Should I be worrying about ds's reading.... Age 5 level 2/3 oxford

[DoddleDeer]

Ds is aged 5 and still on Oxford reading stage 2 and 3. He reads these well, and mostly fluently, but teachers still want to keep him on these books as he still sounds out longer words. He is bright in terms of problem solving, loves writing, creative, interested in the world, inquisitive and great at conversation/ debate. He loves reading and overall happy.
I'm not too worried about the reading, we read daily, he's progressing and will get there. Sil, who is a teacher, thinks this is a sign of a problem and I either need to push school to move him up or he's just 'slow'. He is only 5, 6 in May, so am ibu too not worry, or should I be?

In most European countries children aren't starting reading until a year or two older than he is now.

What colour band is that?

He sounds like a happy little boy and I think your SIL should mind her own business.

Are you in England or Scotland? What year/primary is he in?

Colour band red. Sorry I should also add he moved school at the start of yr 1 after quite a negative yr R. He's gone from hating school to loving school, which for me is a huge leap forward and far more important!

So he's just started year one? That is entirely within the ranges of 'normal' for year one and your SIL ought to keep her beak out. Right now he's learning to decode written words, that's what the sounding out is, and once this skill becomes more established he will get faster. I promise no university in the world will ask what reading level he was on when he was five

England and he is in yr1

Stage 2/3 is geared towards age 4-5, so he is exactly where, in theory, he should be! But children rarely follow "exactly where they should be". My son was on stage 3 at the END of Reception and didn't like t read at all, by the end of Year 2 he had a reading age 5 years above his actual and he has never stopped reading since!

Is he in a state school or private? If it's the former or non-selective private then you don't need to worry (especially if you mean ORT Biff books which are not phonetic books)

State school and yes ort biff books

I really wouldn't worry. The school reading books cover lots of different things, not just their ability to read the words but also comprehension skills, skill and observing, guessing what might happen next, exposure to different types of book such as factual books with indexes and glossaries and so on. Unless it is causing real trouble in that he hates reading the school books then just read them, wrote a comment in the reading record and then rad whatever you want together and keep your bookshelves stocked one step ahead of where he is so he can pick up books to explore himself. My ds2 is reception and they still just have the ones with no words. Dd is in year 3 and they still have her on stage 11 which is a load of shit as she can read well ahead of that and reads a lot, I'm desperate for her to come off them and go to free reading so I get a break from the tedious crap!

I think the aim is for them to be at level three (yellow I think) by the end of reception so by this measure he is behind. The only thing I might expect is for school to give a bit of extra support if they can (parent volunteers) though.

For what it's worth my son had a boring year 2 as far as reading was concerned as he was on the top level at the end of year 1 and school policy was to only let them move up to using the junior library in year 3.

My Y1 child is sounding out longer words in green band - it's what they are supposed to be doing in Y1. They will move him up a band when he is confident- they should be able to read 95% of the new band when they move up I understand, otherwise they will get frustrated and feel defeated before they start.

The advice you are getting from SIL teacher is . If he's enjoying school after a rocky YR I'd let him grow confidence and let him be personally, keep reading together and enjoying it.

DS is y1 and has his birthday this term. He's brought home a stage 3 book for the first time this week.

He's in the right place for him. It feels alien to me because I was a very early reader and started school with a reading age of 8, so I have no memories of learning to read. Long term when my peers caught up, my advantage was lost. As long as the level is working at building confidence and fluency.

I read "older" books to DS, a lot of Roald Dahl at present, and he's beginning to spot words that he recognises which he finds motivating.

Yanbu. My ds was a slow starter reading wise and stayed 'behind' until yr3. He's one of most advanced readers/writers in his class a few years on.

I'm quite surprised at this thread. I am in France, my DD is 5yo, will be 6 in May. She can't read and neither can anyone else in her class. They do phonics but mainly for fun. Last year's cohort had about half the children who could read at the school end of the year and no one was concerned about the half who could not read.

My ds 5 in year 1 is on yellow so pretty similar to yours, when he started year 1 they had him on red. If you feel like he can manage the slightly higher books I would just buy some sets from the book people, or use reading chest or the library, and crack on yourself if the school don't move him up - as long as he's managing and happy to give it a go. That's what im doing as I feel like they don't have time to listen to them and check the levels often enough in school, and he's quite keen so I'm happy to encourage. But ignore sil if she's making it a big deal, it sounds like he is progressing and happy so I wouldn't be particularly panicking!

I wouldn't be worried at all if the school isn't. All other countries I live in don't start children reading until they're 6. The differences in development are smaller then and almost all the kids are ready to read. Early reading ability doesn't correlate that strongly with later literacy (as long as the kid is supported to catch up). Like others say no harm in trying a range of books at home if he's happy to read them but don't pile the pressure on or turn reading into a chore.

He's absolutely fine. As another poster suggested, he won't have to put his ORT levels on his university application form.

If he sees you enjoying books and you share ones with him in a non-pressured way he will do well.

Please don't worry or make a big thing about this. Your DC sounds as if he is taking things at his own pace and doing well for one so young. My DS, who could read, refused to read for about a year when he was 7. Due to something his teacher had said. He went on to get a good degree and a global job!
Tests for reading difficulties are unreliable in children under 8, so please just continue to encourage him and build up his confidence.

(I taught pupils with reading difficulties for 38 yrs)

Red band at the end of 1st term Y1 is behind.

It's up you whether you want to do anything about it or not. But it certainly is behind.

Dd1 was still on red in year 1. In year 2 it just clicked and she went through loads of levels. I wouldn't worry.

I suppose I am not too worried as in all other areas he is doing really very well, and he reads all the books without aid, but just takes a bit of time over some words, but there is dyslexia in my family so I keep an eye out. Thank you for your views/ experiences!

The key indicator for dyslexia is poor phonological awareness - and that can very easily be tested at this age.

I think you should google phonological awareness and do some activities with him and then you'll know more about whether you should be concerned or not.

Sounds like he is at the perfect level for him. The danger with boys (I realise this sounds sexist but there is huge research on this) is that he gets 'turned off' books so just keep doing what you are. If the school had concerns, they would send home some extra