DHFS Scholastic Book Club Launch – To celebrate WBD, and, as part of the wider Year of Reading 2026, we are pleased to announce the launch of the DHFS Scholastic Book Club!We know how important it is for children to own books at home and that the power of choice is vital for encouraging reading for pleasure. Books bought through the Book Club are available at pocket-money prices and, even better, for every £1 you spend, our school will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards! A great way for parents to give back at no extra cost.Go to https://clubs.scholastic.co.uk/C-RCXRB4PW to browse the latest books and order online. Please place your order online from March 5; all orders must be in by March 19th, 2026. Please note, all payments must be online. We cannot accept cash or cheques.
At Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School we take pride in our focus on reading for pleasure as well as always working hard in lessons to ensure we are equipping our students with the skills they need to become knowledgeable and strategic readers.
The reason we focus on reading so carefully is because it is the gateway for so much of our learning journey. Developing a regular reading habit can help us in so many ways. Studies have shown consistently that fostering an enjoyment of reading results in young people with enhanced reading ages which in turn allows greater understanding of learning materials and better achievement. Studies also show that reading for pleasure has been linked to reduced stress and anxiety, as well as enhanced memory, improved vocabulary usage and the vital importance of developing empathy.
We recommend at least 15 minutes of reading per day to relax and unwind away from screens and electronic devices. Thank you in advance for your support of helping our students establish reading habits which will benefit them academically and personally.
Reading Strategy Videos & Information
Please click on this link to watch a brief video about our whole school Reading and Literacy strategy at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School.
The above video that we made in March 2021 lets you know about all the reading activities that occur daily at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School. We also share some strategies we use in classrooms to help students access challenging learning material.
If you wanted to experiment with the Quigley Jigsaw Strategy I talk about on the video, please use this accompanying PowerPoint to set yourself a challenge!
Reading Weeks
Reading Weeks take place three times a year at DHFS. During Reading Week, students spend the first ten minutes of every lesson reading a book of their choice with the aim of simply reading for pleasure.
During the week, one of the days takes a more guided approach to reading for pleasure. Recently, for example, we dedicated a day to DHFS Shared ‘Reading for Empathy’ where we enjoy a whole school reading of a short story or an excerpt from a book with a view to enriching our students’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development.
Stories often provide a window into a culture or setting very different to our own, developing skills in empathy, understanding and acceptance; we’re keen to develop these skills in our young people and hope they’ll enjoy the shared short story element of the celebrations. Opposite is an example of the kind of text which might be explored as part of the shared reading event. Reading weeks often take inspiration from the wider culture; the example here was informed by National Poetry Day celebrations.
Another approach that we explore during Reading Week is the modelling of reading for pleasure by teachers. Every member of staff is invited to read aloud from either their favourite book, or some current reading material, in order to expose students to a wide range of genre, style and mode, highlight the importance of reading across the curriculum and encourage them to try something new.
World Book Day
Click on the above image to see how DHFS celebrated World Book Day 2026
Support from Home
We encourage you to help your child to sustain a reading for pleasure habit at home and are keen for students to experience opportunities to talk about reading as regularly as possible. We know that family members – parents, carers, grandparents and siblings – are some of the most powerful role models our young people have in their lives and we appreciate any support you can give to this vital strand of their learning experience.
As you know, the reason we focus on reading so carefully at DHFS is because it is the gateway for so much of our learning journey. Developing a regular reading habit can help us in so many ways. Studies have shown consistently that fostering an enjoyment of reading results in young people with enhanced reading ages which in turn allows greater access to and understanding of learning materials and better achievement. Research has also found that reading for pleasure has been linked to reduced stress and anxiety, as well as enhanced memory, improved vocabulary usage and the vital importance of developing empathy.
Finally, we would like to again take this opportunity to recommend at least 15 minutes of reading per day to relax and unwind away from screens and electronic devices. Thank you in advance for your support of helping our students establish reading habits which will benefit them academically and personally throughout their lives.
Key Stage 3, 4 & 5 Suggested Reading Lists click here
Staff Read Audio Books click here
Please click on the images below to find out what books our staff here at DHFS have been reading recently.
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