Core framework

Key Area 1.2.1 – Reading Leadership Group

We expect Reading Schools to form a reading leadership group who input into the action plan and meet regularly to discuss progress and ideas.

The leadership group must:

• Include learners and the school librarian, if the school has one. It can also include teachers, support staff and Senior Management Team

• Meet regularly to discuss and implement plans

Key Area 1.2.2 – Learner role modelling

We expect Reading Schools to show how learners visibly promote reading and recommend books to one another.
Learners should act as reading role models in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Wearing ‘Ask me what I’m reading’ badges / lanyards

• Talking about books they’ve read in assembly / at whole-school occasions

• Creating learner-led recommendation lists for display

• Making learner-led shelf labels or signs

• Putting recommendation notes / bookmarks in books

• Making recommendation videos

• Making book trailers / vlogs

• Making learner-led book lists for staff

Watch our webinar short on 1.2.2 Learner role modelling

Key Area 1.2.3 – Visible staff role modelling across the school

We expect Reading Schools to demonstrate how all staff in the school show that they are readers.
Staff should act as reading role models in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Displaying signs

• Wearing lanyards or badges

• Talking about books they’ve read in assembly / at whole-school occasions / in a weekly class session

• Giving learners opportunities to see them reading

• Having 'guess the reader' displays with photos of staff favourite books or bookshelves

• Taking part in social media reading challenges, eg. 'post a photo of your reading lunch'

• Sharing book recommendation videos

Watch our webinar short on 1.2.3 Visible staff role modelling across the school

Key Area 1.2.4 – Staff development

We expect Reading Schools to support staff to develop their knowledge around reading for pleasure.

Schools should support staff development by completing both of the below mandatory actions:

• Key contact attending a Reading Schools CLPL session / webinar

• Staff are using Scottish Book Trust resources to widen knowledge around reading for pleasure

Watch our webinar short on 1.2.4 Staff development

Key Area 1.2.5 – Staff knowledge of contemporary children’s literature

We expect Reading Schools to support staff to develop their knowledge and awareness around contemporary children’s literature.

Schools should make staff aware of contemporary children’s literature by completing the below mandatory action:

• Sharing new book lists and other appropriate resources
  

Watch our webinar short on 1.2.5 Staff knowledge of contemporary children's literature

Key Area 1.3.1 – Whole-school action plan

We expect Reading Schools to submit an action plan detailing their aims for progressing their reading culture.

The action plan must:

• Be agreed by the reading leadership group

• Include a vision statement linked to school values

• Confirm that reading for pleasure is included in the School Improvement Plan / detail how actions support it

• Include plans to check progress

Key Area 1.3.2 – School environment

We expect Reading Schools to show how they have provided appealing and comfortable spaces to read in the school environment and make reading visible.

Schools should provide appealing and relaxing reading areas in collaboration with learners, and use displays to promote reading in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Having appealing reading areas throughout the school, eg. in shared spaces / corridors / within your school library area

• Creating classroom book corners / reading areas designed by learners (possibly as part of an enterprise project)

• Providing learners with cushions / encouraging them to turn over their chairs and relax when they're reading

• Creating themed book displays

• Displaying new book suggestions, eg. 'Hot Books' / 'Bookflix'

• Having displays about the power of reading

Watch our webinar short on 1.3.2 School environment

Key Area 1.5.1 – Access to high-quality books

We expect Reading Schools to provide up-to-date reading materials relevant to the needs, interests and experiences of all learners.

Schools should make sure that learners have access to contemporary and diverse reading materials relevant to their needs, interests and experiences by completing the below four mandatory actions:

• Providing learners with access to a school or public library ­­– this could take the form of class / group book boxes or a 'personal shopping experience' using library catalogues

• Involving learners in the selection of books and other reading materials

• Regularly updating books and other reading materials to ensure they are contemporary, diverse and relevant to the needs, interests and experiences of learners

• Encouraging learners to broaden their reading experience through a wide variety of genres

Watch our webinar short on 1.5.1 Access to high quality books

Key Area 2.2.1 – Regular opportunities to read for pleasure

We expect Reading Schools to ensure all learners have regular time to read texts of their own choosing.

Schools should ensure that all learners have regular time to read texts of their own choosing in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Having regular reading at registration / transition times / other times as appropriate

• Holding spontaneous DEAR time (Drop Everything and Read)

• Including reading for pleasure time in home learning

Watch our webinar short on 2.2.1 Regular opportunities to read for pleasure

Key Area 2.2.2 – Interdisciplinary book projects

We expect Reading Schools to offer exciting and engaging cross-curricular projects based around books that will inspire learners to read.

