Enhancing Reading Experiences in Key Stage 2 – Session 3

We’ve teamed up with the Wandle Learning Trust to provide a series of free training sessions for schools on enhancing reading experiences in Key Stage 2. This series of CPD sessions draws on the Reading Framework and the latest research to transform reading practices. Each session explores a different aspect of reading and features guest speakers, as well as case studies from primary schools. 

The third session in April 2025 explored the topic, ​‘How effectively are you engaging your in-school and wider school community in reading?’ 

Three primary schools and the Wandle Learning Trust shared their strategies. Below is a summary of each approach, along with session recordings and tips on which schools might find them useful. 

Wandle Learning Partnership

This video focuses on the differences between reading instruction (teaching skills such as decoding and comprehension) and reading for pleasure, with the main goal of finding a balance between both. 

Involving parents in their children’s reading development can have a huge impact, with engaged families helping to improve reading progress by up to five months. Schools can use different strategies to engage families, including tools like the Department for Education (DfE) Reading Framework and Open University resources. 

The session provides fantastic practical ideas and resources for teachers, such as parent workshops and events, social media campaigns like #MyDadReads, and book swap initiatives to foster a reading community. 

Useful for schools who: 

• Aim to build both reading skills and reading for pleasure 
• Are looking for ways to engage families and promote reading in school 
• Are looking to improve reading culture 

Tidbury Green Primary School

Tidbury Green is a growing school with a diverse community. The school focuses on understanding each child’s reading preferences and encouraging community involvement. In this video, Headteacher Ros shares the school’s strategies for promoting reading for pleasure. 

Ros’s tips for promoting reading include pairing older and younger students to read together, creating a ​‘reading champions’ programme, and inviting authors for visits. She suggests sharing book recommendations, using a book vending machine, and setting up ​‘book buddies’ for shared reading. For ideas on how to set up paired reading in your school, visit our Resources for Teachers page. 

Students can vote on class books and books displayed around the school spark book talk. Scheduling reading time and library visits, showcasing student recommendations in local bookshops and hosting parent workshops all strengthen community engagement. 

Useful for schools who: 

• Want to encourage a love of reading through fun, student-led initiatives 
• Seek creative ways to involve parents in reading activities 
• Aim to build a whole-school reading culture 

Chesterton Primary School

Rosina, Year 5 teacher and English Lead at Chesterton Primary in South West London, talks about a few key initiatives they’ve tried, including the ​‘reading spotlight area’ in the front office – regularly updated with books linked to students” reading, and library visits every half term, where pupils select and borrow books. 

The school also hosts author events and ​‘reading breakfasts’ on World Book Day, promoting family engagement. The ​‘big book vote’ lets students choose the next class read, while shared reading sessions pair older and younger pupils. The reading for pleasure book club supports reluctant readers, and a staff book club encourages adults in school to model reading. These initiatives foster a reading culture at Chesterton Primary. 

Useful for schools who: 

• Want to strengthen their reading culture 
• Aim to engage families in reading 
• Need creative ways to support reluctant readers 
• Want to develop student leadership in reading 
• Need ideas on how to draw families’ attention to reading in school 

The Glapton Academy

Chloe, English and Key Stage 1 Lead at Glapton Primary in Nottingham, explains the school’s efforts to improve reading for pleasure. Feedback revealed that older students, especially in Year 6, enjoyed reading less, and parents felt unsupported at home. 

This challenge was addressed in different ways. Staff received training on the impact of reading for pleasure to understand how important it is to make reading the bedrock of a school’s curriculum. A new slogan was also introduce – ​“Reading is the bedrock of our curriculum”. The curriculum was revamped with engaging strategies like echo and choral reading, and the library was updated with books that matched pupils” interests. A whole-school reading culture developed with initiatives like Story Squad, outdoor reading trolleys, and the Reading Rocketeers programme. 

As a result, parent support for reading increased from 32% to 80%, and student enjoyment rose, with Year 5 (now Year 6) improving from 45% to 73%. The school won the Leading Parent Partnership Award, with reading at the heart of their success. 

Useful for schools who: 

• Want to increase parental involvement in reading 
• Need cost-effective strategies for promoting Reading for Pleasure 
• Find it challenging to engage older pupils in reading 
• Are aiming to build a school-wide reading culture 

For further guidance, please download this resource.

Thank you to Wandle Learning Partnership for developing such inspiring training and to the schools for demonstrating some fantastic practical ideas that will help other primary schools with their reading environments. 

We have one more session taking place with Wandle Learning Trust in the ​‘Enhancing Reading Experiences in KS2’ series. 

Book your place below: 

• Session 4 – Friday 6 June 1.30 – 4.00pm: How sustainable is your reading for pleasure approach? Book a free place here.

See our previous training sessions for schools