Hackney New Primary School

Welcome to our Reading Support Hub for Parents

At Hackney New Primary School, we believe that reading is the gateway to all learning. We are passionate about developing fluent, confident readers who not only read well but love reading.

We know that children make the most progress when school and home work in partnership, and there is so much you can do at home to support your child’s reading journey. Below, you’ll find guidance and practical tips tailored to each year group, including ways to support key reading skills and nurture a lifelong love of books.

Each year group also has a carefully curated Reading Spine – a list of high-quality texts we recommend. You can find your child’s reading spine below. Sharing these books at home is a wonderful way to reinforce their learning and enjoy reading together.

Reception: Building the Foundations of Reading

Key Programme: Read Write Inc. Phonics

What You Can Do:

• Daily Practice: Practise the sounds (phonics) your child is learning each week. We’ll send home flashcards and videos to help.
• Read Every Day: Read the decodable books your child brings home from our Read Write Inc. programme. Encourage them to "Fred Talk" words (sound out).
• Story Time: Read aloud to your child daily – repeat favourites! This builds vocabulary and comprehension.
• Talk About Books: Ask simple questions: What happened? Who was in the story? What did you like?

Support Key Skills:

• Sound recognition and blending
• Word reading confidence
• Understanding the story
• Enjoyment and excitement about books

 

Year 1: Early Readers Take Flight

Key Programme: Read Write Inc. Phonics (continuing)

What You Can Do:

• Sound Review: Keep revisiting the phonics sounds from school using flashcards or games.
• Decodable Practice: Read Read Write Inc. books regularly. Celebrate every small success!
• Explore Stories Together: Keep reading aloud to them too – stories a little beyond their level are great.
• Make Reading Fun: Use voices, act things out, bring books to life!

Support Key Skills:

• Fluency in blending sounds
• Developing comprehension
• Talking about characters and settings
• Building reading stamina

 

Year 2: Becoming Confident Readers

Key Programme: Read Write Inc. (for some), Whole-Class Guided Reading

What You Can Do:

• Fluency Practice: Listen to your child read daily. Encourage smooth, expressive reading.
• Ask Questions: Focus on why things happen in a story. Ask: Why did the character do that? What might happen next?
• Use the Spine: Choose books from our Year 2 Reading Spine to read and talk about together.
• Visit the Library: Let your child explore different types of books: fiction, non-fiction, poetry.

Support Key Skills:

• Reading with expression and fluency
• Making predictions and inferences
• Understanding vocabulary in context
• Beginning to summarise

 

Year 3: Developing Reading Independence

What You Can Do:

• Shared Reading: Read together or take turns. Ask your child to explain tricky words or plot twists.
• Talk Deeply: Discuss themes and messages in the story. Ask: What is the author trying to tell us?
• Reading Aloud: Encourage your child to read aloud to a sibling or even a pet!
• Be a Model: Let them see you reading too.

Support Key Skills:

• Expanding vocabulary and language
• Justifying opinions with evidence from the text
• Skimming and scanning for information
• Enjoying a wider range of texts

 

Year 4: Strengthening Comprehension

What You Can Do:

• Reading Together: Continue reading aloud and discussing books together.
• Ask Big Questions: Encourage your child to think critically: How does this character change? Why do you think that ending worked?
• Use the Spine: Our Year 4 Reading Spine introduces richer texts with more complex themes.

Support Key Skills:

• Summarising key ideas
• Making inferences and drawing conclusions
• Discussing author’s intent and impact
• Building reading stamina and independence

 

Year 5: Deep Thinking Through Reading

What You Can Do:

• Book Chat: Have longer discussions about books. Compare texts, authors, or genres.
• Encourage Personal Reading Choices: Support them in choosing books they enjoy from school, home or the library.
• Explore Themes: Ask: How does this book connect with real life? or What would you have done differently?

Support Key Skills:

• Analysing text structure and language choices
• Evaluating characters’ decisions
• Exploring bias and point of view
• Making thoughtful connections between texts

 

Year 6: Ready to Read the World

What You Can Do:

• Encourage a Wide Range: Support them in reading across genres – from fiction to current affairs to classics.
• Book Clubs at Home: Create a mini book club – read the same book and discuss!
• Reflect and Relate: Ask reflective questions: What did this book teach you? How did it make you feel?

Support Key Skills:

• Critical thinking and evaluation
• Synthesising ideas from different texts
• Preparing for secondary-level reading
• Becoming a self-motivated, lifelong reader

 

Final Thoughts from the Headteacher

Reading is not just a skill – it’s a superpower. When we read with our children, we give them language, knowledge, imagination, empathy, and joy. Thank you for the vital role you play at home in making reading a shared adventure.

If you ever want book recommendations, support with reading at home, or just to talk about what your child is enjoying – we’re here.

Happy reading!

Ms Marya Afreedi, Headteacher