Has anyone used The Reading Chest?

[Carrotsandcelery]

I have been advised to move my question over here - apparently all of you here know all about these things!

So, if you have used it, what did you think?

I am thinking of subscribing as the school are not progressing ds with his reading and I feel I need to support him at home instead.
What were your experiences?
Thanks and sorry for having this running in 2 places.

[Runoutofideas]

Yes - Dd1 has really enjoyed it. She loves getting post addressed to her and the variety of books and reading schemes is really good. You can swap between levels easily to find what is suitable for your child. Dd also loves being able to get certificates for her progress. I'm about to stop it for dd1 and start it for dd2 as dd1 can now pretty much read whatever she wants to. The books have always arrived back 2 days after posting the previous ones so it is pretty speedy.
If you have a good library nearby then you may be able to get the same books for free - our local library however has a lot of the initial pink/red/yellow levels but very few books specifically aimed at blue/green/orange/purple intermediate levels, which is why I joined.

[Carrotsandcelery]

Our local library has a lot of early reader books but it is really hard to find ones at the appropriate levels. I think this is the way forward for us. I am assuming it is easy to cancel if we decide it is not for us?

[Runoutofideas]

I think you just give them one month's notice, but I would just check the small print before you sign up.

[Zettelbox]

Yes, for my reception age DS1, who is now a much more enthusiastic and confident reader. School were giving him very dull texts and not stretching him. We've been doing it since the Christmas holidays and he has come on in leaps and bounds. I'd thoroughly recommend it. We since started for DS2 who starts in reception next year, and he's enjoying the pink level books. Much better than the local library which is more than a bit hit and miss.

[Carrotsandcelery]

Can you ask them not to send you any ORT books if that is the reading scheme used at school?

[candleshoe]

You can read over 100 free eBooks and activities with Biff, Chip, Kipper and Floppy, the Project X team and Winnie the Witch and other OUP titles all sorted into reading bands for KS1 .

You can download them or use them on screen and there are activities with each book. It'll also read the books to your child if you wish

Just thought I'd share this information because I get really frustrated with only one book a week at DDs school. This website which is totally free has been a godsend.

//www.oxfordowl.co.uk/

[lovecheese]

Carrotsandcelery - yes, you can cancel with one months notice, and yes, you can opt out of any book schemes that you dont want. I used it last year for about 6-7 months as school had moved DD down a book band - long story, won't bore you with the details - and I wanted to keep her reading scheme books at a level that I knew she was more than capable of. Really good service.

[Carrotsandcelery]

Thank you everyone. I think we will sign up. I am off to have a look at the website candleshoe linked to.
MrsvWoolf thanks for the code. I will let you know if it works.

[Carrotsandcelery]

That is us signed up. Thank you again everyone and especially to MrsvWoolf as the code worked perfectly!