KSS Literacy and Reading Strategy
At Kidsgrove Secondary School, we recognise that the ability to read fluently and comprehend age-appropriate texts is fundamental to accessing the secondary school curriculum. Students who struggle with reading often face significant challenges across all subjects, which can lead to long-term academic and personal disadvantages. Research consistently highlights the direct correlation between strong literacy skills and future success. Therefore, we are committed to making reading a key priority, ensuring that no student falls behind in their educational journey.
In addition to its academic significance, we also recognise the value of reading for personal enjoyment and intellectual curiosity. Our goal is to provide all students with opportunities to engage with a wide range of texts, fostering both their functional literacy and their love for books.
At Kidsgrove Secondary School, we have partnered up with Sparx Reader to add an additional layer to the reading strategy.
Sparx Reader is a reading, comprehension and vocabulary programme that gets all young people reading regularly to help improve their literacy and motivates them to read for pleasure.
Students take a test and then they choose a book according to their level. Sparx Reader will regularly check their understanding of the story throughout the book by asking question based on comprehension of the text they are reading. Students are rewarded Sparx Reader Points by reading carefully and over time, their literacy and reading abilities will improve.
Students always have a choice in what they read as this is important to develop our reading for pleasure culture.
Below you can find the outline of our three tiers of reading support at KSS that drive our literacy and reading strategy:
