If your school uses ORT, what level do they make the children read to?

[Purpletomato]

As per the title, really. I'm curious as to which level other schools allow children to stop the reading scheme books and read normal books. DC was taken off the ORT books at level 15 and allowed free reading - ie choose a normal book from the school library.

School has now changed policy and will be making them read up to level 20 and is discouraging them from reading non scheme books a home (really unhappy and bemused by that but, never mind, I won't be stopping my DC reading home and library books regardless of what school says). DC very disappointed as they are a keen reader and read a lot at home, both fiction and non-fiction but they hate the ORT fiction books. DC not allowed in school library at all so far this year as under the new policy you can't choose a library book if you're on the reading scheme ...sigh.

Anyway, my older DC ended ORT long before Stage 20 and I'm just wondering what is the average stage schools go to before allowing DC to read freely.

[HakunaM]

That sounds a bit odd with the no library / discouraging home reading outside of the scheme.

DD is on Ruby having just left Topaz (?) and seems to think that's she's got at least two more book bands to go before she's a free reader at school. That would be around level 20 I think? However school actively encourage reading other books at school including sending home suggested reading lists.

[LetItGoToRuin]

DD’s school follow ORT to level 11 (Lime) and thereafter have their own colour scheme which does include some ORT books, among others.

I actually think DD missed out through not having exposure to higher level ‘scheme’ books. Obviously, we did our best at home with whatever books she brought home (and others she chose from the public library), but it’s impractical for parents to read each 200+ page book in order to ask probing questions to test a child’s inference skills. IMO DD would have benefited from a wider selection of shorter scheme books designed for just this purpose.

However, as band 20 is approximately year 6 level, your DC’s school is saying that most of their children should read nothing but ORT books for the whole of primary. Really?

[LoveWine123]

That's very strange, I have not heard of a school discouraging the reading of books other than those from schemes. Quite the opposite. Are you sure this is in fact the case? Maybe they want to focus on decodable books so children get to grips with phonics, but there is no need to just limit their reading texts to just these types of books.

[Daisydad]

ORT is in no way classed as decidable; 90% of the text must match the phonics phase for this to be the case. Sounds like a very badly publicised strategy. Has the school offered any info for parents?
Plus in my experience parents are mainly out of their depth once advanced comprehension skills become the main learning point. Far more beneficial to teach and practise those skills at school, and encourage a love of reading via the library/ at home.

[LoveWine123]

@Daisydad thanks for clarifying. Our school used ORT and Jolly Phonics until last year but is now introducing Read, Write, Inc so waiting to see what those books are like.

[Gooseygoosey12345]

It might make me a bad parent but we very rarely read the books that were sent home. DD always seemed to be ahead of whatever level she was on and was reading books at home that were well above where school put her (although there were issues aplenty with that school so that might have something to do with it). Discouraging outside reading seems extremely detrimental to me. Surely the most important part of reading is that the children enjoy it so that they take an interest and progress. If I'd have been made to read books I wasn't interested in it would have definitely put me off in the long run.

[Grumpbum123]

Ours go to gold then onto accelerator reader

[onemouseplace]

They must mean something like not reading non-scheme books at home in place of the scheme books (as other people say, sometimes they rarely read the books sent home) - I can't believe a school would say that the only books you can read at home are scheme books! That's just bonkers.

[Satina]

I'm hoping there's a misunderstanding here.
I've heard lots of debate about book bands; how quickly kids should move through bands, when to stop using banded books; whether the banded books are any good etc. but have never come across a teacher who doesn't encourage all forms of reading. Surely, the more reading the better?

[CruCru]

I think our school is changing their reading scheme books (from ORT to Read Write Inc) but when my son was still on the reading scheme, he stayed on that until ORT 11 and then was a free reader.

[Artykitty666]

@lovewine123 they're AWFUL!!!!! And I'm the teacher!!! It's a fab wee scheme if you can survive the books tho. 😂

[WhenDoISleep]

Our school changed about 18 months ago and brought in Accelerated Reader. Now DC read to orange level books then go onto AR levelled books.

[Purpletomato]

Thank you for the replies. So it seems that generally schools don't go up to Level 20. I admit I don't see any point to the higher levels unless a child otherwise won't read, in which case I can see the logic of keeping them on a structured scheme.

I am meeting the teacher next week to discuss this and a couple of other concerns so I will be able to find out then if there has been a misunderstanding. The teacher doesn't leave the school building at drop off or pick up, the children come out on their own so it's impossible to make any small queries without an appointment.

DC hasn't brought home a single library book this term which backs up them saying they haven't been allowed in it. I really don't feel the school is interested in developing a love of reading - the DC was halfway through a book they had chosen as their free reading and when this policy change was made, that book was taken off them, DC said they asked if they could keep it a couple of days to finish it off and says they were told no which I find really weird - who would take a book off a child when they're enjoying it? We went to the local library today to get a copy out as they really wanted to read the rest!

To clarify an earlier point, school is just discouraging non-scheme reading, not trying to forbid it. But I still think that is ridiculous. They have told us the children should have one fixed day a week when they don't read. They wrote that it was to give them a break which I don't understand at all, everyone is different but we're a bookworm family and reading IS my idea of a break! They make reading sound like a chore? The DC have plenty of out of school activities but they love to read and they read daily.

Anyway, I have a meeting set up and will see what they say. I really hope it's not some kind of new, tick-box education policy.

[Blueshadow]

It sounds strange. My old school did the whole scheme (level 20) into year 6, but they were allowed to borrow library books too. Levels12-14 has some good fiction books and the non-fiction ones are excellent for comprehension. After level 14 they get a bit dry. I am glad you are taking him to the library!

[cabbageking]

Each school personalises the scheme for those children, along with data highlighting any weakness, along with local and national data.

You can't compare one school with another and only the teacher can provide you with the rationale. They will look at the results and see where any gaps need filling, even then it does sound a bit odd.

[rededucator]

This sounds very odd and I feel the message might have been muddled some how. Best to meet with teacher to clarify. I've never ever worked in a school that discourages children from reading non ORT books. Was there an official letter or just a passed on messages?