Reading at the Heart of Our Curriculum

At Emscote Infant School, we believe that high-quality children's literature is at the heart of learning. Carefully chosen books, known as our Book Spines, form the foundation of our English curriculum and support learning across the wider curriculum.

Our Book Spines provide children with rich, meaningful experiences through stories, poems, non-fiction texts and picture books. They help to develop a love of reading whilst also building children's vocabulary, comprehension, imagination and understanding of the world around them.

Why Do We Use Book Spines?

The books we select are chosen because they:

• Inspire a love of reading and storytelling.

• Expose children to ambitious and rich vocabulary.

• Reflect a diverse range of experiences, cultures and perspectives.

• Support children's personal, social and emotional development.

• Encourage curiosity, creativity and discussion.

• Provide meaningful links to wider curriculum topics.

By revisiting high-quality texts throughout their time at Emscote, children develop confidence as readers and writers while building a shared literary knowledge.

Supporting English

Our Book Spine texts are used as a stimulus for reading, writing, speaking and listening activities. Through these texts, children learn to:

• Explore characters, settings and themes.

• Develop comprehension skills.

• Build vocabulary and language understanding.

• Write for different purposes and audiences.

• Develop imagination and creativity.

• Express opinions and discuss ideas confidently.

The books provide meaningful contexts for writing and help children understand how authors use language to engage and inspire readers.

Supporting the Wider Curriculum

We have also developed Book Spine texts that carefully link to our other curriculum learning and help bring learning to life.

Through books, children can:

• Explore historical events and significant people.

• Learn about different places, environments and cultures.

• Develop scientific understanding and curiosity.

• Consider important themes such as friendship, diversity, resilience and belonging.

• Make connections between subjects and real-world experiences.

These links help children deepen their understanding and make learning more memorable.

Building a Reading Culture

We want every child to see themselves as a reader. Our Book Spine approach ensures that all children experience a wide range of high-quality literature, regardless of their reading ability or background.

By sharing and celebrating books together, we aim to nurture confident readers who develop a lifelong love of reading and learning.

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The person who never reads lives only one."

George R. R. Martin