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Original poster

What level Oxford reading tree is your recep. child on?

48 replies

curiousgeorge · 16/05/2005 20:45

Ds is 5(in reception) and on level 2 xtra story packs. I think he's about average in his class. What are everyone elses reception kids on?

OP posts:
Hermione1 · 16/05/2005 20:48

my kids didn't even start reading in reception, but my dd is on stage 6 nearly 7 she's 6

wysiwyg · 16/05/2005 21:08

Mums at my DD's school all agree how brilliant it is that there is none of the "my child's doing this, what's your child doing" scenario.
Personally I believe reception year is about settling into school and getting to know about the rules ([putting your hand up to speak etc) as a foundation to learning. They are so different at this age - as autumn born children have a headstart over summer born, also did they attend nursery or not etc etc so I don't think you can make a fair comparison.
I think if your child comes home from school and is happy, has some friends and goes to school without complaint then they are comfortable in the environment which means they will learn.
So don't worry (sorry to rant)

Ellbell · 16/05/2005 22:19

My dd is on level 1A (or is it 1+ ... oops, pay attention there, mum!). But this level seems to have gone on forever... there were the story books, then some rhyming books, then some more story books, now she's doing 'fireflies' (is that what they are called?). I would guess she's nearly up to level 2. I did see a child come out last week all excited telling her mum that she was on level 3, but I am definitely not worried about it. My dd is making good progress and likes reading, and she was only 5 last week so is one of the younger ones in the class (only full-time since Easter) and not particularly mature at that. I am happy, as Wysiwyg said, that she has learnt more about patience, difference (a couple of children in her class with SEN), turn-taking, listening as well as speaking... that kind of thing. I'd be worried if I felt that she didn't enjoy school or learning, but she does - she loves it, and I feel that with that attitude (and with support at home, of course), she's bound to make progress.

mancmum · 16/05/2005 22:22

my ds is 5.5 in reception and is on level 4... he is ahead of most his class and the teachers think he is doing well.. hope this does not sound like boasting... am just so proud!

soapbox · 16/05/2005 22:27

I do reading practice with my DS's reception class. Most are on level 3 with a large number on level 2 as well.

One boy is on level 8

Mo2 · 16/05/2005 22:43

DS1 (5 yrs 5 months) has just started level 7 - sorry - know it sounds like bragging, but reading is his 'thing' and I AM proud, so there....

(still has stabilisers on his bike, mind you.... )

swedishmum · 16/05/2005 22:52

It's great that all your children are doing so well. Just a note of caution from an old bag mum of 4. Dd1 was well past ORT by this stage in reception - reading "proper books" like Worst Witch and Ms Wizz very well, as was dd2. Spare a thought for children like ds (my no. 3) - he didn't get reading in reception, and though v bright was diagnosed dyslexic in October. Is now learning at home with me and reading fantastically (for him) at 8.5
I'd hate any mothers to read this thread and feel their kids were failing. Though I love boasting about my children too.
Point of my ramble? I think if you're a mum whose child hasn't clicked with reading yet, hang in there.

sparklymieow · 16/05/2005 22:52

DD1 is stage 1, and is behind in the score I know that, but I will brag that DS who is 7 is reading chapter books now and like Mo2's DS reading his thing too.

bigdonna · 16/05/2005 22:59

that sounds about righr both my children left reception on stage 2-3.And then once they go into yr1 it speeds up alot my dd 6 is on stage 9.In fact i think there are some children still on this stage in yr1.so well done to him.

Dingle · 16/05/2005 23:01

I can so identify with that. DS is the youngest in Y1, he will be 6 on 30th August.
I remember last year, him coming home and sitting down to do some reading with me.It ended up in a temper tantrum and the book being thrown accross the room. He said, he didn't like reading (although he has always had a love for books), he was useless at it and that all the other children i his class are on "better" books than him!!

WE stuck with it, tried to continue to make reading fun, and only last week he has been moved up another level. His school do a mixture of book, not just ORT, but as an example he is on ORT level 6.

Whatever level I try to enjoy reading with him.If I am getting worried over how he reads in comparison to others in his class then surely this is reflected onto him. I would like to think that if there was a problem , his teachers would let me know!

sparklymieow · 16/05/2005 23:02

you may not know my story, but DS and DD1 both have Cerebral palsy so I very proud of his reading, considering he didn't talk till he was 3. Dd1 is still very behind in her speech so not expecting her redaing to be great yet

Dingle · 16/05/2005 23:06

sparkleymieow, TBH I think ds's reading has improved because of the phonic sound work I use with dd's SALT. The teachers are very impressed with his phonic knowledge and how he applies this to both his reading and writing.

