions and teachers reading in different year groups, helping children experience a wide range of stories and reading voices. Classrooms are transformed with themed, dressed-up book corners that inspire curiosity and a love of reading.
