Reading at Cottesbrooke

📚 Reading at Cottesbrooke

At Cottesbrooke Infant & Nursery School, we want every child to leave us as a confident, fluent reader with a lifelong love of books. Reading is the golden thread that runs through our curriculum — it underpins learning, builds imagination and gives children the tools to succeed.

📘 Our Reading Scheme

We use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme to teach early reading. This scheme includes a carefully structured set of fully decodable books, matched to your child’s current level of phonics knowledge.

There are 9 colour-coded sets:
Sound Blending, Red, Green, Purple, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Blue and Grey

As your child moves through the programme, they will bring home a number of books each week. Here’s what to expect:

📖 What Will My Child Bring Home?

1️⃣ Phonic Reading Book

This is the book your child has been practising at school. They should be able to read it fairly fluently. It’s a chance to celebrate their progress and build reading confidence.

2️⃣ Book Bag Book

This book is precisely matched to the same sounds as your child’s phonic reading book.
They may not have seen it before, so they’ll need to sound out some words — but they should be able to read it with a little effort and growing independence.
Children reading Yellow, Blue and Grey books will receive both a fiction and a non-fiction Book Bag Book.

3️⃣ School Library Book

This is a free choice book that your child selects from the school library each week.
It’s not expected that they will read this independently — it’s for you to read with them or to them, to enjoy stories together and share the joy of books.

(Nursery children also bring home a library book.)

If you have any questions about your child’s reading, please speak to their class teacher.

💡 10 Top Tips for Supporting Reading at Home

1. Encourage your child to read
   A few minutes each day makes a big difference.

2. Read aloud regularly
   Daily storytime builds confidence and connection.

3. Offer reading choices
   Books, comics, recipes, signs — it all counts!

4. Read together
   Make reading a shared, relaxed family activity.

5. Create a cosy reading space
   A comfy cushion or quiet corner works wonders.

6. Use your local library
   Free books, audiobooks, and friendly staff!

7. Talk about books
   Discuss favourite characters, stories, or surprises.

8. Bring reading to life
   Act it out, cook a recipe, or retell the story.

9. Make reading active
   Try treasure hunts, homemade books or matching games.

10. Find what works for your child
    Let them read in their first language, try audio books, or use pictures — enjoyment is key.

Reading is one of the most important gifts we can give a child. Thank you for working with us to help your child become a happy, skilled and confident reader.