What Is BERT?

Becontree’s Everyone Reading Together (BERT) is our school’s approach to helping children develop their early reading skills through adult-led group reading.

Children read phonically decodable books that allow them to practise the sounds and spelling patterns they have been taught. Working with an adult, they develop their ability to recognise sounds, blend them together and read words accurately.

Regular opportunities to practise and reread familiar texts help children build confidence and fluency, allowing them to focus increasingly on understanding and enjoying what they read.

How Do We Use BERT at Becontree?

BERT forms part of the reading curriculum for all children in Year 1, providing regular opportunities to apply their phonics knowledge through reading.

In Year 2, some children receive additional BERT sessions when they need further support with decoding and blending. These sessions help children strengthen the foundational reading skills they need before moving on to more challenging texts.

Children work with an adult in a small group, reading phonically decodable books carefully selected to match the sounds and spelling patterns they are learning.

During these sessions, children have opportunities to:

• Apply their phonics knowledge to decode unfamiliar words.
• Practise blending sounds together to read words accurately.
• Reread familiar texts to develop fluency and confidence.
• Discuss what they have read to develop their understanding.

Adults listen carefully to children's reading, provide support where needed and use what they observe to identify the next steps in their reading development.

How Can I Support My Child at Home?

Regular reading at home gives children valuable opportunities to practise the skills they are developing in school.

Encourage your child to use their phonics knowledge when they encounter an unfamiliar word. Give them time to recognise the sounds and blend them together, rather than guessing from the pictures or the first letter.

Rereading familiar books can also help children develop accuracy and fluency. As reading becomes more automatic, children can focus more of their attention on understanding and enjoying the story.

If you would like advice about supporting your child's reading at home, please speak to their class teacher.