At William Austin Infant School we care passionately about encouraging children to become lifelong readers. Children read daily and are read to daily during dedicated Storytime. Through our English Curriculum and the daily Phonics lessons children are equipped with the skills to read, and through our reading culture, which is woven through everything we do, children are given the will to read.

Our Reading Spine

Our reading spine includes classic stories that have been enjoyed by children for many years, new contemporary stories reflecting the best our modern authors have written and non-fiction books. It also includes stories linked to our Value of the Month and the poems that children learn and recite each half term.  The books on our spine have been picked for enjoyment as a priority but also to improve children’s emotional literacy and mental well-being. Some books allow children to encounter characters and themes that are different to those in their lives whilst other books will allow children to see themselves in the stories or contain themes that they can relate to.

It is important to us that children have access to all different types of texts, (non-fiction, magazines, story books; picture books, novels, book series, graphic novels and poetry books) so that children have an opportunity to pursue their own reading interests. Each class has a reading corner which they have access to and children visit the library weekly where Mrs Browne the school librarian is on hand to help support and suggest text when children are selecting their newest book.

Book Club

Every half term Mrs Browne runs a Book Club. Children enjoy focusing on a book each week written by the ‘Author of the Month’. Children listen to the story, discuss it, share opinions and create some art linked to the story of the week.