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Original poster

Can reception children read?

188 replies

ReadingGeniuses · 15/12/2022 16:22

I went to DS' nativity this morning (he's in reception). There were 2 girls narrating the play, they were reading it off a script. I was quite confused. Can some children already read this fluently at that age? They hadn't memorised it, they were just reading. Are they geniuses? Or is this way more common than I realise?

OP posts:
Yellowcakestand · 19/12/2022 23:23

I've always read with DS from him being a baby, because i like to read.

School ask us to read a minimum of 3 times a week at home but preferably daily. He could sound blend from books in reception. He is in yr3 now and a really good reader and his comprehension is great but unfortunately its becoming more and more difficult to get him to read at home.

Knittingnanny2 · 19/12/2022 23:27

Sarah, no offence taken at all.
I’m passionate about children reading. It never stopped bringing me joy, seeing little ones realise they could actually read a story!

SarahAndQuack · 19/12/2022 23:28

Knittingnanny2 · 19/12/2022 23:27

Sarah, no offence taken at all.
I’m passionate about children reading. It never stopped bringing me joy, seeing little ones realise they could actually read a story!

What a lovely post! The children you've taught to read were lucky to have you.

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Knittingnanny2 · 19/12/2022 23:31

Ah thank you

ByTheGrace · 19/12/2022 23:37

TeeBee · 15/12/2022 16:34

Yes, of course they learn at home. You read them a story, you show them the letters and sound them out. You don't need to do it though, they will learn it at school. I just wanted mine to feel confident when they got there. Its honestly no biggie if you haven't done that. So long as you engage with their reading when they bring books home, it will be fine. None of them (well, very few) will leave school not being fluent readers.

It's a bit simplistic to assume kids who read on school entry were taught. Some children just pick reading up, I was a very able reader when I started school. My parents didn't teach me, although Mum read to me. I was also the oldest in the class. My summer born was one of the youngest, loved books and still does, but struggled to learn to read at school, I eventually realised phonics wasn't for them, a speech issue and trying to make the right sounds meant it was a struggle. I started to teach whole words and that was the turning point.

BackOnTheBandWagon · 19/12/2022 23:39

Don't worry about it OP - I could read when I started school at 4.5, and had been at home with a SAHM, no pre-school, my brother was a completely different kettle of fish with same upbringing. Kids are just different and learn/show interest in things at different rates. As long as they learn to read well it doesn't really matter when

SarahAndQuack · 19/12/2022 23:42

ByTheGrace · 19/12/2022 23:37

It's a bit simplistic to assume kids who read on school entry were taught. Some children just pick reading up, I was a very able reader when I started school. My parents didn't teach me, although Mum read to me. I was also the oldest in the class. My summer born was one of the youngest, loved books and still does, but struggled to learn to read at school, I eventually realised phonics wasn't for them, a speech issue and trying to make the right sounds meant it was a struggle. I started to teach whole words and that was the turning point.

Show quote history

The best way to teach a child to read is to read to that child, isn't it? Your mum did a great job!

ladygindiva · 20/12/2022 08:49

My youngest DC could , but her elder siblings couldn't. All normal. Levels out during years 1 and 2 ime.

ladygindiva · 20/12/2022 09:06

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 19/12/2022 20:01

Yes of course they can.
Some DC have hyperlexia/ where they read early due to Sen / austim etc.
Some just read ... Michael morppogo said one day the words just made sense and that also happens to me.
No blending or de coding!

Neither of mine could read in reception . One took off end of year 1 and just flew very fast onto in depth books. The other was still struggling by year 3 so we ditched phonics with great success and got her reading the old fashioned way. Her brain is very fast and phonics was too slow.

Don't worry op, but definitely keep an eye on reading.

This is interesting. My youngest was blending at 3 and reading fluently by 4 , and is on the pathway for autism diagnosis. Her twin has just started reading fluently first term of year one . Their elder sister is so much older that the phonics system wasn't being used and she also learnt late on during reception year ( summer baby so almost exactly 5 yo). Never sure which system was best tbh.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 20/12/2022 10:30

My eldest DC was white level by the Christmas of reception - she was five by that point.

She started school not being able to read and she just devoured books the whole of the autumn term.

My husband worked for a publisher at the time and the house was covered in books - he got three free books a day. 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

To be honest - it was a bit of a nightmare as no other child was close to her so she had to do guided reading on her own with the teacher but then got upset because she didn't do it with another child so she ended up doing it with year 2.

Other children caught up eventually and although she did well in her primary sats she is certainly not a genius (although probably is in maths)
Don't fret OP but do read regularly with your child

Bigdamnheroes · 20/12/2022 11:23

Some can. I was reading at 3 and fluent by 4. By the time I was in year 5 at school I was reading at year 8 level. My handwriting was God-awful and still is and my math was atrocious. Children progress faster or more slowly at different things, I wouldn't worry as long as they hit their milestones.

CuteBear · 20/12/2022 11:32

I could read by the time I started nursery (literally just turned 3 as I am a summer baby). I was fluent by the time I was in Reception and loved to write. I’ve always loved reading. My parents read to me every night and showed me the words. They taught me to recognise words. Dc who learn to read early are most likely taught at home. An hour’s phonics lesson a day isn’t enough.

Heliumburgers · 20/12/2022 11:46

At this point most can read sentences like 'The cat is big'.
There will some who can't and some who are reading above that.

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