Our Reading Curriculum

At Oak Hill CE Primary, we use images of an oak tree's roots, trunk and leaves to symbolise different parts of our identity and our sense of belonging. As a school community, we work to link their symbolism to our Vision in a variety of ways. In reading this means:

Learn – The roots of our oak tree symbolise the foundation of learning, just as reading begins with strong roots in phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. Through high-quality teaching and programmes such as Little Wandle, children develop the fundamental skills needed to decode words, understand meaning, and enjoy the written word. These roots nurture a love of reading and give pupils the confidence to explore language, make connections, and engage with a wide range of texts that broaden their understanding of the world around them.

Grow – The trunk of the oak tree represents growth, reflecting how reading skills and understanding deepen over time. Using what they have learned, alongside our school values, children grow as fluent, expressive, and thoughtful readers. They begin to analyse texts critically, discuss themes and characters with increasing confidence, and draw upon a growing vocabulary to articulate their ideas. Through exposure to diverse authors, genres, and cultures, pupils develop empathy, curiosity, and resilience—learning to see reading as a gateway to imagination, knowledge, and reflection.

Flourish – The canopy of the oak tree represents flourishing, where learning and growth come together to create a lifelong love of reading. Children flourish when they read for both purpose and pleasure, engaging independently with a wide range of literature that challenges and inspires them. Through reading, they encounter new perspectives, deepen their understanding of themselves and others, and develop the confidence to communicate their thoughts and opinions. A rich “canopy” of reading experiences—guided reading, book clubs, author visits, oracy activities, and links with the wider community—enables pupils to learn, grow, and flourish, living life in all its fullness.

Honouring our faith, values and actions in these ways is at the heart of our commitment to achieving our vision for every child, so that their education & experiences at Oak Hill mean they leave us after Year Six ready & excited to embrace their futures 

Our vision for every child is a responsibility our whole school community is dedicated to, preparing our children so that they may enjoy life in all it's fullness and the many opportunities & experiences which await them beyond their time at our small, rural village school. 
 

We are committed to ensuring that all of our Oak Hill pupils will be...

• Fluent and expressive, reading with accuracy, confidence, and prosody across a range of texts.

• Curious and reflective, showing enthusiasm for exploring new genres, authors, and ideas.

• Comprehending and analytical, able to infer meaning, discuss themes, and evaluate an author’s choices.

• Confident communicators, able to discuss texts thoughtfully and express opinions about what they have read, using evidence to support their views.

• Connected and empathetic, finding links between what they read and their own lives, experiences, and the wider world.

• Resilient and independent, tackling challenging texts with perseverance and a positive attitude.

• Articulate and thoughtful, using rich vocabulary to share insights, make connections, and engage meaningfully in discussion.

• Engaged and inspired, developing a lifelong love of reading that extends beyond the classroom.

Our reading curriculum is progressive. In Reception, Year 1 & Year 2, Rowan Class aims to provide children with the opportunity to learn to love stories, rhyme, and repetition through rich, engaging picture books. Our texts help to develop early vocabulary and understanding of story structure, helping children become confident, enthusiastic early readers and listeners. We aim to include texts with strong moral or emotional themes accessible to young readers.

This progresses in Year 3 & 4, Elm Class, where children begin to read longer stories with more complex plots and characters. This allows them to develop inference, vocabulary, and reading stamina. Our chosen texts broaden children’s horizons and deepen their understanding of emotions and themes. They are books that begin to introduce moral complexity and ambiguity with themes of friendship, courage, belonging, and growth, reflecting our school values.

Finally, in Year 5 & 6, Redwood Class tackle mature, challenging texts with deeper ideas and richer language. They learn to analyse themes, characters, and author choices, supporting the development of thoughtful, reflective readers with a passion for reading to last a lifetime. Our text choices include complex themes and rich, nuanced language and narrative techniques.