Literacy

At Gracefield School we consider Literacy to be central to a child's educational development. Confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing are essential to effective learning and thus form the basis of teaching in all subjects, including language lessons. It is our ambition for each child in our care to speak clearly and listen to others and read and write independently, with enthusiasm. The regular literacy hours give children the opportunity to study an exciting variety of texts and to experiment with different forms of writing.

From the early years, parents are encouraged to take an active part in sharing books with their children. Through exploring the pictures, characters and plots together, children develop real understanding and depth of knowledge.

Our structured reading scheme provides an important contact between home and school, as well as being a record of the development of the child's reading skills. Pupils make great progress with their reading because all teachers hear each child read individually, every day. 

Cook for Books

The classrooms are well-stocked with a wide selection of literature and each class has the opportunity once a month to raise additional funds to purchase new books for their classroom.  The children visit the school book shop and select a book each, up to the value of the funds raised. Parents and Grandparents are invited to donate cakes on the morning of their child's "Cook for Books", which are then sold later in the day.  The designated class contributes by spending a fun afternoon making and decorating cakes in school for the cake sale, which is open to the whole school and run by the cooks.    

The Library

We have a lovely library which is well stocked.  Ofsted complimented Gracefield on the Library as a resource, particularly its selection of non-fiction books. Each class has timetabled slots for the library and the children are encouraged to borrow a book to take home each week. The Reception class particularly enjoy borrowing the audio books. Classes often visit the library on an ad hoc basis to research particular topics.  

Our ultimate aim is to develop in our children an appreciation and genuine love of literature that will be with them for the rest of their lives.