Reading checklist:
Do our students display positive attitudes towards reading?

Our students have a high level of interest in reading.

Our students have a positive attitude towards reading a variety of texts
(including digital) in each subject.

Our students are motivated to use their reading skills for learning.
How well are all our students achieving in reading?

All students (including those at risk of underachieving and those of exceptional
ability) are making very good progress from their prior levels of achievement.
Are our students good readers?
Fluency
 Our students can read fluently with understanding in all subjects.
Vocabulary
 Our students can read and understand a growing bank of vocabulary including
subject specific and cross curricular vocabulary.

Our students make use of independent word learning strategies to work out the
meanings of unknown words.
Comprehension
 Our students actively use comprehension strategies (before, during and after)
to access what they read in all subjects.

Our students demonstrate an understanding and critical appreciation of all texts
(including digital media) in all subjects.
How well does our school support students’ reading?
At whole school level:

The school has high expectation with regard to students’ achievement in
reading.

The whole school building incorporates a literacy rich environment which
provides interesting opportunities for reading.
At subject department level:

Subject specific and individual teacher plans reflect the school’s strategy and
action plans for improving students’ reading skills.

Subject departments maintain a range of relevant hard-copy and digital reading
materials which stimulate students and broaden their content knowledge.

All subject departments identify the reading skills relevant in their own subject
areas.
At individual teacher level:

Students’ prior knowledge is accessed in advance of new reading material.

Clear and relevant purposes for reading activities are set in all subjects.

Teaching approaches support students in engaging with the reading demands of
the subject.

Agreed strategies to support the development of students’ reading skills are
undertaken by subject departments on a consistent and appropriate basis.
Examples include:

Direct, explicit teaching of comprehension strategies

Explicit teaching of vocabulary

Repeated exposures to new vocabulary

Collaborative reading strategies

Guided reading

Teachers’ modelling of reading
 When asking questions related to students’ reading tasks, teachers include lower
and higher order questions.
 Teachers regularly use links to students’ out of school reading activities to
support student engagement with reading in their subject.
 Students are provided with opportunities and/ or directions to use digital
resources as part of their reading activities.