Schools should use book projects to inspire classes to read by completing the below mandatory action:

• Primary – ensuring every learner does one interdisciplinary project per year

• Secondary – ensuring every learner in S1–3 does one project per year (this can be in English lessons)

Watch our webinar short on 2.2.2 Interdisciplinary book projects

Key Area 2.3.1 – Modelling reading behaviours

We expect Reading Schools to give all learners the opportunity to hear a text aloud to widen their experience of stories.

At primary level schools should complete the below mandatory action:

• Class teachers to be routinely reading aloud to their class
  

At secondary level we recognise that it may be logistically difficult for staff to routinely read aloud to learners, but would like to see evidence of staff supporting learners to access the joy of reading and stories in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Teachers reading aloud to learners when possible

• Sharing stories / reading aloud to learners online

• Providing access to audiobooks, videos etc.

• Holding special storytelling events

Watch our webinar short on 2.3.1 Modelling reading behaviours

Key Area 2.3.2 – Staff meaningful conversations around books

We expect staff at Reading Schools to engage with all learners individually to support reading for pleasure.

Staff should ensure they know about learners' interests and have regular conversations with them about their personal reading in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Chatting with individual learners during whole-class reading time / other times as appropriate

• Using interest-based activities and follow-up discussions, eg. book quizzes, book genre tasting sessions

• Supporting individual learners with strategies for choosing a book they might like

• Providing regular reading recommendations for individual learners in line with their interests

Watch our webinar short on 2.3.2 Staff meaningful conversations around books

Key Area 2.3.3 – Creating learner social networks

We expect Reading Schools to facilitate learner social networks around reading to help them to discover their own reading identities.

Schools should allocate time for all learners to chat about books with each other in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Having a set time for peer discussion following ERIC time / other times as appropriate

• Introducing book speed-dating

• Playing Book Jenga to spark conversations around books

• Pairing up learners to chat about what they are currently reading – this could include famous character duo cards to randomise pairings

Watch our webinar short on 2.3.3 Creating social networks

Key Area 2.3.4 – Opportunities for learners to respond to what they’re reading

We expect Reading Schools to allow all learners to respond to what they’re reading in a variety of engaging ways that best suit their needs.

Schools should allow all learners to respond to what they’re reading in a variety of engaging ways that best suit their needs in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Reading journal or drawing

• Blog, vlog or book trailer

• Social media post

• Book review or recommendation for school newspaper or website

• Creative writing piece

• Use of expressive arts, eg. drama, music, dance etc.

• Enterprise project, eg. creating a school recipe book based on favourite books

Key Area 2.5.1 – Raising the profile of reading with families

We expect Reading Schools to involve learners’ families in building their reading culture.

Schools should engage with learners’ families to promote reading for pleasure by completing the below three mandatory actions:

• Providing access to books to take home / encouraging families to join their local library for access to books, ebooks and audiobooks

• Communicating with families about the school’s reading projects and signposting to appropriate resources or setting fun reading challenges

• Primary only – making the most of the P1 Bookbug Family Bag and Read, Write Count initiatives by sharing resources and encouraging the use of the bags at home

Watch our webinar short on 2.5.1 Raising the profile of reading with families

Key Area 3.2.1 – Rewarding progress and recognising personal achievements

We expect Reading Schools to recognise and celebrate the reading achievements of all learners.

Schools should reward the progress of individual learners in one of the below ways, or in another way that suits their setting:

• Presenting certificates

• Awarding small prizes such as bookmarks, stickers etc.

• Awarding points through the school's individual rewards system

• Having class / school awards to recognise effort, eg. 'reader of the week' or 'reader who has made the most recommendations' etc.

Watch our webinar short on 3.2.1 Rewarding progress and recognising personal achievements

Key Area 3.2.2 – Monitoring progress

We expect Reading Schools to use meaningful data to guide them and track progress.

Schools should track their progress by completing the below three mandatory actions:

• Using the Reading Schools attitude surveys to assess and monitor learners’ interests, engagement and confidence within reading for pleasure

• Monitoring the impact of your Reading Schools programme in ways most suited to your setting and activities

• Taking part in Scottish Book Trust evaluation, which will be sent to you once your accreditation has been confirmed