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Gosforth Central Middle School

Reading for Pleasure

'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that learn, the more places you'll go.'

Our Philosophy

We believe that…

*reading nurtures children’s imaginative lives

*reading provides a space in which children can return to themselves

*reading allows children to understand and engage with the world around and beyond them

*children have the right to access appropriately challenging reading material that they enjoy

*children benefit from being part of a community in which reading is habitual

Independent Reading

Challenge

All pupils are challenged to read independently for 60 minutes a week as follows.

*English lessons: 15 minutes a week, recorded in digital logs.

*Homework: 45-60 minutes a week, signed off in planners by an adult.

Rewards 

GRIT point: 60 minutes independent reading in the same week.

Early Lunch Pass: 60 minutes independent reading a week for 3 weeks in the same half term. 

Non-Uniform Day: 60 minutes independent reading a week for a full half term.  

Library

Opening times 

The school library is open to pupils from all year groups every day. 

Break (11.10-11.25)

Lunch (12.25-11.20)

Monday

open

open

Tuesday

open

open

Wednesday

open

closed

Thursday

open

open

Friday

open

open

Borrowing

All pupils have a library account which allows them to borrow 2 books at a time for 2 weeks at a time. 

Our books

Pupils can choose from over 2500 regularly updated fiction and non-fiction titles.

To help children find books they enjoy, texts are organised by genre and topic categories.  

E-Library

As well as our physical library, pupils can also borrow 4 e-books or audiobooks a month from our e-library which gives them access to a further 2500 titles. 

Clubs

Every Friday lunchtime, pupils can join in with a rota of creative reading activities in the library. 

Upcoming activities include book crafting, guest readings from the story chair and virtual author visits.   

Guided Borrowing Sessions

This year, every pupil will take part in at least one guided borrowing session per half term during English curriculum time. During these sessions, the focus is on developing pupils' confidence in finding and choosing appropriately challenging books that they will enjoy. 

Form Reads

What?

Every Tuesday, tutor groups spend morning registration reading and responding to their choice from a carefully selected range of recently-published novels written for children and young people.

Why?

In this way, we aim to:

*ensure that pupils share the reading of at least two high-quality texts per year beyond those studied in English

*provide pupils with the opportunity to engage meaningfully in a reading community

*expose pupils to a range of models of expert reading by tutors and guest readers and provide them with opportunities to emulate these

*help facilitate purposeful independent reading journeys beyond shared reading sessions via ‘Like this? Try these!’ posters displayed in each form room 

Reading Weeks

This year, we will be designating one week per term as a whole-school Reading Week. 

Each week will be a celebration of reading, from shared registration reading and daily lunchtime reading activities to tutor group competitions and independent reading challenges. 

Parents & Carers

Supporting your child to read independently

One of the best things we can do to encourage children to read is to talk to them about their reading. 

One of the best ways to talk to children about their reading is to ask them ‘low-key’ questions which we can all feel we have a stake in. 

There are lots of possible questions you could ask, but we’ve given some examples below. 

Fiction 

What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened so far? Why?

What do you think is going to happen next? Why?

Who’s your favourite character? Why?

Does your book remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen or heard? Why?

Non-Fiction

What is the most interesting thing you’ve found out so far? Why?

What do you wish there was more information about? Why?

What do you think of the way the information is set out? Why?

Does your book remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen or heard? Why?