Reading and Phonics

At St Mary Cray Primary, we believe that reading is an essential life skill and we are committed to enabling our children to become lifelong passionate readers.  Our core purpose is to foster a love of reading, enriching children’s learning through carefully designed teaching activities that utilise imaginative stories, thought-provoking and richly inclusive and diverse texts.

At the heart of our curriculum is the unwavering belief that every child has the right to become a fluent, lifelong reader.  We see literacy not just as a skill but a moral imperative; by ensuring a consistent and rigorous approach to reading, we empower our children to unlock their full potential and find their voice in the world.

In Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1, phonics and reading are taught through Read Write Inc. with small groups of children and as children complete the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, they begin whole class reading lessons and will continue this throughout KS2.  

You can find out more about Read Write Inc. and Whole Class reading on the pages in this section.