Literacy matters. It matters because it supports wellbeing, confidence, and enables students to develop greater depths of knowledge. Literacy improves educational outcomes, opens up access to employment and allows young people to thrive in life beyond school.

One In A Million Free School has researched and developed a coherent reading programme to support students who require additional assistance with their reading. Robust reading assessments are carried out with Y7 students when they start at OIAMFS and for other students when they join the school. Assessments inform and determine which students receive Phonics (Ruth Miskin - Read Write Inc.) reading programmes. The Phonics classes are delivered by our SENCo and our Whole School Literacy Intervention Lead; both of who have received extensive Phonics training.

Our Y7 students who attend the Phonics (one hour a week) classes also have 1:1 reading with a member of staff (including SLT) four times a week. The Y8 students who attend the Phonics (one hour a week) classes also have a Y10 Reading Buddy who they meet with twice a week. To measure the impact of our reading programmes and to celebrate success, termly assessments (GL Assessments) are completed for targeted students which inform the next stages of the programme.

As well as our reading programmes we have also developed and implemented our Whole School approach to Literacy.

To promote reading for pleasure across the school:

• Our library is full of engaging and appropriate books for our students, including books chosen by our students. Our library has been designed to make it easier for our students to choose and find books. Our library showcases themed books (Halloween, Football, Graphic Novels and TikTok influenced books) and also displays books that are recommended by other students.

• Every KS3 student has a reading book from the library that they bring to school every day.
• Our library is open after school every day where students are free to read or choose books.
• We have a designated library lesson on the timetable once a week for KS3 students.
• KS3 students receive a designated vocabulary lesson once a week where they use Bedrock Learning (an online platform that supports students with grammar and vocabulary) to support their literacy.
• KS4 students who require additional support in their reading receive three Step Up To English lessons a week (the Y10 class is taught by our SENCo and the Y11 class is taught by the Head of English).
• Y7 - Y10 Form Tutors read three times a week to their form. Each year group votes for a different book that they want to hear and read.
• Pupil Premium students in Y7 and Y8 received six Letterbox Parcels across the year in 2023-2024, which contained books and numeracy resources.
• This year we have also gifted all Year 7 and Year 8 students with a free book of their choice.
• In December, we hosted a Book Fair (Scholastic) where students could purchase books.

To promote Disciplinary Literacy across the school

• Our subject teachers teach subject specific words in every lesson.
• All students write these keywords into a glossary in their exercise books every lesson.
• Teachers use the glossaries to help their students apply the keywords into their writing and verbal answers in lessons.