Comparison on Infant classes to UK

[Chilledout11]

My child is on a reading scheme equivalent to age 4-5. (Oxford reading tree 3). Am concerned as the UK levels state he should be on 6 or so by now?
No other issues. He has a great vocab. Knows most of the sight words etc. Maybe we are later starting things in Ireland. Thank You

What class/age is he?

They seem to start formal reading processes earlier in the UK, so I wouldn’t say this is any cause for concern. What does his teacher say?

Teacher says he's doing great but needs practise and is average ability wise. It's good to hear UK starts earlier.

I'm Irish living in UK. My daughter is in Y1 (Senior Infants) and is already 6. She's on ORT Stage 3 and is above the median in her class (I know - I change the books each week).

What age is he? UK definitely starts earlier talking to friends from home with children at a similar age.

How old is he?

Just 6 last week

Worry not! In a certain Scandinavian country, formal education doesn’t start until 7-and their education system is upheld as one of the best in the world. So, in comparison to children from that country, your 6yr old is going to be streets ahead-for a little while anyway. A child picks up reading a lot faster at 7 than at 4 or 5.

I wouldn't worry at all I'm a teacher in Ireland and there's no harm in starting them later by the looks of things the UK starts at much much earlier
A lot of European countries don't even start form and read until age 6

And the best thing YOU can do is read lots and lots of books to him-a bedtime story every night should be part of your routine no matter how tired you are, to develop a love of reading in him; take him to your local library frequently, don’t allow him near your iPhone /iPad...a KILLER to developing a love of books, in my experience, let him see you enjoy reading (not in your phone, but with an actual book in your hand) and talk, talk, talk to him to increase his vocabulary.

US schools expect children to be figuring out what end of a book is the beginning at this age, and writing letters that point the right way is considered great.

Ireland tends to have excellent PISA results in reading.

Don't worry.

Scroll down for a table:
www.irishtimes.com/news/education/pisa-rankings-irish-teens-among-the-best-at-reading-in-developed-world-1.4102951

Keep on reading to your DS, and don't stick to the readers or reading material or level provided in school. You can introduce books with big words and complex sentences as long as the characters and situations are something a small child could relate to.

If you don't already, try the Beatrix Potter stories and other material along those lines. Winnie the Pooh stories are also very appealing and provide a nice vocabulary exposure.