At Guston Primary, we’re passionate about helping every child develop a lifelong love of reading. This year, we’ve added vibrant book corners in every classroom—welcoming spaces filled with exciting titles that inspire curiosity and imagination.
To make reading fun and rewarding, we’ve introduced initiatives like our Word Millionaire program, where pupils who read over a million words choose a book to keep. Our raffle ticket system also gives children chances to win great stories, simply by enjoying books.
We’ve completely revamped our library into a bright, modern space with comfy seating and shelves full of new books. It’s now a hub for exploration, recommendations, and relaxation. At Guston Primary, we believe books open doors to endless possibilities—and we’re proud to make that journey part of every child’s experience.
At Guston Primary, strong phonics teaching is the foundation for confident, fluent readers. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme, a structured approach that ensures every child learns essential decoding skills and achieves early reading success. Daily lessons build knowledge step by step, giving pupils the tools to read and spell accurately.
We provide Keep Up and Catch Up interventions for children who need extra support, addressing gaps quickly so every pupil can succeed. Decodable books matched to phonics stages let children practise independently, while a wide range of books for pleasure fosters a lifelong love of reading.
Our commitment continues into Key Stage 2, where pupils use fluency chapter books to build speed, accuracy, and comprehension. At Guston Primary, we deliver a consistent, high-quality phonics approach that supports every child on their reading journey.
At Guston Primary, we’re passionate about helping every child become a confident reader. That’s why we use Accelerated Reader (AR) from Renaissance—a program that matches pupils with books at the right level and tracks progress. Each term, children complete Star assessments, giving teachers a clear picture of ability and growth to set personalised goals.
Using this data, we provide tailored support—whether extra help for developing readers or challenges for those ready to soar. After each book, pupils take a short quiz to check comprehension, and parents receive updates to celebrate progress at home.
To make reading exciting, we reward AR achievements with raffle tickets and celebrate Word Millionaires—pupils who’ve read over a million words! These incentives create a buzz around reading and help build a strong reading culture across the school.
At Guston Primary, we follow a consistent whole-school approach to guided reading, helping every child become a confident, fluent reader. Regular sessions across all year groups build comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency, with targeted support where needed so no child is left behind.
To promote engagement, pupils read chapter books from Little Wandle, matched to their level, developing stamina and understanding. In Year 6, our Comprehension Club explores texts in depth and refines higher-order skills, preparing pupils for secondary school.
We also use VIPERS strategies—Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, and Summarising—to strengthen comprehension and critical thinking. Together, these approaches create a rich reading culture where every child is supported and inspired to enjoy reading for life.