Reading: Beyond Phonics
Reading is an act of civilisation;
it's one of the greatest things we do as human beings.— Malorie Blackman
Why Reading Matters
At Furzedown, we believe that reading is one of the most transformative things a child can learn to do. It unlocks every other subject, expands every horizon and gives children access to voices, worlds and ideas they might never otherwise encounter. A child who reads widely and deeply is better equipped to understand themselves, to understand others and to navigate the world with confidence and critical thought.
We also know that the books children encounter at school matter. Texts that reflect diverse identities, tackle real-world themes and present complex characters give children not just reading skills, but a richer understanding of human experience — including how to recognise risk, build healthy relationships and make safe, informed choices.
Reading at Furzedown
Our reading curriculum draws on the Literacy Tree's Reading Leaves programme to provide children with a carefully sequenced diet of high-quality, ambitious literature. Text choices reflect a wide range of cultures, perspectives, voices and experiences — and are selected both for their literary richness and their relevance to the children of Furzedown.
Whole-class reading lessons are structured around meaningful discussion and shared exploration of texts that invites children to share their thinking, question what they read and connect literature to their own lives and experiences.
Comprehension skills are developed progressively, giving children a clear and consistent language for talking about their reading. Over time, pupils move from understanding what a text says to exploring what it means and how it works.
Reading is also woven across the wider curriculum. Class novels, topic-linked texts and cross-curricular reading opportunities deepen understanding and help children see that reading is not confined to a single lesson or subject — it is a living skill that opens every door.
Our Curriculum
reading curriculum overview.pdf
Growing Confident Readers
Children leave Furzedown as enthusiastic, independent and critically thoughtful readers. They approach texts with curiosity, ask meaningful questions and can articulate their thinking with clarity and confidence.
By the end of Key Stage 2, we aim for every pupil to:
- read fluently and with genuine enjoyment across a wide range of genres and forms
- understand, analyse and respond to texts using well-developed comprehension skills
- engage critically with what they read, questioning, inferring and making connections
- appreciate the diversity of voices and perspectives in literature
- see reading as a source of pleasure, knowledge and understanding — for life
Find out more about our English Curriculum here:
English Overview Phonics & Early Reading Writing