At LAAT’s Branston Church of England Infant Academy, reading is not just at the heart of our curriculum it’s also central to our community. The school employs a ‘windows and mirrors’ approach to children’s literature; sharing books that open ‘windows’ to other cultures, ways of life, and protected characteristics as well as sharing books that ‘mirror’ the children’s own lives, heritage, and backgrounds to ensure representation within the community. The school maintains a vast collection of books focused on protected characteristics, which are centrally displayed for easy access, allowing children to read them as a class or to each other.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion is further explored through weekly book votes. Each week, two books linked to a relevant social issue or cultural celebration (such as Pride or Black History Month) are selected. Children then vote for their preferred book, which is read by the Headteacher later in the day to all students. Voting occurs as children enter the school with their parents, encouraging discussions about the books and sparking further conversations at home.
The school’s reading spine is carefully mapped to include a variety of authors, themes, and characters, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered. These books are studied throughout the term to deepen the children’s grasp of the themes. Each month the school curates a ‘Spotlight on…’ display, highlighting a specific author or theme. This approach familiarises students with a particular author or range of books, fostering connections and developing the ‘windows and mirrors’ methodology by providing a deeper exploration of one aspect.
