At Blue Butterfly Nursery, we believe that a love of reading begins long before a child can read independently. It starts with stories shared during circle time, giggles at funny characters, the rhythm of familiar rhymes, and the magic of turning a page to discover what happens next.
Creating a Love of Books
From the moment our children join us at Blue Butterfly Nursery, books are part of everyday life. You’ll find reading woven throughout our continuous provision — in the book corner, in the role play area, outside in the garden, and even at snack time!
We:
- Share stories daily in small and large groups
- Re-read favourite books to build familiarity and confidence
- Use props, puppets and story sacks to bring tales to life
- Encourage children to retell stories in their own words
- Use small world equipment to create and re-enact stories.
- Create inviting, cosy reading spaces indoors and outdoors
By making books exciting, interactive and accessible, we help children see reading as something joyful and meaningful.
Our Phonics Practice
At Blue Butterfly Nursery, we introduce phonics in a fun, practical and engaging way. Our approach focuses on building strong foundations in listening and speaking before moving into letter recognition.
We practise:
Phase 1 Phonics Skills
- Environmental sounds (e.g., listening walks)
- Instrumental sounds (exploring rhythm and beat)
- Body percussion
- Rhythm and rhyme
- Alliteration (e.g., “Silly Sammy Snake”)
- Voice sounds and oral blending
These early skills are essential. Before children can read letters, they need to hear and distinguish the sounds within words.
Introducing Letter Sounds
As children are ready, we begin introducing letter sounds through:
- Our daily Montessori cycles
- Songs and actions
- Multi-sensory activities (sand, paint, playdough)
- Matching sounds to objects
We focus on saying the pure sounds (e.g., “sss” not “suh”) to ensure children build accurate foundations for blending.
Supporting Early Readers
Every child develops at their own pace, and we tailor our support to meet individual needs.
We support early readers by:
- Practising oral blending (e.g., “c-a-t” → cat)
- Encouraging children to spot sounds in the environment
- Providing books with simple, repetitive text
- Giving children opportunities to “read” pictures and retell stories
- Phonics workshop with families to support the implementation at home
- Celebrating every step of progress
We also work closely with families, sharing phonics guidance and book recommendations so reading continues at home.
Why It Matters
Reading supports so much more than literacy. Through books, children develop:
- Language and vocabulary
- Imagination and creativity
- Emotional understanding and empathy
- Concentration and listening skills
- Confidence and independence
Most importantly, children learn that reading is enjoyable.
Growing Lifelong Readers
At Blue Butterfly Nursery, our goal is not just to teach children how to read — it’s to help them fall in love with reading.
When children leave us for school, we want them to feel confident, curious and excited about books. By nurturing strong phonics foundations and creating positive reading experiences every day, we are planting the seeds for lifelong learning.
