Literacy provision and support at Harris Academy Purley Harris Academy Purley Kendra Hall Road Surrey CR2 6DT T: F:

What we do At Harris Academy Purley there are 3 strands to our literacy provision: in class individual whole school Activities and interventions include: explicit literacy activities in English lessons, subject related vocab foci in other lessons, work with a TA, Sounds Write, Words First and Secondary Language Link sessions, Speech and Language therapist, Golden Curriculum ‘nurture’ class, Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, ‘Debate Mate’ training and competitions, library competitions, paired reading, tutor time activities, reading age tests, and Accelerated Reader! Harris Academy Purley Kendra Hall Road Surrey CR2 6DT T: F:

How can parents help improve their child’s literacy? The two biggest ways parents can help are: to encourage independent reading, by reading with your child, discussing books you enjoy etc. to talk through homework activities: ask your child to explain what they have to do, read aloud what they have produced, and encourage them to proof read their work. Research has shown that children who read for pleasure are likely to do significantly better over time. (IOE 2013) In a study looking at the effect of reading for pleasure on cognitive development over time, those students who read for pleasure made more progress in maths, spelling and vocabulary. Harris Academy Purley Kendra Hall Road Surrey CR2 6DT T: F:

Strategies to improve independent reading Some of the strategies outlined by the DfE’s 2012 publication ‘Research Evidence on Reading for Pleasure’ include: Having access to books of their own- children who have books of their own enjoy reading and read more frequently. Choice is an important factor in developing reading for pleasure. ‘Parents and the home environment are essential,’… ‘children are more likely to continue to read in homes where books and reading are valued.’ Young people who use a public library are nearly twice as likely to spend time outside of class, reading every day. Harris Academy Purley Kendra Hall Road Surrey CR2 6DT T: F: