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What should a 5 years old know

94 replies

Amygreenh · 05/07/2023 15:38

Hi,
My 5 year old is due to start Yr 1, they didn't attend reception as we had to move around a lot so we taught them at home. I spoke to another mother who said her child already knows how to read and write? Surely they don't teach this in reception? I thought it was mostly play based so haven't covered anything like that. My DC knows how to count to 20 and some letters, can write their name and some letters that's about it.
What should my DC know before starting so I can work on it over the summer with them?

OP posts:
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Goldencup · 05/07/2023 21:06

Amygreenh · 05/07/2023 15:38

Hi,
My 5 year old is due to start Yr 1, they didn't attend reception as we had to move around a lot so we taught them at home. I spoke to another mother who said her child already knows how to read and write? Surely they don't teach this in reception? I thought it was mostly play based so haven't covered anything like that. My DC knows how to count to 20 and some letters, can write their name and some letters that's about it.
What should my DC know before starting so I can work on it over the summer with them?

I think what you describe it what most DCs can do on entering reception, so I would say your son is about a year behind.

Gertrudetheadelie · 05/07/2023 21:26

I agree with other posters who say that what you describe is about entry level for Reception really.

I was pretty obsessive about my DS being able to read before reception but that's because I saw kids in my career as a secondary teacher who still had reading ages of under 5 and it frightened me how easily they had been left behind. I know, of course, that they were a real minority but it really made an impact on me because you could see the impact it had on them and their self-esteem.

I'm not saying that they need to be reading War and Peace by 4.5 but I'd definitely be working hard to catch my child up with some of the key learning they had missed in Year.

Blacmirror · 05/07/2023 21:31

I'm definitely not going to be teaching my DC to read at home surely that's what school is for

Oh dear...yes they will learn how to read but this should be supported at home. Doesn't have to be formal lessons but reading before bed, reading a magazine together etc.

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Goldencup · 05/07/2023 21:37

mathanxiety · 05/07/2023 20:25

What you should do this summer is:

Read to your child. Then read some more. Then more again. Read the same book over and over if your child wants that.

Read poetry and sing songs. Pre-reading children need to be able to get a feel for similarities and differences in sounds, for syllables, for rhythm.

Look at cvc words in the books you read, and show your child how sounds and letters correspond.

Casually ask your child what the illustrations are showing as you go through each book.

Ask your child to pick out words like a, the, at, you in text, plus other words that crop up a lot in any given book (depending on the material, this could be cat, dog, fire, rain, hungry, ate, goodnight, etc).

Do simple jigsaw puzzles.

Let your child practice letters and numbers using sand and a stick, chalk, mud.

When you go shopping, ask your child to read out the letters (L to R) of the shops you visit- BOOTS, TESCO, ALDI, and you can say what the letters spell. You can also have her spell out STOP at stop signs, etc. The point is to make her aware of all the written word in the environment, and repetition will help her actually learn to read those words. Do this as a fun game.

My DCs went to school in the US, where children are really taught to read in First grade (age 6 turning 7). Kindergarten (age 5 turning 6) is the year when they are exposed to phonics. All my DCs were reading before they got to First grade, but other kids were not. They're all university graduates now, regardless of when they started.

Don't be disheartened or discouraged or feel your child is 'behind'. There is no evidence at all that says the British approach of expecting children of 4 turning 5 to read, spell, and write basic words and sentences has any benefit. It just results in many children developing a sense of bewilderment in school, and an idea that they are failing.

Math what you describe is more suited to a 3 year old than a child about to go in to year 1.

mathanxiety · 05/07/2023 21:42

The OP has declared that teaching her child to read is the work of school, and the child hasn't been in school for the reception year.

There's a huge amount of background work that needs to be done before she will be ready for phonics and develop a foundation on which the teacher can build.

I am assuming from the OP's description of time spent enjoying nature, etc, that very little pre reading activity has been attempted.

mathanxiety · 05/07/2023 21:45

And @Goldencup - I'm also assuming your post isn't a stealth boast.

There are millions of English-speaking 3 year olds who would not benefit at all from attempts to teach the alphabet, point out words in the everyday environment, or write letters.

