Reading at Ribchester St Wilfrid’s
At Ribchester St Wilfrid’s, we believe that reading is an essential life skill and the key to success in all areas of learning. We are committed to enabling every child to become a passionate, confident, and lifelong reader.
At the heart of our reading strategy is a drive to foster a genuine love of reading. Our reading areas throughout the school inspire children to pick up a good book, explore new stories, and immerse themselves in high-quality texts that spark imagination and curiosity.
In the early years and Key Stage 1, children begin their reading journey through daily phonics lessons, following the Lancashire Red Rose Letters and Sounds programme. As their skills develop, children take part in shared, whole-class reading sessions, where they read and discuss a wide range of engaging texts.
We are proud to share a diverse range of books with our pupils — stories and texts that celebrate different ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, families, and experiences. By exploring this variety, our children develop empathy, understanding, and a broader view of the world around them.
We know that reading at home plays a vital role in helping children to become fluent and enthusiastic readers. We encourage parents and carers to read with their children every day, talk about stories together, and enjoy visiting libraries or sharing favourite books as a family. Working together, we can nurture a lifelong love of reading in every child.
Phonics at Ribchester St Wilfrid’s
At Ribchester St Wilfrid’s, we believe that learning to read opens the door to a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.
Phonics is a key part of early reading. It helps children learn the sounds that letters make and how to blend those sounds together to read words. Instead of memorising thousands of words, children use their phonics skills to ‘decode’ new words with confidence.
Research shows that phonics, when taught well, is one of the most effective ways to help children learn to read. These early reading skills give children the foundation they need to succeed across the whole curriculum.
We follow the Lancashire Red Rose Letters and Sounds programme, which provides a clear, structured approach to teaching phonics. The programme is split into four phases, usually taught from Reception through to the end of Key Stage 1. Extra support continues in Key Stage 2 for children who need it, ensuring that every child can become a confident, fluent reader.