1. Our school is part of an exciting project called ‘Project READ – Reading Everywhere Across Derbyshire’. The project’s aim is to support children’s reading across 43 different schools!

2. Reading Buddy Welcome You have been selected for a very important job!
You will be supporting a younger pupil’s reading skills,
by becoming a…
Reading Buddy
These resources are aimed at upper KS2 pupils becoming Reading Buddies to younger pupils (Year 3, Year 1).

3. What is a Reading Buddy? A Reading Buddy is someone who:
enjoys and gets excited about reading
can encourage others to read
is a great reading role model
gives a little of their time each week to help other pupils improve their reading skills.

4. What do I have to do? You will be paired with a pupil from Year 1 or
Year 3. They will be your Buddy.
You will:
read with your Buddy twice a week for 15 minutes
support your Buddy’s reading skills
be a good role model for reading
keep track of your reading sessions on a reading record.
In June, Project READ schools were given goody bags, to be used over the summer by parents/carers of 10 reception pupils and 10 year 2 pupils, to support reading at home. It was recommended that targeted pupils were identified as working below age expectations/ to help foster further engagement with home/ further promote reading at home.
From September, it is for schools to decide if:
-Buddies will support the targeted pupils now in Year 3, or the Buddies will support the targeted pupils now in Year 3 and Year 1 (they can also be used with other individual pupils within the school)
-How frequently the sessions will take place (ideally twice a week, for a minimum of 10 weeks during the autumn) – please edit slide 6 with school’s preference
-How long the sessions will last for - please edit slide 6 with school’s preference (we recommend 15 minutes a session)
-The format of the session, dependent on age group and ability (see slide 9 for ideas and edit accordingly if required)

5. Role of a Reading Buddy You will help your Buddy to:
enjoy what they are reading
read aloud
pronounce and understand difficult words
think about what it is that they’re reading.

6. When will I be a Reading Buddy?
School to insert arrangements/ put in exact days and times
Possible suggestions:
during assembly/ lunchtimes/ playtimes/ early morning activities/ Golden Time on a XX and XX
Schools to decide on and insert arrangements

7. It’s easy to be a good Reading Buddy!
Be reliable and on time.
Help choose the right book.
Ask relevant questions.
Help your Buddy when they get stuck.
Big up your Buddy and be positive.
Talk about reading with your Buddy.
Be a good role model and enjoy reading.
Reflect on your sessions.

8. Reading Buddy cards
To help you to remember what to do in your reading sessions, you will receive Reading Buddy prompt cards.
Schools to encourage pupils to look after prompt cards.
Schools to decide on arrangements for pupils to either keep or return prompt cards after each session.
Schools can download, print and laminate extra Reading Buddy cards from the resources section on (free of charge)
A limited stock of Reading Buddy cards/ lanyards can be purchased from Project READ. Please contact Hayley at for further details.

9. Reading Buddy sessions
GIVE THINKING TIME:
When your Buddy gets stuck on a word …
encourage your Buddy to have a go
wait until your Buddy has had a go before you read the word to them.
YOUR SESSIONS COULD BE:
your Buddy reading to you as independently as possible
you both taking it in turns to read a page
you reading to your Buddy.
The type of session may be dictated by individuals (E.g. age, confidence, ability). For example, some Year 1s may prefer to be read to, rather than reading to an older pupil to start with.
When a reader is stuck on a word, emphasise how important it is that older buddies give thinking time – they could count for 6 seconds before they read the word to them. This will support young readers to develop problem-solving strategies.
Most of the time, younger readers will be reading to their Reading Buddies. However, also emphasise that there is value in older Reading Buddies reading to younger Reading Buddies sometimes. This will support younger readers to hear fluent, phrased reading.

10. Let’s go through each prompt card
Handout prompt cards to Reading Buddies. Explain need to look after the cards.

11. 1 2 3 4 5
Trainer to talk through each card with the group of Reading Buddies. Explanatory notes below.
2 – Teacher may wish to pre select a sample of texts for use with targeted pupils before the session. Model points 5 and 6. Box 6 explains what the Reading Buddy should recommend to their Buddy about the book choice, related to the number of words that they do not know.
3, 4 – Prompt questions for fiction and non-fiction books are available. It’s important to give pupils a choice of genres to read, related to their interests.
5 – Emphasise the importance of giving their Buddy time to think. Model appropriate reading strategies (e.g. sounding out a word).
6 – Model different ways of offering praise and encouragement, using intonation. Can your Buddies think of other ways to say well done?
7, 8 – Highlight the need to talk about reading to enhance a love of reading/ being a good role model
9 – Ask Buddies to reflect on their session so they can think about how to improve future sessions
Bring a range of texts to this session to show Reading Buddies that they can read different kinds of texts together in their sessions. For example: ‘First News’ newspaper, short story collection, poetry collection, non-fiction books, comics, magazines, leaflets of local events, school newsletter, pupil pages on school website, fiction books. 6 7 8 9

12. At the schools discretion, Buddies to complete a short review after each session (if appropriate for age/ ability). Depending on time/ ability, older Buddies may want to support younger Buddies in completing it.
Schools to photocopy the sheet for Buddies. The review sheet is available in your pack and available to download as a PDF from (under the resources tab).
An editable version (Publisher) is also available from (under the resources tab).

13. Let’s go through a session together to see how it works
Trainer to model a session (either 2 adults, or use a Reading Buddy and ask them to role play (ask them to get stuck on a few words)).

14. Points to remember
BE POSITIVE! Your Buddy will feed off your enthusiasm. BE FRIENDLY! Your Buddy needs to feel comfortable with you. BE A GOOD BUDDY! Your best effort will help others to do their best.
Emphasise the importance of their role and thank the Buddies for their support/ commitment.