Reception and reading

[sannax]

Hi,

Advice appreciated.
My 4 nearly 5 year old has just started reception at state school and they are doing the read write inc programme, currently learning a letter a day. We do read everyday at home but it is me reading to him…he will get bored with longer books and lose focus though. He is just starting to put blend sounds together but still struggling. Seems from looking at other threads that he may be behind, although he is keeping up with the schools pace.

Is there anything I can do to help? Is it worth getting a reading chest subscription.
What are others doing at home with reading?

Get books that he enjoys you reading to him. It doesn’t matter how short or silly they are.

Did he not do phonics at nursery? My children go to a pushy school, they did lots of phonics at nursery, knew and could blend set 1 sounds but at this point in reception were still doing books without words. I say this because I don’t think he is behind.

If he is keeping up with his schoolwork then he's doing fine and there is no reason to worry. Just keep reading with him and let him see you and other adults reading for pleasure and he'll be fine.

Very common for children to struggle with blending this early in the year. Keep reading to enjoy books - go to the library and choose together. Play lots of robot games eg. Can you get me a c-u-p (sound it out) and lots of praise if they do. Take it in turns so they can be the robot too!

He’s been at nursery since age 1 but didn’t really do any phonics. The nursery was more focussed on play. In hindsight I regret sending him there but we did do some learning at home.

He loves learning his phonics at school and is enthusiastic about telling me what letter he’s learned. Definitely more enthusiastic about maths, knows his number bonds up to 20, 10 and 4 times table….but these things he’s picked up from number blocks rather than me formally teaching him.

For those who send their kids to private reception, how do your children compare?