Literacy

Our Reading Strategy uses the DEAR programme to enrich students’ lives with language and literature.

Drop Everything And Read is an intervention that gives everyone a diet of classic and modern texts that help us engage with the world around us. Our students love reading their DEAR books every day and enjoy learning new vocabulary too. Each year we invest in the latest texts that push and challenge our students to learn about people and cultures beyond the school gates. Fortnightly vocabulary sessions teach students about etymology and morphology, looking at how an understanding of key word roots can open up understanding of a wide range of advanced vocabulary.

Our Reading Strategy aims to stretch readers at every level. At Wey Valley, we are passionate about reading and the written word.

Student reading ages are tested termly so we can ensure that students who need some extra support with reading are identified and supported. Direct Instruction is a phonics-based programme that trains students to recognise sounds and make connections between what they hear and what they need to read. It builds confidence and helps children access the curriculum. Reading Plus is a strategy used to develop fluency, vocabulary acquisition and comprehension. Our Reading Plus students report that after engaging with the programme they are able to perform better in all of their lessons. All students complete reading homework on Sparx Reader, which pushes students to move their reading age forward and build experience in a range of genres.

Our Reading Strategy is about providing an exciting programme of literary events.

Wey Valley is lucky to have a regular programme of high profile guest visitors who come in to work with our students. Recent visitors include Lord Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age), Kate Adie, legendary former Chief News Correspondent for BBC News, Joanna Quinn, Wey Valley alumna and author of the international bestseller The Whalebone Theatre and Tracey Chevalier, internationally bestselling author of titles including Girl with a Pearl Earring. We have an exciting range of speakers booked for the 202425 academic year, including renowned performance poet and a fixture of the GCSE English literature curriculum, John Agard, in partnership with Dorchester Literary festival

DEAR Book Reading List Reading Strategy

The Literacy Team

Mrs Andrea Miller (Lead Practitioner and Literacy Lead) andrea.miller@wva.weareauthentic.education

Ms Burston-White (Assistant Vice Principal) isobel.burston@wva.weareauthentic.education

Mrs H Dyer (Assistant Vice Principal SENDCo) hannah.dyer@wva.weareauthentic.education

Mrs Harding (Library Manager) eileen.harding@wva.weareauthentic.education