The Mulberry curriculum is ambitious, knowledge rich and carefully constructed to meet the needs of our children. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum and underpins everything we do, because we know it guarantees our children leave with the best possible start. We teach ambitious vocabulary throughout all subjects and use structured talk stems to develop their language skills alongside powerful knowledge acquisition.

A rigorous start to reading begins with phonics, which we deliver through ‘The Mulberry Phonics’, beginning children on phase one in Nursery and aiming for all children to reach phase five by the end of year two. Children are expected to apply their phonic knowledge throughout the curriculum and embed their reading skills through phonetically matched home reading books.

The teaching of reading is delivered through ‘Daily Supported Reading’ in reception and key stage one, moving to ‘Destination Reader’ when children are ready in year two. Our whole class reading texts are mapped progressively and link to the wider curriculum when appropriate. New arrivals to the school are supported with rigorous phonics intervention and decodable reading books.

A reading spine of children’s literature recommended by The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education signposts teachers to rich, challenging, high quality texts. These books are read to and with children in English lessons, reading lessons and during whole class story time.

Parents are involved in reading workshops, family phonics, book fairs, special reading events such as our ‘Big Bookie Breakfast’ and through home school reading.