Expectations in Reception - reading

[Worriedmotheroftwo]

Hello. Quick question about age-related expectations in reading in Reception.

My son got 'working towards' expectations in reading in his end of term report (first term of Reception) which I was surprised about. He reads to me daily, and is blending CVC words (not always accurately, but most of the time) and can recognise some words (eg in, it) by sight. He can read things like 'tip it in' but would need to sound out the word 'tip' in order blend and then say it. He is very confident with phonics/sounds. I assumed that he was doing fine for first term in Reception, so the 'working towards'had surprised me a bit. Are Reception children really expected to be able to do more than that in reading by the end of their first term? Thanks!

We don't have a report at the end of this team but my DS is almost identical to yours in terms of what they can/can't do. He's in the middle group (of 3) for phonics/reading and is bang in the middle of that. So perfectly on track. The top third of his class could read words quite easily before half term but they were also generally the Sept/October birthdays so that much older.

I think perhaps the expectation would be that they don't need to sound out a fairly simple word like 'tip' anymore. I have reception age twins, and they would both read tip straight off now, though obviously still sounding out for other more complex words. It sounds like your son isn't far off though, so I wouldn't worry.

At our school the 'grading' they give is vs where they should be at the end of the year rather than now. So 'working towards' would be totally expected.

My reception aged child is doing about the same as you describe here. Nothing to worry about at all.

'Tip it in' are all words made with the first set of sounds taught in week 2 or 3 of reception so if they are still at this level then yes they'd be 'towards'.
By now they should know all single sounds, consonant diagraphs and starting vowel diagraphs.
So reading words like
See, thin, wing, chip, shed, zoo, fill, buzz, rain, light, coat.
My son's book last week was 'Posh shops' as he learned the sh sound. I'd say he's towards as he isn't confident in his blending. My elder son was much better at this point (and 6 months older).

Sorry meant to say, Reception teacher with child also in Reception.

Good grief! I am actually amazed by how much Reception children are expected to do in their first term! Thanks for explaining - that's really helpful.

Please don't listen to some of the comments on this thread ... they are wrong! You can easily find out end of year expectations by googling early learning goals. For reading to be expected at the end of the year they are meant to know all single sounds and 10 digraphs! There is no expectation they can do this yet! Our mantra is "everyone blends by Christmas" so it sounds to me as if your school has based reports against the early learning goals for the end of year! He sounds like he's doing brilliantly!

I was also going to say it sounds like working towards the end of year goals. I found with my eldest she really flew re progress from the January to May and ended up above expectations by the end of the year and overtook a lot of the older kids who were reading before starting school. My youngest is in reception at the moment and was slower to get started but in the last month she’s really come on and I’m hoping she follows a similar sort of trajectory.

That's a relief! Many thanks. Will see how he gets on! Really appreciate the input.