16/10/2025Literacy & Reading
No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world- John Keating
Welcome to the Literacy and Reading page.
At Waingels, literacy is in everything we do: our ability to read, write and talk helps our learning in every subject. We all work to improve students’ literacy skills.
Here you will find a variety of resources to support your child’s literacy progress across the curriculum, as well as information and celebrations of words, in all their glorious forms.
Reading at Waingels
At Waingels, reading is central to our vision for every student. As part of our World Book Day celebrations, we are pleased to share our whole-school reading strategy, designed to develop confident, capable and enthusiastic readers.
Our Reading Strategy
Our carefully planned strategy:
- Supports reading across every subject
- Develops reading ability over time
- Encourages reading for pleasure
- Provides targeted intervention where needed
We are proud to share this one-page summary outlining this work.
Accelerated Reader
We use the Accelerated Reader programme to ensure every student receives the right level of challenge and support.
The programme enables us to:
- Accurately assess reading ability
- Set personalised book ranges that stretch students appropriately
- Check understanding through quizzes
- Track progress and celebrate achievement
Students can complete quizzes at home using this link.
This guide here explains how to complete a quiz.
All Key Stage 3 students have a fortnightly Accelerated Reader lesson in the Reading Room. This dedicated time promotes reading beyond school, removes barriers and helps students build positive reading habits.
Recommended Reading Lists
To help students choose high-quality, engaging books, we have created carefully curated reading lists. All titles are part of the Accelerated Reader catalogue, and we are developing catalogues with information pages for each book:
12 Books to Read Before You're 12
14 Books to Read Before You're 14
16 Books to Read Before You're 16
18 Books to Read Before You're 18
These lists are designed as a gateway into reading, not a limit. We stock multiple copies of every title in the Reading Room, along with sequels and recommended “next reads”.
We warmly welcome donations, particularly books in other languages to support students who speak English as an Additional Language. Books can be brought to reception, and we also maintain an Amazon wishlist linked to our lists.
What to do when I find reading challenging:
Pastoral Reading Programme
Our recommended books also form part of our pastoral reading programme.
Students explore extracts from our recommended books in tutor time, and in Years 8–10 tutor groups read one of these books together. This shared experience encourages discussion, builds community and models reading for pleasure.
Year 7 Pastoral Reading Overview
Year 8 Pastoral Reading Overview
Year 9 Pastoral Reading Overview
Year 10 Pastoral Reading Overview
Year 11 Pastoral Reading Overview
Bedrock Vocabulary
Vocabul
ary development is a key strand of our strategy.
Students complete English homework through Bedrock Learning, an adaptive programme that teaches academic and advanced vocabulary. Students log in using their school Office 365 details: https://app.bedrocklearning.org/
Strong vocabulary helps students:
- Access more complex texts
- Understand subject-specific language
- Express ideas clearly and precisely
Reading Goals
This year we launched our Reading Goals initiative to celebrate students who challenge themselves and develop sustained reading habits.
Students who read books from our recommended books lists can earn bronze, silver and gold reading badges. Booklets are available in the Reading Room, with digital copies available below.
Book Nook Club
The Reading Room is open on Wednesday lunch times for students to read, relax and recharge. Students need to sign up to the Book Nook club on Arbor clubs.
Reading at Home
We have created a Reading at Home: Families’ Guide, which includes research-informed advice and tips from former Waingels parents on encouraging reading for pleasure at home.
Even small, consistent habits can make a significant difference over time.
Reading Intervention
This document explains the interventions we offer to support students’ reading:
We are proud of the reading culture we are building at Waingels. By working together, we can ensure every student leaves as a confident, thoughtful and independent reader.
Reading Room
The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn , the more places you'll go.
The Yellow Zone Reading Room aims to provide a tranquil and comfortable learning environment for students and staff.
Opening Times
The Reading Room is open every break and lunchtime Monday to Friday and during specific English lessons.
We also have Junior Librarians Club on a Wednesday Reading Room is open for reading, book discussions and creative writing.
Layout
At the request of the students, books are ordered by genre, with each genre having a different coloured sticker. All our Accelerated Reader books are clearly labelled and displayed by ZPD. All non Accelerated Reader books are sorted alphabetically by author’s surname. We also have a wide range of non fiction books available.
Loans
Students can borrow two books at any one time. Unless renewed, these must be returned within two weeks.
Reading Room Rules
The following rules should be observed at all times -
- Enter the Reading Room quietly.
- If using the Reading Room with your class, wait outside the entrance until you are told by your teacher or the Reading Room helpers that you can enter.
- Strictly no eating or drinking.
- Quiet at all times.
- Treat others using the Reading Room with respect.
- Take great care when using the books and any equipment.
- If you would like to borrow a book, take it to the teacher / helper who will scan and record this.
- Do not let your book go overdue. If you have not finished your book within the two week loan period and would like to renew it, you must advise the teacher / helper and the database will then be updated.
- You will not be able to borrow from the Reading Room or use the resources if you have any overdue loans.
Before you leave the Reading Room, ensure you...
- Return any books to the correct place on the shelves.
- Leave the Reading Room quietly.
Writing
We all need a bit of help to find the best way to express ourselves sometimes. This means our sentences and words have to be clear and precise.
This advice might help your child when they are planning a piece of writing:
How to Prepare for Writing Tasks
Your child will be asked to write a variety of forms, such as essays, reports, evaluations, articles and diary entries. If your child is not sure how to do any of these, here is a guide:
How to Write in Different Forms
Using a full range of punctuation helps to make meaning clearer and makes writing seem more sophisticated. If either your children or you want any help with punctuation, this guide is a good place to start:
For extra practice, here are some activities for your child to try, along with the answers for when they are ready:
Punctuation Support Tasks- Answers
Oracy
Children’s speaking skills are linked to their reading and writing skills. Many lessons rely on children’s speaking skills to build and develop their thinking and understanding. We work to support students’ speaking skills in school, but there are also things they can do at home to develop even further.
You can use these discussion frameworks and topics to have formal discussions at home:
Students can also complete these challenges to develop their discussion and presentation skills in their own time. If they complete any of these, please print off this challenge sheet and sign and date the appropriate box.
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in contact with me, Mrs Jones via communications@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk
