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Original poster

How many words should a reception age NT child be able to read?

30 replies

electra · 20/04/2007 21:58

I know this is the kind of thread that people roll their eyes at - so apologies in advance!! But my dd (5) has SN and is educated at home (she's starting school a year later). We are currently teaching her to read (mostly to help her language). Today the person who runs her home programme said that we need to work towards 250 words.

My friend told me that her NT dd (who is v bright imo) who is nearing end of reception has 45 words. Our programme provider said this is not enough for a NT child at this stage of reception.

So what are your experiences?

OP posts:
Hathor · 20/04/2007 22:01

I guess it would vary so much. There is a list of words for KS1. Don't think it is 250 though. Sounds like a lot.

Jelley · 20/04/2007 22:04

At the end of reception dd1 could read over 250, dd2 could read none.

KateF · 20/04/2007 22:05

There are 45 high frequency words that children are supposed to have learned by the end of reception. My dd2 is NT and was just into Yr 1 when she completed them (but she is summer born). dd1 is older in the year group and was well into the KS1 words by the end of Reception but she is quite a high achiever. I would work on the 45 word list if I were you. It's available online and you can buy packs of magnetic words too. I home edded dd2 last term and we worked to this -she has slotted back into school just fine. Hope this helps.

Jacanne · 20/04/2007 22:06

I'm fairly sure that the National Literacy strategy has 45 keys words that children are supposed to learn as sight vocabulary by the end of Reception. They are common words, some of which are not phonically regular, that it is good to know off by heart. Of course, these aren't the only words they will have, hopefully they will be able to use synthetic phonics to break down and read phonically regular words as well.

250 sounds like a very large sight vocabulary.

Sorry, but what does NT stand for?

helbel3 · 20/04/2007 22:06

depends on the child. use the key words for her year group and anything up and above must be a bonus.

If you think she is capable just keep adding. If she is struggling chill out and go at her pace.

elasticbandstand · 20/04/2007 22:07

250 sounds loads, how would you count them all?

Dottydot · 20/04/2007 22:07

250 words??? (cue hysterical laughter from Dottydot). Ds1 is 5, NT, and in reception and with one term to go, will probably be able to read maybe 20 words - at a huge push - safer to say 10. I don't know what SN your dd has but at this age it's so variable anyway, I wouldn't be hung up on trying to reach a certain amount.

Jacanne · 20/04/2007 22:08

Here's a link to the magnetic ones that you can get.

key words

Hathor · 20/04/2007 22:08

Yes, what is NT? I don't know either.

ScummyMummy · 20/04/2007 22:08

At least 0. Honestly- lots of kids can't read at all still at this age.

KateF · 20/04/2007 22:13

NT = Neurologically Typical ie. not SN

helbel3 · 20/04/2007 22:13

scummymummy, you are so right, and reading ability and development do not mean children achieve higher long term than those who take a little longer to warm up.

Original poster
electra · 20/04/2007 23:10

Thanks for replies. I was just curious really because I also have a NT child who is approaching school age too.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 20/04/2007 23:13

My dd is 4.9 and - by my assessment, at a minimum of average intelligence but possibly more (based on my observation of the way she assimilates and uses information, and based on genetics)...but she can read very few words - under 10 I think.

I'm not worried.

Blu · 20/04/2007 23:14

DS, NT, described by his teacher as 'a very bright little boy' with 'huge vocabulary' and 'excellent powers of discussion' could read...oooh, about 20 - 40 words by the end of reception.

Clary · 21/04/2007 00:53

Well I heard children read in FS2 today and some of them had about 0 words tbh.

Some had a lot more I don't deny. There is such a range, but 250 sounds rather ambitious.

twentypence · 21/04/2007 01:58

Any 250 words would be okay - then ds could include being able to read "staff only" "mind your head" and the entire cast of Thomas the Tank Engine. However I expect that it a particular 250 words they want - which bores me.

I think maybe your friend was saying her dd had learnt all her 45 high frequency words, but she probably knows some others.

I find all this curious as in NZ they start school at 5 and so could be fine knowing 0 words at the same age your lady wants your dd to know 250.

SSShakeTheChi · 21/04/2007 10:48

Can anyone link to the online list of 45 keywords? I googled for it but couldn't find it.

maverick · 21/04/2007 10:49

It depends whether your child is being taught by synthetic phonics or mixed methods.

If the teacher/parent uses a genuine synthetic phonic reading programme like Jolly Phonics (and faithfully follows the principles), after learning the first 18 letter-sounds children can access over 1000 words!

LIZS · 21/04/2007 11:01

There are the 45 NLS Reception words but in practise many would exceed this as these are merely the high frequency sight words not phonetically decoded ones.

ellceeell · 21/04/2007 11:06

These are the 45 NLS words

I go come went up you day was
look are the of we this dog me
like going big she and they my see
on away mum it at play no yes
for a dad can he am all
is cat get said to in

SSShakeTheChi · 21/04/2007 11:17

THanks ell!

Hulababy · 21/04/2007 11:37

There are 45 words they are expected to be able to sight read by the end of reception:

a
all
am
and
are
at
away
big
can
cat
come
dad
day
dog
for
get
go
going
he
I
in
is
it
like
look
me
mum
my
no
of
on
play
said
see
she
the
they
this
to
up
was
we
went
yes
you

In their daily reading they will come across other words as well though, which pushes the actually total a child might now beyond that.

frances5 · 21/04/2007 14:20

"NT = Neurologically Typical ie. not SN"

That is a naive statement if there was ever one! Describing a child as having special needs can mean almost anything.

Are children who are deaf/ blind/ have a physical impairment neurologically typical? What about children who can't speak English or are in care. Are they neurologically typical?

My son's teacher and I have both used jolly phonics without mixed methods. I have lost count how many words he can read. His class have concentrated on learning to decode words rather than learn sight words. The only sight words he had have been given to learn have been the Jolly phonic tricky words.

My son is really struggling with dication of words because he has a hearing impairment. Although he wears hearing aids there are some sounds he just can't hear to save his life. It is really getting him down.

Rather than worrying about quantity of words I think its best to concentrate on knowing the letter sounds and learning to blend the sounds into simple words. As other posters have said there are lots of children of this age who can't read yet. There is a big developmental difference between a summer born and a winter born child.

MadamePlatypus · 21/04/2007 14:30

Doesn't it depend where they are born? In some countries, wouldn't it be none?

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