• Developing visual discrimination.
• Extracting information from pictures.
• Discriminating pictures and symbols.
• The reading of common sight vocabulary including identifying pictures, symbols and words.
• Modelling reading and handling of books.
• Relating sounds and speech to letter and letter combinations in reading.
• To use a wide range of reading strategies to decode text, relying mainly on phonics.

Redbridge High School uses a varied selection of reading books, big books, sensory books and ICT materials including interactive whiteboards to provide an appropriate bank of reading materials at all reading ability levels.
We appreciate that pupils will develop skills at differing rates so provide materials that will sustain interest and enjoyment of reading along with a positive attitude to books. We firmly believe that pupils should read for pleasure and enjoyment.

Writing

Writing and recording are closely related to reading and communication; they reinforce each other. In Redbridge High School we teach a wide range of reading and visual awareness activities and ensure that pupils cover a similar range of writing and recording activities. The context of pupils reading i.e. sensory stimuli, objects of reference, pictures, photographs, symbols and texts gives structures themes and purpose for their writing and recording, while the focussed teaching of writing and recording skills contributes to the development of their writing.
Redbridge High school uses a varied selection of adapted writing and recording equipment and software, such as StartWrite2, to contribute to the development of the pupils writing skills.