DD (4.2 so one of the youngest) started reception a couple of weeks ago. We had a parents meeting on Friday to explain how they'll teach reading. This amounts to teaching two sounds a week (so this week it's 's' and 'a') and doing lots of activities around those sounds and then also learning two words ('the' and 'are' were examples they gave). They'll also read to the teacher or assistant once a week and we can change books whenever we want (but only from the 'pink' box). They are starting on pink and some children get to 'yellow' by the end of the year.
Does that sound normal, because coming from outside it sounds very slow. Quite a few of us coming out felt our children could already do more than they are aiming for by the end of reception. Almost all the children went to the preschool in the village where they've done 'letter of the week' for ages and seem very confident with letters. Most had reading books and read with the teacher at pre-school too. Glancing at the yellow box I can see books she's had from the library and reads with no problems. Obviously I've not quizzed people on their children's reading ability but a fair few have mentioned that their children are reading. In fact we were on a train with one the other day (one of the oldest, already 5) who spontaneously read out the train's customer complaints policy off a leaflet with no problems!
I'm not worried for the moment as really I'd rather she wasn't at full time school this young and am quite happy if she is confident and makes friends. However, there is a general feeling in the village that the school doesn't really get the results it could from the children given a relatively 'easy' catchment area with high parental education and involvement, so I'm slightly anxious about having made the right choice long term.
Thanks!
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Reception reading: is this slow going or the norm?
30 replies
Catz · 25/09/2011 13:01
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