At Woodlands Academy, we believe that learning to read is about far more than decoding words on a page. It begins with helping pupils feel safe, confident, curious and ready to learn. For many of our children, early reading success depends on emotional regulation, trust, and positive experiences with language before formal reading skills can fully develop.
We start by getting pupils ready to read. This means building strong foundations in listening, attention, communication and emotional readiness. Adults model calm, consistent routines and create environments where pupils feel secure enough to take risks, make mistakes and try again. Storytime, shared reading, talk-based activities and playful language experiences help pupils develop a love of stories and an understanding that reading is meaningful, enjoyable and relevant to their lives.
Our approach to learning to read is structured, supportive and responsive to individual need. We explicitly teach phonics, blending and early reading strategies, while carefully adapting delivery to suit pupils who may have experienced disrupted learning, anxiety, or negative prior experiences of school. Reading sessions are short, purposeful and success-focused, with plenty of praise and repetition to build confidence.
We also place a strong emphasis on vocabulary and comprehension, recognising that understanding language is just as important as decoding it. Through discussion, questioning and shared texts, pupils learn to talk about stories, characters and ideas, helping them make sense of what they read and connect it to their own experiences.
Most importantly, we work hard to ensure that reading feels safe, achievable and rewarding. By combining emotional support with high expectations and skilled teaching, we help pupils develop the confidence and resilience they need to become readers – and to believe that reading is something they can do.
At Woodlands Academy, getting ready to read is the first step towards unlocking learning, independence and future success.
