Portway Infant School
At Portway, we are determined that every child will learn to read. We learn to read for fun and finding out and we want our children to become lifelong readers with the skills they need to read fluently and with understanding. At our school, children are immersed in a book-rich environment, surrounded by staff who openly share their own love of reading with them. Every year is a year of reading for us at Portway but we are glad to be joining in on the National Year of Reading 2026.
The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading. Reading expands minds, builds confidence and fuels creativity.
Keep checking this page for new updates, links to useful websites and even a challenge or two!
We held the annual book fair from Tuesday 3rd - Thursday 5th February and it was a huge success! We raised over £1200 to spend on new books for our school. Thank you to everyone!
In February we had a successful author visit from Chitra Soundar. She told the children all about her childhood growing up in India and how her family inspired her to become a storyteller. The Year 2 children enjoyed workshops to create stories of their own!
We loved celebrating this year’s World Book Day with a dress up day on Thursday 5th March 2026. On this day, children were invited to come to school dressed as a favourite book character. The focus was on fun, imagination, and bringing their favourite character to life. What a great day we all had! Can't wait for next year!
Thank you to everyone who donated a book in our Spring term 'Portway Book Swap'. We hope that everyone found a new book to read with a cup of tea! Look out for more dates throughout the year!
The month of May's event was our annual visit from Petr Horacek. Our Year R children enjoyed a workshop with him and they got to show off their super art skills. Petr was joined by P&G Wells Bookshop Winchester after school for a book signing which was very successful. Thank you to everyone involved.
Have a look at what we have got up to so far and what is yet to come!
Tuesday 3rd - Thursday 5th February - Book fair after school
Tuesday 24th February - Visiting author Chitra Soundar
Tuesday 3rd March - Year 1 Meet the Author workshop with Lucy Tandon-Copp
Thursday 5th March - World Book Day
Wednesday 12th March - Portway Book Swap (adult and children's books)
Wednesday 6th May - Visiting author illustrator Petr Horacek. Book sale and signing after school.
Wednesday 20th May - Portway Book Swap (adult and children's books)
Thursday 25th June - Portway Book Swap (adult and children's books)
July/August - Summer Reading Challenge (details to follow)
The library gives you access to a vast choice of fiction and non-fiction titles, as well as thousands of free-to-download e books and audiobooks. Throughout the year the library run a range of free events so be sure to check their website to ensure you don’t miss out.
The Library can be found in the heart of the Chantry Centre.
â–º 53 Chantry St,
Andover
SP10 1LT
Every half-term, each year group has an author focus.
For Summer 1:
Year R - Eric Carle and Petr Horacek
Year 1 - Oliver Jeffers
Year 2 - David and Rhonda Armitage
Resources for grown ups
Resources for children