Reading at Sheffield Park Academy

Research has shown that students who read for 20 minutes a day will see huge benefits across all of their academic subjects compared to students who read for 5 minutes or less. Reading can also benefit young people in countless other ways, including:

• A widened imagination and higher levels of creativity.
• Helping them to empathise with others.
• Exposure to multiple cultures, ideas and worlds.
• Improved writing skills.
• Expanded vocabulary.
• Better mental health.
• Improved critical-thinking skills.

Reading is embedded in the curriculum with all students expected to read in class, both aloud and independently in all subjects. All teachers use the same strategy for reading so student shave continuity and consistency.

In addition to usual lessons, students will have the following dedicated opportunities to read or be read to:

• In form time twice a week, for all students in Y7-10.
• In weekly library and literacy lessons, for all students in Y7-Y9.

Sparx Reader

Sparx is an online platform which personalises each child’s homework, creating a personalised experience tailored to their level of understanding and learning pace. Using Sparx Reader, students have access to a wide range of online books which can be read on a phone, laptop or any device with internet access.  

All students in Year 7-10 are set reading homework each week on Sparx Reader. Students need to collect 300 SRP per week to complete their homework. This equates to around 30 minutes of slow, concise and accurate reading per week. As students read, they will be asked comprehension questions to check their understanding and to ensure they are reading accurately and correctly. Tasks are personalised based on each student's reading ability so that every student can be successful with their reading. The books that a student can choose from are carefully chosen so that the text is accessible yet suitably challenging.

How parents can support reading:

• Monitor their completion of Sparx Reader each week and discuss what they have read.
• Ask them to read their Sparx Reader book to you.
• Take turns to read to each other.  If they find reading difficult, they can start off with a paragraph and build up to a whole page and then a chapter.
• Make time to read together if you can.
• Let your child choose what to read, rather than choosing what you think they should read.  If they want to re-read a book, or series of books, or stick with a type of book (e.g. horror) then let them.
• Encourage your child to read magazines, comics, newspapers and the internet, as well as books. 
• Find things they can read that fit with their interests, or a shared interest.
• Read to them.  Even when your child is in secondary school this may be something they enjoy, and it will help their own reading to have a role model at home.
• Buy books as presents.  Don’t forget TV tie-ins and books about interests such as games or music.

Not a confident reader yourself?

• talk to your child about what they are reading.  Ask them questions.  Have things in the house (magazines, newspapers) that they can read and tell you about.
• listen to audiobooks together.  If you join your local library you will be able to borrow these online, but there are lots available for free on YouTube.

Children who enjoy reading for pleasure will do better at school.  Let them enjoy their reading, take an interest in what they are reading and try and find at least 10 minutes during the day to support them.

Accelerated Reader - KS3 students

Reading in library and literacy lessons is supported by a computer-based program called Accelerated Reader that enables staff to monitor reading practice and progress.  A baseline assessment is used (STAR Reading) to determine students’ individual reading levels.  This enables English teachers and the school librarian, Mr Broome, to do the following things:

• Guide students to books with vocabulary and sentence structure that they can understand yet will challenge them to improve.
• Allow students to read independently, at their own level and pace.
• Give students free choice of books within their level, increasing their enjoyment and engagement with reading.
• Use data from online quizzes that students complete on the books they read to check their understanding of what they’ve read, and allow students to see the progress they are making.
• Introduce an element of competition, regardless of their individual reading level, which for many students is a great motivation to read more and to explore different texts and genres. This, in turn, enables them to experience success and build their confidence as readers.

How does this work in practice?

Students in KS3 choose, and change, their reading books during their regular lessons in the school library.  The book is issued to them and forms part of their school equipment.  This means that they always have a book to read:

• During their weekly literacy lessons, which take place away from the Library.
• Every day during Period 5 for 10 minutes.
• At any other appropriate point in the school day, for example at social times.
• At home.

Please support your child by making sure they have their book with them in their school bag. It is vital that they bring their reading book with them every day.

Reading at home

How you can support your child

• Let your child choose what to read, rather than choosing what you think they should read.  If they want to re-read a book, or series of books, or stick with a type of book (e.g. horror) then let them.
• Encourage your child to read magazines, comics, newspapers and the internet, as well as books. 
• Find things they can read that fit with their interests, or a shared interest.
• Make time to read together if you can.
• Ask them to read to you.
• Take turns to read to each other.  If they find reading difficult, they can start off with a paragraph and build up to a whole page and then a chapter.
• Read to them.  Even when your child is in secondary school this may be something they enjoy, and it will help their own reading to have a role model at home.
• Buy books as presents.  Don’t forget TV tie-ins and books about interests such as games or music.

If you’re not a confident reader yourself…

• talk to your child about what they are reading.  Ask them questions.  Have things in the house (magazines, newspapers) that they can read and tell you about.
• listen to audiobooks together.  If you join your local library you will be able to borrow these online, but there are lots available for free on YouTube.

REMEMBER: Let them enjoy their reading, take an interest in what they are reading and try and find at least 10 minutes during the day to support them.

Since beginning the Accelerated Reader programme, many of our students have become ‘word millionaires’, reading more than a million words across a range of books.  ALL students are capable of achieving this amazing target while building crucial skills for life and maximising their chances of great results at the end of their school career. 

“These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” - Roald Dahl

"If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” - J.K. Rowling

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The person who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin