Tutor time

At Dene, tutor time is used to reinforce students’ reading skills and to foster an enjoyment of reading, across a range of texts and genres. Both fiction and non-fiction texts are covered: modern texts as well as 20th century and pre-1900.

One tutor time session each fortnight focuses on this scheme, where tutors read a chosen extract from our Guided Reading booklets. Discussions take place on these, followed by students working independently to answer a series of questions, focusing on different levels of meaning. Students then feedback on these, with tutors sharing their views too.

In alternate weeks, we focus on improving students’ level of spelling, which we see as an essential skill as they progress through school. On a termly basis, they are provided with a series of spellings, which they are tested upon, fortnightly. We would strongly urge parents to encourage their children to learn these spellings and think of ways in which they might support them – perhaps by looking through the spellings with them, prior to each test.

Prizes and certificates are awarded on a regular basis, as a reward for doing well in both of the above schemes!