How we teach reading in Hill Top 

Pre-readers (Informal)
Pupils on the informal curriculum are at the early stages of their learning, a lot of these pupils are non-verbal or have limited language and comprehension.  Pupils on this pathway will explore shared 1:1 and group stories with staff. They will share sensory stories and explore the narratives within them, making sense of them through the sensory stimulus provided.

Pupils will develop their listening skills through turn taking games, exploring different sounds they can make and identify what they can hear.  Pupils will engage in rhymes, songs and familiar chants, to an appropriate level. Pupils also take part in Attention Autism sessions.

Pupils will develop their word and symbol recognition through regular use of symbols across their curriculum as well as daily communication.    

Emerging readers (Semi-formal)
Pupils on the semi-formal curriculum are developing their ability to engage in reading tasks. Generally, pupils on the semi-formal pathway can usually express themselves in 1 or 2 keywords and have comprehension at a similar key word level, although some do have more language. 

Pupils at this level will share stories 1:1 and small group, as well individual stories. These pupils are encouraged to join in and comment or predict the words that are coming next.  Pupils’ vocabulary will be extended through symbols use, modelling and specific communication tools.

When pupils are able to identify environmental sounds, are successful with memory games, start to build up decoding and blending skills and have started to recognise some letter sounds and recognises some words that start with the same sound then they are able to move on.

Pupils will then access Read write Inc Fresh Start Program. This consists of learning sounds, decoding and reading words. The sounds taught throughout the program becoming more challenging as you go. Pupils then have access to modules that they share 1:1 with staff every day during reading time. . Pupils are assessed on their ability fortnightly and termly.

Developing readers (Formal) 
Our developing readers have a good understanding of phonics and are reading with a higher proficiency. They continue to access the Read Write Inc Fresh Start Program. They will be taught either 1:1 or within a small group of up to 4 pupils. Pupils are taught every day during reading time.

These pupils build up their fluency and confidence in word reading. They can access the Read Write Inc Anthologies to increase stamina and pace. They are taught the alternative sounds for each grapheme. Pupils are assessed on their ability fortnightly and termly.

These pupils will also be read to regularly, in order to give them access to narratives, sentence structure and vocabulary they wouldn’t hear in their decodable books.

Mastery readers (Formal)
Our pupils who are developing mastery in reading are able to decode books and can access texts independently, showing an understanding of what they have read. 

These pupils no longer access the Read Write Inc Program. These pupils will access the books allocated in the ‘Hill Top Reading Spine’. These book have been chosen to reflect the culture we live I; themes of diversity and inclusivity and also some key literary classics. These encourage the pupils to read a wide range of genres and books with a range of characters in them.

Each pupil has to complete a book review termly for themselves and one for the next pupil which encourages them to detail reasons to why they should choose the book.

Pupils will also share texts as a group, reading aloud to each other and following the narrative.