Guided Reading

At Oak Hill, for children in EYFS and KS1, phonics provides the foundations for reading, spelling, and writing. Through a consistent, systematic approach to teaching phonics, we aim to ensure that every child becomes a confident, fluent, and enthusiastic reader.

We follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a DfE validated scheme. Phonics is taught daily from Reception through to the end of Key Stage 1 (and into Key Stage 2 where needed). Sessions follow a consistent structure: Revisit & Review, Teach, Practise, Apply. Lessons are interactive and fast-paced, making use of rhymes and visual prompts. Children practise both reading and spelling, with equal emphasis placed on blending (for reading) and segmenting (for spelling). Phonics learning is applied across the curriculum, for example in guided reading, writing tasks, and topic-based learning. Please see the Early Reading tab at the top of this page for more information.

Towards the end of Year 2 and in KS2, children have explicit Guided Reading lessons using a three-tiered reading approach towards ensuring a smooth progression from decoding and word reading to fluent, independent comprehension and critical engagement with texts. Our reading curriculum is designed to ensure that every child develops the skills, confidence, and passion to become a fluent, thoughtful, and independent reader. Through our three-tiered approach—Fluency Read, Extended Read, and Close Read—we provide a progressive and balanced reading experience for KS2 pupils that enables them to learn, grow, and flourish as lifelong readers.

Fluency Read lessons focus on developing children’s accuracy, pace, and prosody when reading aloud. Short, age-appropriate texts are introduced and modelled by the teacher, with explicit attention given to expression, intonation, and vocabulary development. Pupils then practise reading collaboratively, building fluency, confidence, and enjoyment through repeated oral reading and performance. This approach strengthens decoding, rhythm, and comprehension, while fostering confidence when encountering both familiar and new text types.

Extended Read lessons immerse pupils in high-quality, engaging texts that promote a deep love of reading. Teachers read aloud while pupils follow, experiencing the richness of language and story without unnecessary interruption. Strategic pauses allow exploration of vocabulary and key concepts, but the primary focus remains on sustained, enjoyable reading. Over time, pupils gradually take more ownership of reading sections aloud, supported by adults where needed. These sessions build stamina, comprehension, and appreciation of narrative structure, enabling children to experience the joy and flow of whole texts.

Close Read lessons deepen understanding through careful analysis and discussion of selected passages. Pupils explore an author’s language choices, structure, and intent, responding to comprehension and inference questions both verbally and in writing. Lessons are adapted to age and ability, with older pupils encountering SATs-style multi-point questions to refine their analytical skills. Texts are often drawn from previous lessons, cross-curricular content, or current events, helping children make meaningful connections across learning.

Together, these three lesson types ensure that reading at Oak Hill is both systematic and inspiring. Pupils build strong foundations in fluency and comprehension, engage with high-quality literature, and develop the ability to think critically about what they read. Through this approach, we nurture confident readers who are ready to apply their skills across the curriculum and beyond, embodying our school vision to Learn, Grow, and Flourish in all aspects of their learning and life.