At River Tyne Academy Gateshead, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking learning, opportunity and lifelong success. Strong reading skills enable pupils to access the wider curriculum, develop independence, build confidence and engage more fully with the world around them.
We recognise that many of our learners may have experienced interruptions to their education or gaps in their literacy development. Our reading curriculum is designed to support every pupil in becoming a confident, fluent and motivated reader, regardless of their starting point.
Reading is a priority across the academy. The academy has introduced timetabled reading lessons.
Our reading curriculum is purposefully designed in response to the needs of our learners, including those who experience disadvantage, disrupted educational experiences, reduced access to language-rich environments and lower levels of reading engagement.
Reading is positioned not simply as a curriculum subject but as a vehicle for equity, opportunity and lifelong participation.
The curriculum is built on three interconnected foundations, carefully selected to ensure the curriculum design meets the specific needs of our learners.
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Connection and enjoyment
These reading foundations underpin the full curriculum and will be explicitly taught in every phase of the curriculum structure and within the wider curriculum