Reading and Literacy at New Line Learning Academy
Our Vision
At New Line Learning Academy, we believe that reading is the foundation of learning, personal growth, and future success. Our vision is to inspire a lifelong love of reading and foster a deep appreciation of literature in all our students.
Through reading, we seek to broaden students' cultural capital, helping them to understand different people, perspectives, and the wider world around them. By exposing students to a rich variety of texts, we aim to develop confident, curious, and informed readers who are equipped to thrive both academically and personally.
We are committed to improving literacy across the curriculum, enabling students to access increasingly challenging texts and develop a sophisticated and ambitious vocabulary. By strengthening reading skills and language knowledge, we empower students to communicate effectively, think critically, and achieve their full potential.
Our Library
Our Library is a welcoming and vibrant space that sits at the heart of our school community. Open during break and lunch times, and after school until 4pm, it provides students with the opportunity to explore a wide range of books and reading materials in a calm and supportive environment.
Students can enjoy:
- A diverse collection of fiction and non-fiction texts
- Graphic novels, classics, biographies, and contemporary literature
- Reading for pleasure opportunities
- Quiet spaces for independent reading and study
- Book recommendations and themed displays
- Support in choosing books that match their interests and reading level
Whether students are enthusiastic readers or just beginning their reading journey, there is something for everyone to discover.
Developing a Love of Reading
Reading for pleasure is at the centre of our approach to literacy. We encourage students to read widely and regularly, helping them to build confidence, imagination, empathy, and knowledge.
By engaging with a broad range of authors, genres, and viewpoints, students develop not only their reading skills but also a greater understanding of the world around them.
Our reading culture is supported through:
- Regular reading opportunities across the curriculum
- Library access during break and lunch times
- Reading recommendations and challenges
- Celebration of books, authors, and literary events
- Encouragement of independent reading habits
Sparx Reader
To support reading beyond the classroom, all students have access to Sparx Reader as part of their home learning programme.
Sparx Reader helps students to:
- Access a wide range of high-quality literature
- Develop reading fluency and comprehension
- Encounter and learn ambitious new vocabulary
- Build positive reading habits through regular practice
- Monitor their progress and celebrate achievements
By combining reading for pleasure with carefully designed literacy support, Sparx Reader ensures that every student has the opportunity to strengthen their reading skills and engage with a diverse range of texts.
Reading for Success
At New Line Learning Academy, we are committed to creating confident readers who enjoy reading, understand its value, and use it as a gateway to lifelong learning. Through our Library, curriculum reading opportunities, and Sparx Reader programme, we strive to ensure that every student develops the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm needed to succeed.
Reading Intervention at New Line Learning
At New Line Learning Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student develops the reading skills needed to succeed across the curriculum and beyond. Students' reading ability is regularly assessed using the New Group Reading Test (NGRT), which helps us identify strengths and areas for development. The assessment information enables us to place students on the most appropriate support pathway to meet their individual needs. Targeted interventions may include That Reading Thing, a structured phonics programme designed to improve decoding and fluency skills; Reciprocal Reading sessions, which develop comprehension through discussion and reading strategies; and Lexia, a personalised digital programme that supports reading, vocabulary, and literacy development. Progress is closely monitored through regular assessment, ensuring that students receive the right support at the right time and are able to make sustained improvements in their reading confidence, fluency, and comprehension.
