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Reading for Pleasure at Selly Oak
At Selly Oak Trust School, we are passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of reading. We believe that reading for pleasure unlocks creativity, confidence, and curiosity. To nurture this, we offer a range of exciting initiatives:
Book Vending Machine
Our unique vending machine is filled with a variety of exciting and accessible books for all ages and interests. Each week, teachers nominate students to receive tokens, which can be exchanged for a book to keep. So far, we’ve given away over 400 books; helping students build their own personal libraries and celebrate reading success.
Book Fairs
Every year, in partnership with Scholastic, we host a vibrant book fair where students can browse and discover a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction titles. This event encourages pupils to explore their passions and find new favourites. We also run a second-hand book sale, making reading even more accessible for everyone.
Form Time Reading
During form time, tutors read aloud to their students. Each term, a new title is chosen for each key stage, ensuring stories are engaging and age appropriate. This shared experience allows all learners, regardless of reading ability, to enjoy high-quality texts and explore a wide range of genres.
Author Visits
We regularly welcome authors into school to share their experiences and inspire our students. These visits provide a unique opportunity to learn about the writing process and spark creativity. We have been fortunate to welcome authors such as, Will Mabbit, Jack Meggitt-Phillips and Dan Worsley into our school.
School Library
At Selly Oak, we are proud to have a well-stocked library offering a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts. We regularly invite students to share suggestions for new titles and place orders to accommodate their requests, ensuring our collection reflects their interests.
Each term, we create themed displays that complement topics being studied in English. These displays encourage students to deepen their understanding by exploring additional texts related to the subject.
We also celebrate and commemorate significant world events through dedicated displays. Past themes have included Remembrance Day, International Women’s Day, Black History Month, and Cultural Diversity Day, helping students engage with global issues and broaden their perspectives.
Virtual Resources
At our school, we actively encourage students to read for enjoyment both in class and at home. To support this, we provide access to high-quality digital resources. All students can access Oxford Owl, an online platform offering a wide range of eBooks that can be read on computers, tablets, or phones, making reading convenient and accessible anywhere.
Students also benefit from the fantastic Reading Eggs program. This interactive platform allows them to browse a virtual library with a vast selection of titles and create a personalised reading area by choosing books that interest them. Every book can either be read aloud to the student or read independently, catering to all ability levels. This approach empowers students to select books based on their interests rather than their reading ability, fostering a love of reading and building confidence.
External Websites
The more children read at home, the more likely reading for pleasure will become a natural part of their lives. Below are some websites offering online reading materials. Remember, reading for pleasure isn’t limited to books—magazines, blogs, and reviews all count too!
Click on the Reading Wheel below and see what magical reading adventure it may take you on...