Reading & The Library

Reading

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri

At Cedar Mount Academy we recognise that reading is the foundation of everything that we do. We ensure that all students have access to reading across all aspects of our curriculum.

Our rationale:

The EEF states: “While most students begin secondary school with the general skills and knowledge needed to read accurately, fluently and with comprehension, some do not’.
Cedar Mount Academy will provide every student with reading skills that are functional, ensuring that students are actively engaged with complex texts across the whole curriculum.:
Cross curricular success is determined by a child’s ability to able to read fluently. 
Our curriculum is text rich so our students can read effectively in order to understand, make sense of and take meaning from the myriad of texts presented to them.

There are many studies into the benefits of reading for pleasure. Some of the ways in which reading has been found to be life enhancing are:

Improved reading attainment and writing ability;
Enhanced text comprehension and grammar;
Wider breadth of vocabulary;
Positive reading attitudes;
Greater self-confidence as a reader;
Increased pleasure in reading in later life;
Having a better understanding of other cultures;
Increased community participation; and
A greater insight into human nature and decision-making.

At CMA, we do not want any pupil to be left behind in their reading, so we identify gaps in reading skills quickly and intervene when necessary. All pupils at KS3 are assessed using NGRT (New Group Reading Test). The data provided ensures all teachers are aware of the reading ability of their pupils and support them accordingly. This data is used to determine which students will access either Fresh Start Phonics or the Lexonik programme, these are literacy interventions which can rapidly improve students reading ages so that they can access all areas of the curriculum.

At Key Stage 3, as part of their English lessons, time is being dedicated where pupils read a text chosen by their teacher. In addition, once a week, they have one of their English lessons in the library where they spend time developing their literacy and oracy skills.

There is a reading component in all lessons in all subjects. In our school, every teacher is a teacher of reading. We want our pupils to be exposed to reading in every lesson. The aim is for pupils to become more fluent readers and will aid comprehension. All teachers have received professional development on how to incorporate reading into their lessons, and how to promote reading skills to pupils. As regards vocabulary, departments routinely include explicit teaching of Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary. In addition pupils in KS3 use Bedrock as part of their English lessons to improve their vocabulary.

How will my Child be supported in school and how can I help at home?

Bedrock Vocabulary is an online learning platform that helps students build and strengthen their vocabulary, which is essential for reading, writing, and overall academic success. Through engaging, interactive lessons using our school laptops and computers, students learn new words in context, practise them regularly, and track their progress over time. The platform supports learners across all subjects by improving their ability to understand complex texts and express themselves clearly. At home, parents can support by encouraging regular use of Bedrock, celebrating progress, and discussing new words together. Consistent use of Bedrock helps boost confidence, comprehension, and long-term academic achievement across all subjects in the curriculum.

Fresh Start Phonics is a targeted reading programme designed to help older students who need extra support with reading and spelling. We have specialist staff at Cedar Mount Academy to deliver these interventions. We use a structured, step-by-step approach to teach phonics—the sounds that letters make—helping students decode words more confidently and accurately. Delivered in small groups, the programme builds reading fluency, comprehension, and writing skills through engaging texts and regular practice. Fresh Start Phonics boosts confidence and supports students in accessing the full curriculum. Parents can support at home by encouraging reading for pleasure and practising sounds and spellings. With consistent effort, students make rapid progress and become more independent readers.

Lexonik Leap is a targeted literacy intervention programme designed to help students who find reading and spelling particularly challenging, including those with English as an Additional Language (EAL). It focuses on closing phonics gaps through age-appropriate, structured activities that build confidence and foundational literacy skills quickly. The programme begins with a diagnostic assessment to identify each learner’s specific needs, allowing for a personalised learning pathway. Lexonik Leap covers key areas such as phoneme-grapheme correspondence, word building, high-frequency words, vowel digraphs, and prefixes, ensuring a comprehensive approach to literacy development. Delivered in small groups, Lexonik Leap is ideal for older students and EAL learners who require additional support. The programme is designed to be efficient, minimising time away from the curriculum while maximising progress. Educators receive comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure effective delivery and sustained impact.

The Library

Developing reading habits enables all students to be successful across every subject in the curriculum.

Our Library has all the tools, resources and support you will need to develop as an independent learner.

Reading is very important to us at Cedar Mount Academy. All students study a wide range of novels, plays, texts and poetry in their English lessons. This is both at Key Stage 3 and at GCSE where all students study GCSE English Literature as well as English Language. We are keen to ensure our texts are matched to the diverse mix of students in our school.

All our classes in Years 7 to 9 spend one hour a week during their English lesson in the school library where they spend the first part of the lesson developing their oracy skills through a focused class discussion article with a theme linked to the wider world. The remainder of the lesson is spent on independent reading.

Reading is also supplemented in school by:

Dedicated time every week with form tutors reading a class novel
Regular book fayres, authors into school and performances of key texts
Theatre visits and workshops in school on Shakespeare, Dickens and other key authors

Our library is a learning environment containing resources that have been specially selected by teachers and library staff to help you succeed in your studies. In addition, there is a wide range of literature to extend your learning beyond the curriculum and encourage reading for pleasure. Our library is managed by a full time librarian.

In the library, you can find a range of resources, including computers, magazines and journals and a wide range of seating for students to use.

The library is open daily at break, lunchtime and after school with different year groups allowed access at lunchtime each day. Our students use it well, and the role of assistant librarian can be applied for each year across all year groups in school.