Why We Love Reading

At St Catherine's, we believe that reading opens doors to imagination, knowledge and lifelong learning. It is at the heart of everything we do, helping children to develop confidence, curiosity and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

This year, our Year 5 children have had the privilege of reading each week with our wonderful volunteer reader, Ian Smith. Every Thursday and Friday afternoon, Ian spends time listening to children read, encouraging them to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary, use dictionaries independently and develop their confidence as readers.

Ian says that while he enjoys supporting the children, he has learnt just as much from them. From fascinating facts about dinosaurs and fossils to detailed discussions about Boeing 747 aircraft, every session has been filled with enthusiasm, conversation and discovery.

Inspired by these reading sessions, Ian and Miss Harrison asked the children one simple question:

"Why do you love reading?"

The responses were thoughtful, honest and incredibly moving. Many children spoke about the sense of calm that reading brings, while others described how books help them to learn new things, discover new vocabulary or transport them to exciting imaginary worlds.

Their answers have been brought together in our 'Why We Love Reading' display, celebrating reading through the children's own words.

We would like to thank Ian for the incredible generosity, enthusiasm and encouragement he has shown throughout the year. We are also grateful to our parents, grandparents and carers who support reading at home. Every story shared, every page turned and every conversation about a book helps our children to flourish as readers.

We hope you enjoy reading our children's wonderful reflections as much as we have.