Why prep school literacy is so important
Childhood is a time when the love of reading and literature has the chance to blossom and with the freedom and flexibility of the summer holidays there is no better time to get reading!
So let’s get ready to ignite your child’s love of literature and really help them prepare for the busy winter term ahead, September will be here before we know it!
Miss Joanne Chinnock, our Head of Prep School and expert in Early Years Learning is here to talk us through the the benefits of encouraging a healthy relationship with literature from the ages of 4 to 10 and how the summer holidays are the perfect time to bond with your children over a good book. Hear what Miss Chinnock has to say:
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Miss Joanne Chinnock, Head of Westbourne Prep
Do you remember the feeling of being swept away by your favourite childhood characters, of them coming to life in your imagination? Moonface and Saucepan Man in Enid Blyton’s, The Magic Faraway Tree, were particular favourites of mine.
School summer holidays are the perfect time to encourage children to fall in love with reading and a great opportunity to discover reading as one of life’s ultimate relaxation tools. As well as providing an escape from life’s stresses, reading is often cited as being a tonic for the soul and of course, it offers a wonderful opportunity for your child to fully immerse themselves in their imagination.
Across all ages, reading organically increases vocabulary, with children, it encourages problem-solving skills, extends knowledge and develops imagination. All great habits, but learning to enjoy a book takes practice. A child is more likely to become a more habitual reader if they choose a book that interests them.
Remember,
“you might want your 8-year old to settle down on the beach reading a historical novel, but if they will be more engaged with the most recent ‘Ripley’s Believe it or not’ … let them!”
Summer reading can mean being read to!
Children are never too old to be read to, and sitting down to hear parents, school teachers or even older siblings read and articulate new vocabulary to them, is an excellent way to learn new things.
Mindfulness in education is something that more and more schools are practising, and being read to allows children to relax and stretch their imagination without switching on the television.
Children who are read to not only develop advanced fluency skills but also develop crucial listening and attention skills too. As children grow in confidence and actively choose books of interest to either read independently, or share, they become even more invested in both the stories and their own success.
At Westbourne, we also highly value our excellence in STEM, an ideology that carries from Nursery, through Prep, GCSE and all the way to IB Diploma. The skills learnt and the information consumed through early years reading helps lay the foundation of knowledge essential not just in literature but STEM too.
Summer reading is better together!
Summer is the perfect time to get children reading out loud, so shout it out this summer! Reading out loud develops those all-important skills of learning fluency, understanding when to use intonation and exploring how to use expression when reading. Developed within the home, or holiday environment, reading out loud inevitably builds overall confidence.
Here at Westbourne, we firmly believe that becoming a confident reader is the bedrock of a successful education. Discussing and sharing books with your child can help build empathy and support problem solving around some of life’s challenges.
The books on this list are very much a guide, and don’t be afraid to explore beyond the recommendations. If your child is finding those first words difficult, just look at the books a little below the guide age – the aim is to build confidence and fluency. Or, if your child has a reading age well above their actual age, explore books which stretch beyond the guide age.
A great way to develop is to spend time with a child reading a book which is ‘just right’, then explore a book which may be a little more challenging as a ‘read out loud’ book. Confidence and literacy going hand-in-hand.
Top summer reads for early years (Reception to Year 2)
Britannica: First Big Book Of Why
This book is designed for inquisitive children who are keen to explore the whys and wherefores for the world around them. There are plenty of mind boggling images, bold infographics and eye opening facts that appeal to children from the age of 5 and above (not to mention an insightful read for parents too).
Salty Dogs is a classic pirate adventure told in the perfect tone for children. The characters go on wild adventures searching high and low for treasure. The images are perfectly designed to enhance your children’s vivid imagination with well placed speech bubbles and lots of creative illustrations.
Don’t Look In This Book by Samuel Langley-Swain
This rhyming couplet filled book with a quirky cover is perfect for encouraging reluctant readers to read aloud in front of friends. The imaginative journey and creative twists enhance the readers ability to develop their own creative writing skills in the classroom.
This absolute classic is the perfect book to read together. Another imaginative tale told by one of Cardiff’s very own, the BFG has been a story told to generations of children that simply never gets old. It is a great way to share your very own reading experiences with your children. At Westbourne, as a Cardiff independent school, we take pride in celebrating the authors who lived and wrote locally to us.
Other great reads include:
- We Eat Bananas by Katie Abey
- Hair, It’s A Family Affair! by Mylo Freeman
- Look Up! by Nathan Bryon
- My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin
Top summer reading picks for Year 3 – Year 5 in 2022
The Accidental Prime Minister by Tom McLaughlin
A book based on a viral video that results in schoolboy Joe’s election to Number 10, this fictional tale is all about filling children with the confidence to be who they want to be and speak out about issues that are important to them. At Westbourne we are all about sculpting well rounded individuals through elite academic excellence and the best independent school education.
The Bee Is Not Afraid Of Me by Fran Long and Isabel Galleymore
This book is an anthology of lots of different creative and insightful poems that both educate and entertain its reader. The poems are an excellent way to enhance the Westbourne STEM curriculum and Westbourne’s FAB (Forest and Beach) School. At Westbourne, incorporating a blend of classroom and location based learning is essential to pupil growth and wellbeing. To stretch your child with at-home, further-reading is a great way to bridge the gap between home and school and keep them engaged.
The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson
This witty take on the legend of the abominable snowman is a real page turner for 7- 10 year olds. Two passionate children decide to combat the hunting of the abominable snowmen and go out on their own to save these beloved creatures. As a tale filled with all sorts of twists, turns and cliffhangers, this story is perfect to read aloud with parents or siblings.
Other great reads include:
- How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
- Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
- A Kid in My Class by Rachel Rooney
- Ninja Kid by Anh Do
- Charlie Changes Into a Chicken by Sam Copeland
There are plenty of bookshops in and around Penarth and Cardiff who are happy to help support the literary needs of any child or parent who is interested in reading this summer. Griffin Books or Wellfield Book Shop are two Penarth and Cardiff based establishments with an excellent reputation for well sourced books for children and adults alike to enhance the literary knowledge of children and adults alike this summer.
Happy reading!