Reading for Pleasure
The school leadership team prioritises reading and it is widely promoted across school.
Running alongside our taught curriculum for reading, Swallownest Primary School places great emphasis on developing a love for reading.
Each class have a carefully selected collection of core texts which the children are encouraged to read throughout the year, either independently or collaboratively. These core texts have been selected to provide the children with a wide range of texts and themes. Specific attention was given to the work by Professor Rudine Sims Bishop, who published an article called “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors”. The article shared the importance of all children seeing themselves reflected in what they read.
The core texts used at Swallownest offer our readers:
windows into the lives of all children
mirrors for their own lives.
All children see themselves in stories. All children are seen. Stories help children become empathetic and reflective. Themes on our list include: family and friendship; exploring feelings; kindness and community; our planet; change and bereavement; moving home or country; the power of speaking up.
These core texts, and other selected 'class readers' are read to the children by teachers. This gives teachers the opportunity to model specific reading skills and also foster an excitement for these stories.
Swallownest Primary School participates in and organises events that allow our children to celebrate their love of reading.
From World Book Day celebrations to book fairs to our very own Reading Cafes, Reading for Pleasure is woven through everything that we do at Swallownest Primary.
