Bassingham Primary School...Where every day is Book Day!

 

At Bassingham Primary School, we aim to build an immersive reading environment. One which creates, develops and nurtures a Reading for Pleasure (RfP) pedagogy for our children.

We aim to:

• Ensure that every child is regularly read to.
• Develop social reading environments that raise the profile of RfP, spark interest in reading and encourage ‘comfy’ reading.
• Ensure that children have a wide range of high quality books; fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comics and magazines to choose from.
• Build reading communities within our school between staff, children and their families.
• Increase the amount of high quality, current children’s literature, available for all children to read.

 

‘Reading for Pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success’  (OECD, 2002)  There is a proven positive relationship between reading fluency, reading enjoyment and attainment.

Strategies to support reading for pleasure.

Reading Aloud

Reading aloud is one of the most important things our teachers do and is a frequent and regular part of each school day.  Reading aloud enables children to experience and enjoy stories they might otherwise meet.  At Bassingham Primary School we make a priority and ensure everyone understands the importance or it.  Reading aloud is a non-negotiable that isn't gobbled up by finishing off or tidying up.  Time is set aside for it.  By reading well-chosen books aloud, teachers help classes to become communities of readers - ensuring that they can share in experiences of a wide repertoire of books they enjoy.  This links to the commitment we have to deepening and broadening the children's vocabulary and our literacy focus for writing using quality texts.

Dedicated reading areas

Each classroom has a dedicated Reading area. They are designed to be comfortable and relaxed, allowing their mind to get into a book. These serve as a reminder for the children to pick up a book and start reading.  Classroom librarians with books from a variety of genres and covering a range of potential areas of interest increase pupils' literacy-related skills and promote phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension and writing.  These, alongside our new spacious school library, are accessible, welcoming places that are stocked with good-quality, appropriate books.

 

Inspiring Reading

Books and information about books are displayed within the new library where browsing, choosing and reading can take place.  We know that there are books which lend themselves to being talked about, thought through, returned to and which are engaging for children for a variety of reasons.  Powerful stories engage children, stir ideas and feelings and excite the reader's interest and imagination.

To inspire reading in children, we also:

• Invest in reading resources that children will want to read and re-read including books, comics, graphic novels, poetry etc.
• Have members of staff who are excellent reading role models.  They lead by example, creating an environment that promotes reading as a socially engaging activity that is highly valued.
• Promote books we think the children might enjoy or that staff are currently excited about.
• Make use of interactive displays, competitions, incentives.
• Encourage parents and carers to spend time reading with their child.

Celebrating Reading

We celebrate literature by organising events such as author visits, holding whole school assemblies and individual workshops for each year group.  On days such as World Book Day we set aside the timetable and really celebrate books.  We sometimes dress up as out favourite book characters or come into school in our comfy pyjamas.  Such events gives children a real reason for understanding characters, expressing preferences, talking about books they have enjoyed and hearing about books from their peers.  And perhaps, most importantly, it enables them to see the power of a shared love or reading.

 

Our Whole School Library

Topic Tree

During a Themed week the tree which takes centre stage in the middle of the library is covered in books related to the topic.  These books are used by teachers during assemblies and also for stories at the end of the day when the whole school stops to enjoy stories at 3pm.

 

Yearly Overview of Themes

BooksForTopics.com is a website providing expertly curated children's booklists for primary schools, sorted by age or curriculum topic to help teachers find recommended books for classroom learning and promoting reading for pleasure.  Please use the links below to find exciting books for your child to read at home. These are great as a Christmas or birthday gift!!!!

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Reception.pdf  - EYFS

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y1.pdf  -  Year 1

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y2.pdf  -  Year 2

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y3.pdf  -  Year 3

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y4.pdf  -  Year 4

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y5.pdf  -  Year 5

50-Best-Books-2025-Poster-Y6.pdf  -  Year 6