Developing a love of reading and a rich and deep understanding of language and vocabulary is a key factor in our learning, development and future success.

Brooklands offers an extensive library packed with exciting, high quality texts that are constantly being updated and developed to engage and stimulate our children’s love of reading, imagination and reading adventures. Children at Brooklands are continually encouraged to share our love of books and as a school we promote a positive reading culture and celebrate the magic of learning through books. Our school has a daily time-tabled reading session where everybody, even the teachers, spend time enjoying books and developing their comprehension skills.

At the heart of our curriculum is a rich and diverse literature spine, which helps to frame learning from across the curriculum. Pupils will read and share a wide range of ambitious texts throughout the day, including songs and poems, that are designed to promote a love of reading, build pupils’ vocabulary and encourage discussion and deep thinking about key moral, ethical, social or cultural issues.

Teachers bring reading to life and help our children to discover their inner reading voice through modelling in class how to bring reading alive.

At Brooklands we use Read Write Inc (RWI) to help our children learn to read in Early Years and Year 1 and as children move into Year 2 they are introduced to whole-class reading sessions. In these sessions, the children focus on specific elements of their reading.  (Watch the RWI Sound Pronunciation Guide here.)

Children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 use Accelerated Reader for independent reading practice.

Similar to our “50 things to do” challenge Brooklands also has a unique challenge for our children called “70 Books to Read Before You Leave Brooklands”. Our children love to complete this challenge and celebrate their love of reading in many ways including exciting events such as Spelling Bees and visits from authors.

Brooklands is very fortunate to have links with local and visiting authors such as Nic Butterworth (creator of Percy the Park Keeper) and Sophie Green (author of Potkin and Stubbs) who visit the school and share their stories and help to bring the world of books alive.

Children also take part in exciting events such as reviewing shortlisted books for the Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Awards.