Foundational Knowledge & Skills

Reading

The Reading framework sets out the foundational knowledge and skills pupils should develop across Years 7, 8 and 9. The expectations build progressively so that pupils become increasingly fluent, independent and confident readers across a range of subjects, text types and levels of complexity.

Building towards automaticity

The expectation is that students in each year group can independently engage with and apply the skills outlined. Automaticity is key. Year 8 students should continue to apply Year 7 skills and knowledge accurately, while Year 9 students should continue to apply Year 8 skills and knowledge accurately. Securing these foundational skills provides a solid grounding of core and transferable reading skills for GCSE study.

Year 7 Securing these skills and knowledge
Year 8 Extending, developing and applying these skills and knowledge
Year 9 Refining these skills and knowledge

Reading Toolkit

The supporting Reading Toolkit provides detailed descriptions, cross-curricular examples, teaching models and intended outcomes for each expectation. Select any expectation above to go directly to its supporting guidance.

Explore the full Reading Toolkit →