We Love Reading!

At Chalfont St Peter Infant School we believe that reading for pleasure is extremely important. Reading for pleasure opens up new worlds for children. It gives them the opportunity to use their imagination to explore new ideas, visit new places and meet new characters. Reading for pleasure also improves children’s well-being and empathy. It helps them to understand their own identity, and gives them an insight into the world and the views of others.

We have many initiatives that take place in our school to encourage reading for pleasure.

• We read to children every day. We choose these books carefully as we want children to experience a wide range of books, including books that reflect the children at our school and in our local community as well as books that open windows into other worlds and cultures.
• Every classroom has an inviting book corner that encourages a love for reading.
• Children choose their own ‘Sharing’ books to take home alongside their decodable books.
• Children are encouraged to bring books from home to share with their class during ‘Show and Tell’ sessions.
• Each week there is a whole school reading assembly.
• The school library is made available for classes to use at designated times.
• Children across the school have regular opportunities to engage with a wide range of Reading for Pleasure events. These include celebrating World Book Day, competitions such as ‘Where were you caught reading?’, inviting visitors to read their favourite books to a class, School Council involvement such as book swaps and author visits.
• There is a book icon on each curriculum webpage with suggestions of texts for children to enjoy.

Research shows that reading for pleasure can be directly linked to children’s success throughout their time at school and even into adulthood.

We greatly appreciate all the support you give in helping and encouraging your children to read at home. For more advice follow the Book Trust link for ideas about how to foster a love of reading in all of your children - from babies to teens!

• Book Trust - Inspire a Love of Reading!

Please click on the book icons below for recommended reading books for children in Year R, Year 1 and Year 2.

Please click on our Reading Online Resources for an excellent collection of books and stories including Our School Virtual Library, BBC School Radio for audio stories, Oxford Owl for ebooks, free homeschool resources from Reading Eggs and much, much more!