Reading for Pleasure

Phonics at Leigh Academy Milestone

At Leigh Academy Milestone, all students in both primary and secondary working at M7 and above access the Read Write Inc. Phonics Programme. RWI is a structured phonics programme that not only promotes word reading but accuracy, fluency and comprehension. It is a scheme that is adapted to suit our different cohorts of learners. Students in Phase 4 who have been assessed as making below expected progress on the RWI programme also access the ‘See and Learn’ sight reading programme alongside their timetabled RWI sessions. Students working at M1-M6 access phonics through communication and experience, working on environmental, instrumental, body percussion, rhythm and voice sounds.

Diagram illustrating how Phonics is organised at Milestone Academy.

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for pleasure flowchart Dec 2025-1

Ten Top Tips for Reading Stories to Your Child

  1. Make reading to your child feel like a treat. Introduce each new book with excitement.
  2. Make it a special quiet time and cuddle up so both of you can see the book.
  3. Show curiosity in what you’re going to read: Oh no! I think Arthur is going to get even angrier now.
  4. Read the whole story the first time through without stopping too much. If you think your child might not understand something, model an explanation: Oh I think what’s happening here is that…
  5. Chat about the story: I wonder why he did that? Oh no, I hope she’s not going to… I wouldn’t have done that, would you?
  6. Avoid asking questions to test what your child remembers.
  7. Link stories to your own experiences (e.g. This reminds me of…)
  8. Read favourite stories over and over again. Get your child to join in with the bits they know.
  9. Read with enthusiasm. Don’t be embarrassed to try out different voices. Your child will love it.
  10. Read with enjoyment. If you’re not enjoying it, your child won’t.

To support reading for pleasure and enrichment for your child, parents can access a wide range of books and resources through Kent Libraries, both in person and online. Joining Kent Libraries is free and open to everyone, making it an excellent way to encourage reading and learning at home.

How to Join Kent Libraries

If you’re not already a member, registering is quick and easy:

  1. Visit the Kent Libraries website and complete the online registration form.
  2. Once registered, you’ll receive a basic library membership that allows you to:
    • Reserve items for collection from your chosen library or mobile library.
    • Access a variety of online resources such as e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and e-newspapers via platforms like Libby.

If you are already a library member, there is no need to register again; simply use your existing membership to start exploring their digital services.

Benefits of Accessing Libby

Libby is a fantastic app that provides free access to a world of e-books, audiobooks, and more—all you need is your library membership. Whether it’s bedtime stories for your children or finding your next great read, Libby makes it easy to enjoy reading from the comfort of home.

To find out more about library membership options or explore everything Kent Libraries has to offer, visit their website: https://kent.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN 

We hope you find this service valuable and encourage you to sign up to enjoy these fantastic resources with your children.