Literacy
At Deer Park Secondary School, reading is woven into the fabric of everyday learning. Whether in the classroom or beyond, students are encouraged to engage with a wide range of texts. Our goal is to ensure that every student develops the essential reading skills needed to thrive—both academically and in life.
Reading in Tutor Time:
At Deer Park, our Tutor Time Non-Fiction Reading Programme helps students build background knowledge, vocabulary, and confidence through short, structured reading sessions.
Each week, students read a non-fiction text chosen for its cultural or historical significance. These texts expose students to thousands of rich academic words and important topics across the curriculum.
The reading process follows four clear steps:
- Predict and Preload – Students make predictions about the text and explore key vocabulary before reading.
- Read – Tutors model fluent reading aloud, helping students hear accurate pronunciation and expression.
- Comprehend – Students answer questions and discuss key ideas to ensure understanding.
- Summarise – Students consolidate their learning by explaining the text in their own words.
By embedding extended reading into tutor time and linking topics across different subjects, we promote literacy as a skill for life — not just in English lessons, but across the entire curriculum.
Word of the Week:
Tier 2 vocabulary are challenging, ambitious words that don’t usually crop up in day-to-day conversation. These are the words that allow us to access academic texts, such as high-level literature, newspaper articles and exam papers. While these words aren’t used that often in casual dialogue, they are essential to unlocking learners’ potential in academia - for this reason, they often need explicit teaching in the classroom.
This is where the Word of the Week becomes a vital part of our approach to literacy during tutor time at Deer Park.
At Deer Park, all year groups take part in our Word of the Week initiative. Each week, tutors introduce students to the same new word. The word is displayed and read aloud, and tutors guide a discussion about its morphology—how the word is formed and structured.
Students and tutors explore who might use the word and in what contexts it could be appropriately applied. Each student records the Word of the Week and its definition in their planner. To encourage active use of new vocabulary, students can earn Value Points for Ambition and Excellence when they use the Word of the Week accurately during tutor time and in lessons.
Pupils also have the added fun of the weekly ‘Weird and Wonderful words’!
Reading in lessons:
Students are introduced to and taught content in their lessons using frequent exposure to high quality texts in all their academic subjects. They are taught to read, speak and write using academic vocabulary – students regularly ‘read like’ historians, biologists and literary scholars.
Reading for pleasure and the library:
Students can visit the library every day before and after school, and at break and lunch times. We have a growing library with lots of exciting texts, and a full-time librarian to help advise and support students in finding the best reading material. We also regularly update our newsletter with recommended reads!
Reading challenges:
At Deer Park, we inspire a love of reading through our Reading Miles Challenge, where students embark on an exciting literary journey. Every 30 minutes of reading they complete takes them closer to a new destination on the map. As they log their reading miles and explore new places, students earn Ambition and Excellence Value Points—rewarding both their effort and enthusiasm for reading.
At Deer Park, we also proudly take part in the Readathon, a sponsored reading initiative run by the UK charity Read for Good. As part of the event, students set their own personal reading goals and seek sponsorship from family and friends. The funds raised not only help us to purchase new books for our school, but also support Read for Good’s mission to provide books and storytelling sessions for children in hospitals and schools across the UK. It's a wonderful way for students to enjoy reading while making a real difference to others.
Special events:
At Deer Park, we enrich our students’ reading experiences through a variety of exciting events throughout the school year. These include author visits, poetry workshops, and live theatre performances—all designed to bring literacy to life. Highlights include a visit from Ele Fountain, author of our Year 7 transition novel Fake and an upcoming engaging poetry and spoken word workshops with Rob Bradley from The Rap School for Year 9. These events inspire a deeper love of reading and help students connect with literature in creative, memorable ways.
Reading Support
At Deer Park, we are committed to ensuring that every student develops the essential reading skills needed to thrive beyond the classroom. For those who need additional support, we offer targeted intervention through our Rapid Reader Programme and Reading Ambassadors sessions. These initiatives are specifically designed to help Year 7 students improve their reading fluency and word recognition. Rapid Readers is delivered by our experienced team of Learning Mentors, while the Reading Ambassadors sessions are led by a group of trained and trusted Year 9 and 10 students, providing younger pupils with peer support and encouragement.
Parent Support
At Deer Park, we believe that reading is not only a key to academic success but also a gateway to imagination, empathy, and lifelong learning. As parents and carers, you play a vital role in shaping your child’s attitude to reading. Here are some tried-and-tested tips to help make reading a positive and rewarding part of your child’s everyday life:
Make Books Readily Available
Keep books visible and accessible throughout your home—on shelves, in bedrooms, even in the car. When books are easy to reach, children are more likely to pick them up spontaneously.
Limit Screen Time
Reducing access to screen-based entertainment can create space for reading to become the go-to activity. It’s easier to fall into a good book when digital distractions are kept in check.
Link Reading to Real Life
Help your child see how reading connects to their world—whether it’s following a recipe, understanding instructions for a new game, or reading about a favourite hobby or sport.
Talk About Why Reading Matters
Have conversations about the value of reading—how it builds knowledge, supports schoolwork, improves vocabulary, and opens doors in life. When children see reading as useful, they're more likely to value it.
Make Reading a Family Value
Celebrate curiosity! Be the kind of family that praises learning, asks questions, and explores new ideas. When children see that reading is valued at home, they’re more likely to adopt the same mindset.
Read and Talk About Books Together
Reading doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Take turns reading aloud, discuss favourite parts of a story, or ask questions about what your child is reading. It makes reading social and enjoyable.
Give Books as Gifts
Books make thoughtful presents! Gifting books for birthdays, holidays or milestones helps your child associate reading with joy, celebration, and personal growth.
Let Them Read Where and What They Love
Avoid insisting on how, where, or what your child reads—especially if they’re already engaged. A cosy corner and a comic book can be just as valuable as a desk and a novel.
Choose the Right Level
Look for books that are challenging enough to promote learning but not so hard that they become frustrating. Your child’s teacher or school librarian can help guide you to the right choices.
Keep It Positive
It’s tempting to correct or critique reading habits—but resist the urge. Encouragement builds confidence; criticism can cause reading reluctance. Focus on progress and effort.
Connect Reading to Their Passions
Whether it’s football, fashion, gaming, or animals—there’s a book for that. Linking reading to your child’s personal interests makes it more relevant and enjoyable.
Use Social Media to Spark Interest
Platforms like BookTok, book blogs, or YouTube reviews can be great for discovering new titles and seeing how other young people engage with reading. Just be sure the content is age-appropriate.
Tap Into Current Events
Magazines, news apps, or articles about trending topics can hook your child’s attention and help them understand the world around them—all while developing reading skills.
By creating a home where reading is encouraged, supported, and celebrated, you’re helping your child build habits that will benefit them for life. Thank you for being a key part of our reading community at Deer Park!