Reading: how to organise high-quality provision (primary)

Equip staff to excel when teaching reading, with top tips from the DfE's 2021 framework. Be clear on your responsibilities and those of your literacy lead, and find out how best to timetable reading.

Last reviewed on 18 May 2023
School types: AllSchool phases: PrimaryRef: 44586
Contents
  1. Build an effective reading culture in your school
  2. Appoint a literacy lead to teach phonics, reading and writing
  3. How you should timetable reading
  4. Make sure staff are confident teaching phonics
  5. How teachers can support fluency

Build an effective reading culture in your school

The DfE's 2021 reading framework explains that this is the headteacher's responsibility (pages 72 and 73).

Making sure the teaching of reading is as effective as possible, for example by: Making sure that all staff, including the SENCO and ITT trainees, have the knowledge, skills, understanding and professional support to teach reading effectively by using our staff skills and knowledge audit  Taking part in the necessary CPD for your school’s chosen phonics programme along with these staff Selecting and preparing high-quality resources for teaching reading Embedding time in the daily timetable for reading. This is explained in more detail below Supporting teachers in: Making literacy a priority Managing the rest of the curriculum realistically  Making sure all children make sufficient progress by boosting their confidence and attainment in English Successfully implementing your school’s phonics programme, including: Selecting an approved phonics programme Making sure you have well-conceived and structured resources for teaching phonics Engage