Literacy at NIA
Promoting reading, communication skills and understanding of vocabulary are at the heart of the curriculum at NIA. Being able to read is the key to accessing the entire curriculum. NIA is determined that every pupil will learn to read, regardless of their background, needs or abilities.
Phonics at NIA
High-quality phonics teaching secures the crucial skills of word recognition that, once mastered, enable pupils to decode fluently and automatically, freeing them to concentrate on the meaning of a text. The balance between word recognition and language comprehension shifts as pupils progress from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’: for both purpose and for pleasure. Learning phonics is an essential foundation for our pupils’ success.
Phonics teaching starts from the Early Years at NIA, and we use the RWINc systematic phonics programme.
Read Write Inc. Phonics - Ruth Miskin Literacy
Supporting older pupils to become accurate, fluent readers
Being able read accurately by the age of six correlates with future academic success. In Key Stages 3 and 4, pupils gain progressive reading fluency in reading the texts – essays, textbooks and articles etc - that are part of our ambitious curriculum. Pupils build up their reading stamina over time through lots of practise as they experience more demanding texts. NIA is committed to ensuring all pupils who struggle to read, learn to read fluently.
Through our Reading Inclusion Strategy we carefully identify the pupils who need extra support when they join us in Y7 or in other year groups and provide focused support, including an age-appropriate approach to teaching phonics where this is needed. Our inclusion strategy quickly identifies learners’ individual needs to provide them with the right support to meet the needs of a more demanding curriculum. Our Readling Leaders programme helps promote a love of reading through a reading buddy system that inspires our younger learners.
Teachers across the entire secondary curriculum recognise the importance of teaching disciplinary reading. Teachers regularly attend professional development to improve their subject specific reading practice and ensure students develop the necessary skills to access the demands of each curriculum area.
Accelerated Reader
At Northampton International Academy we use the Accelerated Reader programme for all of our year 7 and 8 students. This is a computer programme that helps teachers to manage and monitor a child’s independent reading practice. Your child picks a book at their own level and reads it. When they have finished the book, they take a short quiz on the computer. As a school this is how we measure reading engagement and progress.
Studies show that being able to read, and to read well, will have the biggest impact on a child’s education. We ask that you encourage your child to read, quiz and regularly change their Accelerated Reader books. We would suggest around twenty minutes of reading per day.
Students can use this link to the website to take their reading quizzes:
Students should have a reading book with them at all times. Books can be borrowed from the school library or books can also be bought in from home. If you would like to find books on Accelerated reader you can use the link below. This will give you an idea of what the book is about and what level that book is.
Accelerated Reader Bookfinder UK & Ireland - Welcome (arbookfind.co.uk)
Please encourage your child to read. Students have a library session every fortnight and the library is open to them at break, lunch and after school.
Thank you all for continuing to support your child's reading journey.
