Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

What's a normal Reception reading level?

28 replies

SwissSarah · 29/04/2017 19:12

My daughter is in Reception (October birthday) and is reading at Level 16. I know this is beyond her peers but how much so? The teachers aren't really giving me any clues about other children (which is fair enough!) and I don't want to ask other parents in case it looks like I'm showing off. Does her reading level mean she is gifted or bright? Would appreciate hearing what levels Reception children are at please. Thank you

OP posts:
Crumbs1 · 29/04/2017 19:23

Reading levels mean nothing at all. Some children have had more exposure to books, some nurseries teach reading, some children aren't interested until a bit later. In reception it's irrelevant and children don't really need a label. Just read together a lot. Encourage things apart from reading too.

grasspigeons · 29/04/2017 19:30

It's a good reading level and means she has got to grips with reading nice and early, but it is one of those things that doesn't seem to necessarily mean bright and a lot of slower to start readers catch up and overtake by year 3 or 4. Although I am sure some early readers are bright and keep ahead too. It needs to be looked at as part of a bigger picture really. For now make sure she is enjoying it and understanding it.

catkind · 29/04/2017 20:02

Typically level 3ish by the end of reception. Range about 1-5, then DD who is a massive outlier. This school don't seem to do scheme books beyond about level 5, but level 16 would have been comfortably top group at the end of year 1 at DS's previous school to give you some idea.

Whether gifted or just a precocious reader is hard to tell at this stage. I suspect mine of being ... unusual at least, based on the way she thinks and learns generally. But mainly just lovely and ever so happy about life, which is all you can ask for in a 5 yr old.

Mouthfulofquiz · 29/04/2017 20:20

Which range of books is it that she is reading? My ds is in foundation (June birthday if it is relevant) and he is on level 13 in his range of books. Some of his friends are slightly higher, some lower. 16 is certainly a very good start and it's great if she is enjoying it!

Original poster
SwissSarah · 29/04/2017 21:23

Thanks everyone for your input and perspective, really helpful.

The school use a mix of books and don't stick to one scheme.

I'll keep encouraging her to read a whole variety for pleasure.

OP posts:
Original poster
SwissSarah · 29/04/2017 21:26

Thanks everyone for your input and perspective, really helpful.

The school use a mix of books and don't stick to one scheme.

I'll keep encouraging her to read a whole variety for pleasure.

OP posts:
user789653241 · 30/04/2017 07:31

Level 16 is aimed at 9/10 years olds, yr5 and 6.
So, she is way beyond her peers. Fantastic!

user789653241 · 30/04/2017 07:56

Gifted or not, I think it depend on how she reads. My DS was great reader(could read any text in front of him), but more hyperlexic than gifted reader. He had problem with comprehension.

thisagain · 30/04/2017 08:02

Again, I think it depends on her comprehension. DS was not far short of this level in reception but I always thought the school were pushing him on too quickly. Now in year 1 he is at this level and his comprehension has finally caught up.

Littlefish · 30/04/2017 08:07

As others have said, it really depends on her comprehension skills. I've taught children in the past who could "read" anything I put in front of them, but who really struggled to explain the content of it.

user789653241 · 30/04/2017 13:32

These websites(free) are great for comprehension if you are interested. (US site, so grade1 = yr2, Kindergarten = yr1, I think.)

digital.readworks.org/

readtheory.org/

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 01/05/2017 18:05

Most of ds' class are on yellow or red. My son is on level 7 (turquoise) and his comprehension is very good. He was a non reader when they started the ort books at the end of October though.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 01/05/2017 18:09

DS was identified as 'unusual' for his age group in October though at his first parents evening though as he is ahead across the board.

AgentOprah · 01/05/2017 18:13

Depends on the scheme - typical for end of reception is red or yellow books, so level 4-8 say. Level 16 is orange which is typical for end of year 1. My august born and very average boy was on level 16 at the end of year 1.

JemimaMuddledUp · 01/05/2017 18:15

DS2 was on level 10 of ORT at the end of Reception, plus the equivalent in his second language. He is now 12, and although he is still a keen reader (currently reading Jane Eyre) and is in the top set for all his subjects he isn't particularly unusual academically. He just enjoyed books from a very early age.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 01/05/2017 18:16

How far ahead she is is going to depend hugely on which level16 you are talking about. It could be anything from about the right level to very far ahead.

AgentOprah · 01/05/2017 18:17

Depends if you are using colours, ORT stages or RR levels?

CountryCaterpillar · 01/05/2017 18:27

Our schools levels went up to 12 and my duaghter was "free reading" by beginning of year 1 - however most on her year have caught up with her by now. She reads always.

Do you find yourself comparing what stage children walked/ started food etx too. A few years down the track and joined cares.

user789653241 · 01/05/2017 18:32

I didn't realise there are different book levels!
I thought op is talking about ort book levels. so, level 16 = dark red = yr6.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 01/05/2017 19:48

You're right about the ORT ones, irvine. But virtually every scheme will have different levels.

PM/RR level 16 would be about right for the end of yr 1 so would be ahead but not uncommon in yr R. And some of the decodable schemes will have nearly that many levels just to cover the Reception sounds.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 02/05/2017 08:15

Rr 16 is about orange/6.

catkind · 02/05/2017 20:44

Ah yes, was also assuming OP meant book band levels. If you're not sure OP you could tell us a scheme name or the names of a book or two and someone could check.

QueenOfTheHighCs · 02/05/2017 20:52

DD2 is apparently ahead of the rest of her reception class and is on the equivalent of RR/PM level 15 (ORT 5) so it's good but not crazy-clever if that helps?!

Tiggles · 03/05/2017 13:42

In reception DS1 read Harry Potter. He understood the plot etc but he wouldn't have been able to discuss it on the same level as a year 5/6 pupil reading it. I write this as I assume HP is around a level 16 ORT book. He didn't really do reading scheme books after the teachers realised how well he read. It was more about learning about comprehension. He was unusual. However he is no longer a reading genius - he is better at computer programming - he just had worked out how the code worked to read at a young age.

JustRichmal · 04/05/2017 09:59

I taught dd to read before she started school. Not many parents do, so it is unusual for a child to be able to read in reception. Quite a lot on this section of the forum do, because it is the G&T section and therefore self selecting. But it is rare. When I said at one school she was reading the response was she was probable just memorising familiar texts. Another school said they had had one child a couple of years back who could read in reception. So it is rare.
I do not know what level of comprehension a child in reception is supposed to have. Ted likes red and makes a shed with his friends. Spot the dog is a bit tricky to find. The most challenging text was Daisy Duck loosing her mum for a bit. She could probably have decoded Jane Eyre by year 1, but would not have had the life experience or interest at that age to get anything from it.
She now loves reading, is doing well in English literature classes and is a very quick reader, which is good for study as she starts her GCSE years.

Just keep up her love of reading and do not worry about how the rest are doing.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread