READING Portfolio
Books are a uniquely portable magic - Stephen King
At John Burns Primary School, our intent is to:
- Recognise that reading is the core skill to everything that children do. It is integral to our school curriculum and a fundamental life skill that impacts on the acquisition of knowledge.
- Develop fluent, independent and reflective readers who are confident to talk about books and authors.
- Develop a consistent approach to reading across KS2.
- Develop children’s skills in both word reading and comprehension.
- Encourage children to become enthusiastic and reflective readers through contact with challenging and lengthy texts.
- Provide strong reading provision to develop children who read independently for pleasure and purpose.
- Enable children to access a variety of high quality texts that are engaging and exciting.
- Enable children to appreciate their literary heritage and their own place in the modern world.
Reading Ambassadors
Children at John Burns Primary School have the opportunity to take on leadership roles. We currently have 10 Reading Ambassadors. Children are selected to be Reading Ambassadors based on their attitude towards reading and their passion for books and all things reading.
Their responsibilities include:
- Creating reading competitions and challenges for the whole school
- Organising the school library
- Updating class book corners with up-to-date texts
- Reading to younger children
Reading Ambassador Team
Reading Ambassador Visit to Waterstones - 06/12/23
The Reading Ambassadors visited Waterstones and each chose a text to promote and share with their class.
World Book Day 2024
Mini Grey Author Visit - 19/10/23
Book Donations and Pre-loved Books
Fortnightly Reading Raffles
Children who read regularly and fill in their reading record are entered into a fortnightly reading raffle. Raffle entrants receive a golden token in their reading record and have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, including Smiggle stationery.
National Poetry Day – 6th October 2022
Each class received their own anthology to fill with their favourite poems.
Back to My Roots Week 2022
All Aboard the Windrush! BigFoot Arts Workshop – 10th October 2022
Author Visit from Wendy Shearer – 13th October 2022
A quote from author Wendy Shearer:
"This is The Inspiration Wall at John Burns Primary School with stories written by Year 6 pupils after my visit last year. They wrote their own endings and adaptations of stories inspired by my book of African and Caribbean Folktales, Myths and Legends! I was so thrilled to read their crafted stories. It was such a pleasure to see this wall dedicated to my book and their stories during my return visit today as part of their “Back to My roots” week."
https://wendyshearer.co.uk/?s=john+burns
Assembly Book Requests/Wish List – 14th October 2022
In the Autumn Term, children across the school had the opportunity to create book wish lists. Each class was given a budget of £100. to choose new books for their class reading corner.
Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge Certificate Assembly – Autumn 2022
Local Author Visit – 5th December 2022
Visit from author Marina Dane to launch new book – The Adventures of Astrorex 
National Storytelling Week – Spring 1
Children in Year 6 shared a story with Reception children. 
World Book Day 2023
Stand Out Costumes
World Book Day 2023 – EYFS Parade
World Book Day 2023 – Book Tasting Café
To celebrate World Book Day, children in Year 1 to Year 6 had the opportunity to different books in our Book Tasting Café. Children were read to by teachers and parents throughout the morning.
World Book Day 2023 – Mystery Fictional Character Visit
Children in Year 2 to Year 5 were invited to examine a series of clues to discover which fictional character visited our school library.
Reception Library Visit March 2023
Children in Reception have had the opportunity to visit Battersea Library and share some of their favourite stories.
