At Purley Primary School we strive to create a text-rich environment for all of our children which appeals to their interests. We have a variety of reading schemes, which include Oxford Reading Tree and Big Cat and these books are colour banded according to difficulty throughout the school. There is a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry in all of the colour bands. This allows our pupils to have breadth and choice with their reading material. Alongside these home reading books children participate in guided reading sessions which promote and practise the higher order reading skills. Children are prepared to answer a variety of question types, such as inference and deduction, skimming and scanning, information retrieval and the ability to read texts critically.

Reading is carefully monitored and children are encouraged to read for understanding and pleasure. The children participate in high quality discussions and make predictions based on what they have read. As children's reading skills develop, they learn to read for information from the wealth of books in classrooms or the school library.

VIPERS is a mnemonic to aid adults facilitating the reading process as well as acting as an aid for the pupils.

Please click on the appropriate file below to open up the useful sets of question stems for each of the VIPERS. These can be downloaded for your use at home to support your child with their reading comprehension skills

Supporting Your Child's Reading

We all know that reading is fundamental to the development of children. Countless research shows the links between good reading skills from an early age and future success in life. However we also know it can be hard to get children really excited by books, given the many other exciting leisure time activities fighting for their attention.

How You Can Help at Home?

Spending just 10 minutes a day reading with your child can make a huge difference. Here are some ways to make reading a shared and enjoyable experience: 

• Read together: Share the reading by taking turns or listen as your child reads their schoolbook. You can also read aloud to them from a storybook. Discuss new words, characters, and themes as you go along.
• Make it part of your routine: Regular reading time creates lasting memories and supports learning.

Tips for Encouraging Reading at Home

• Create a reading-friendly environment: Always have books available so your child can pick one up anytime.
• Visit your local library: Get a library card and explore the wealth of free books available.
• Follow their interests: Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, comics, or poetry, help your child find books that capture their imagination.
• Embrace all kinds of reading: Graphic novels, magazines, audiobooks and even leaflets are valuable — reading is reading!
• Get cosy: Find a comfy spot to read together, like on the sofa or in bed.
• Ask engaging questions: Keep them curious by asking, “What do you think happens next?” or “Can you remember what we read last time?”
• Seize every opportunity: Bring books along for moments of downtime, such as waiting at the doctor’s office.
• Revisit favourites: Re-reading builds fluency and confidence.
• End the day with a story: Bedtime stories are a wonderful way to wind down and bond with your child.
• Choose books with rhyme and repetition: These encourage children to join in and remember the words.

LoveReading4Schools is the biggest and best recommendation site for children’s books. The Editorial Experts have worked hard to produce a series of comprehensive lists for readers of all year groups. Their overall mission is to promote reading for pleasure with quality texts that are perfectly pitched for the age group and the curriculum. They have particularly avoided blockbusters, classic or set texts, known to everyone, so that they can include poetry, stunning information texts and inspirational books in which all children and young people can find themselves reflected. These are updated every academic year.

As a sister site LoveReading4Kids was launched in October and they offer a variety of FREE services for parents and anyone who is interested in buying the best books for boys and girls of all ages. This site includes a brand new KIDS’ ZONE, an area designed specifically for children with competitions, quizzes and additional book related content.

Browse reading lists from lovereading4schools using the link below to help choose exciting and new literature for your child:

https://www.lovereading4schools.co.uk/lists