To be worried about my 5 year old.

[GJ14]

I know that children all develop and learn differently but I really worry about Dd.

She has just turned 5 (youngest in her class). Off school from March to June - she went back for 3 weeks before the end of term. We did as much home learning as possible. She seems fine with numbers and recognising letters and can write basic words with help (mum, dad, her name, dog, mud, mad and that’s about it). But she cannot read. She recognises basic words but she cannot read the books they sent home!

Should I be worried? Should a just turned 5 year old be able to read fluently?

Also, just to add. she has an expressive speech disorder. She is 2 years behind her peers with speech. I guess this will effect her reading skills too. She is under speech therapy for this.

We are always reading books etc. It just hasn’t come naturally to her.

Not really an aibu but posting here for traffic!

Crikey she is 5. My 7 year old is still learning to read

Very few kids can read fluently at the end of foundation. I think you are worrying about nothing. I’ve worked with foundation and year one children for years.

All children learn at different speeds. In my daughters reception class the reading range was huge (between levels 1-8 on oxford reading tree).

Did her report reflect any specific concerns? If not she will get there in her own time.

Keep reading to her.

Does she know and recognise the letters, even if she can’t say the words? I’d focus on that for now and perhaps refer her to the Jolly Phonics song on YouTube to refresh on the letters.

She’s five, a young five, and she has missed a large amount of her first year of school. It’s understandable to be worried, especially given her speech disorder, but by reading lots to her you will be massively helping even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

Have you met or heard from her Y1 teacher yet?

She's almost the same age as the older kids in her cohort were when they started. She'll get it.

Totally fine. My DS was at the same point at the end of reception but he is Oct birthday so much older at that point. He is now going into year 6 and secure or exceeding for every report he has ever had.

Thanks all. We didn’t have a report on their progress this year. The school report was mainly about their attitude to learning etc nothing on their academic abilities! 😀