He thinks he is so grown up, and tells everyone he is helping his little sister learn to talk!

sparklymieow · 16/05/2005 23:08

Dingle.......awwwwwww DD1 gets very bored of the phonic sounds, her speech is getting better tho.

Dingle · 16/05/2005 23:11

I was saying to Fio early about the improvement in DD's speech since starting mainstream nursery in Jan. Although you can't always understand, and they are very unclear, she will attempt loads of words now! I am so proud of her!

kid · 16/05/2005 23:12

DD keeps telling me what level she is on but I always tell her it doesn't matter what level it is. I really hate to hear the kids in her class (year 1) go on about who's on the highest level.
DD is doing fine at school, she isn't top of the class and isn't bottom either. She has almost finished level 4. I am happy that she can manage the work, reading and spellings and seems to enjoy them.

bunny2 · 16/05/2005 23:15

Ds is on level 1 - he just doesnt seem interested in reading his school books but he loves all other books and I dont want to lose that so we are taking it v easy with the ORT

Dingle · 16/05/2005 23:16

DS has been set a target to use more expression in his reading. Oooooh, it just sound soooo sweet.
Of course I want him to do well, but at the end of the day, he is 5, I want him to enjoy his schooling too and not get stressed out by who is on what colour books!

ScummyMummy · 16/05/2005 23:18

Glad someone else does that, kid. I always worry that I'm really confusing my boys by making it clear how little I care about what level reading book they're on. I think I'm extra sensitive about it because they're twins and not on the same level, maybe.

happymerryberries · 17/05/2005 16:35

ds is on 1.5, dd was on 5-6 at the end of the year having done 4 reading schemes. there is a vast normal range and nothing to get worked up about.

firestorm · 17/05/2005 20:09

my dd didnt really do reading in reception, now in year 1 shes on ort level 7 (she was 6 two weeks ago)

Eowyn · 17/05/2005 20:20

are the magic key/kipper, biff, chip books (if that makes any sense) all the same thing? if so my dd has just gone up to 6, she's just 5 & reckons most in her class are the same. then again she also says they never do any work but play all day, yet her reading gets better & better so I haven't got a clue what she gets up to.
I always had it in my head that I was a fluent reader at 3 but my mum says not. so i did have stupid expectations of dd but realised the error of my ways.

Ellbell · 18/05/2005 01:11

Have just read all this and am now wondering if my dd is massively behind.... Should I be worrying? (I am now beating myself up about being a WOHM, and wondering if I'd be able to help my child more if I was at home with her all day... although I do hear her read most evenings and some mornings before school too...)

Another question. Who hears your child read? And who decides whether or not they 'move up' to another book? My dd reads to teacher or TA about three times a week and if she gets it all right (and remembers the words separately from the context too - the important words are written on her key word card and she has to be able to read those without the prompting of the pictures in the book) she can have a new book. But they did say that once she's on level 2 she is meant to read to us (parents) instead and we can decide when we think she's ready for a new book. Is this what happens elsewhere, or does responsiblity stay with the teacher?

Ellbell · 18/05/2005 01:15

Also (sorry for question bombardment... I am feeling like a Bad Mother now!) I am sure that my dd knows all the 'recommended' words for Reception Stage (can't remember what the official term is, but saw them linked on here, and they are definitely all words she knows). Are these really the words that children are meant to know by the end of reception? Or is this a 'bare minimum', with the implication being that most will know a lot more than that?

patch · 18/05/2005 06:16

Dd is an August birthday (three months still until l5th birthday) but her school uses the New way reading scheme. She seems to have been on the pink set for ever, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this reading scheme because the back shows different colours but I am not sure whether it is reading scheme aimed all through primary or just Key Stage 1. As I work full time I do not see many other parents, but dd says that some of the other children are on the same books as her but does not know what the rest are on? She also does "nothing" every day at school!!!

singersgirl · 18/05/2005 11:31

The 45 words are what they expect each child to know by the end of Reception, not a bare minimum. Some children will know more and some will know fewer. FWIW, my DS1 was on ORT Level 6-7 by June of Reception year; he'd just gone up a level of the scheme they used (lots of schemes mixed together) and in the two previous 'colour bands' he hadn't read any ORT (happened to clear out his old reading record the other day).
From listening to children read through to Y2 now, I'd say that reading only clicks for a few of them in Reception, for quite a lot more in the course of Y1 and then for most of the rest in Y2. There is an 'ages and stages' chart on the Oxford Reading Tree site which you might find helpful: here Hope that link works!