AutisticLegoLover · 05/07/2023 21:48

@Amygreenh what has the year of home schooling involved? My dc would love to be homeschooled but I couldn't do it. Lockdown homeschooling was horrendously stressful as I had 3dc at home all needing different things.

mathanxiety · 05/07/2023 21:49

DisneyGirl2329 · 05/07/2023 20:30

All of this is great however the OPs child will still be massively behind their peers as they have missed a whole year of school and learning. I'm not being unkind, I'm just stating a fact. The OPs child will be sat in a class of children that have already done a year of phonics, reading and maths alongside all of the other things! As much as we may or may not agree with how the education system is in the UK it is going to be hard for the OPs little one. Hence if they could start in reception over year 1 the better!

The child will need this even if she goes into Reception and not Yr1. I can't tell from the OP's posts whether any of this foundation has been put in place.

Bemyclementine · 05/07/2023 21:53

@Amygreenh contact the school and ask which phonics scheme they use, and which reading books.

Watch number blocks and whatever the alphabet/phonics one is called.

Don't worry at all. Children all learn at different rates. In yr 1 there will be children who can read well and some who can't read at all.

RoomOnTheBrooms · 05/07/2023 22:01

I'm a reception teacher too. In my cohort there is a big difference in reading ability when you compare the children who read regularly at home and those who don't.

orangetriangle · 05/07/2023 22:13

my niece is just 5 and almost finishing reception. She can read simple books and can write simple sentences. She recognises all letters and many double sounds. She has a list of tricky words she knows. She understands number bonds up to 10 and more than and less than . She can count to 100 and knows her 2 times table and 10 times table and is doing her 5 x table.

She can dress and sundress herself does buttons buckles shoelaces and zips . Can use the toilet independently and can use scissors and fill her water bottle herself and knows when to ask a grown up
Much of this is taught in school but also at home it's a joint thing.
The work really escalates up in year 1 it's much less play based and you get things like spellings
You really need to do some work with your son at home or he will be very behind in year one

Covidandapartridgeinapeartree · 05/07/2023 22:25

By the end of reception, they'd covered a lot of phonics and doing basic reading/writing. At our school, towards the end of reception, we had 2 books per week for DC to read and a short writing homework e.g a few sentences about their weekend and as long as phonetically sound, spelling didn't have to be correct. If children had joined year 1 without any grasp of reading/writing, I think they'd have been significantly behind. May be worth speaking to the year 1 teacher to get an expectation of what your DC should be able to do before starting year 1.

caringcarer · 05/07/2023 23:25

Amygreenh · 05/07/2023 18:36

That's great but were you not worried your kids would be a bit bored? The point of school is to learn together as a group, if they already know a lot what did they do when everyone else was learning?

I'm definitely not going to be teaching my DC to read at home surely that's what school is for. This year we've been lucky to spend time outside playing and exploring the world around us like a 4 year old should

They went to a little village school with only 2 classes. A mix of reception, 1 and 2 in one class and 3, 4 and 5 in the other class. The teacher just gave them slightly harder work and stretched them. DD got a scholarship at 11.

Goldencup · 06/07/2023 05:28

mathanxiety · 05/07/2023 21:45

And @Goldencup - I'm also assuming your post isn't a stealth boast.

There are millions of English-speaking 3 year olds who would not benefit at all from attempts to teach the alphabet, point out words in the everyday environment, or write letters.

Math what you describe would be done by any half decent nursery or pre-school. Have you seen cbeebies or given that you are stateside even Sesame Street ? , These are programes aimed at pre-schoolers all about the alphabet counting etc. Jesus even the puzzles and blocks they play with at 1 or 2 have the letters on them. To not know their letters by school entry (aged 4) child would either have borderline SEN or be living in box with no nursery, no TV.

Noicant · 06/07/2023 06:23

I would make sure his social/personal care skills are ok. I would do some phonics and maybe some number work with him too.

DD goes to a nursery where the classes aren’t strictly delineated by age/year group so she’s had a year of phonics already and she won’t be starting reception till next year. I’ve started to teach her how to read because otherwise she’ll spend another year doing phonic this year and only learn to read the year after. There will be other kids who have learned to read early and I assume she’ll just be given reading to do. You have two months to get him a little further along. You don’t want him to lose confidence if he turns up and the other kids already have their phonics nailed on.

But yes I think perhaps adjust your expectations about how much input you are expected to have. It sounds like he’s had a lovely year and I’m sure it was great for him but 10 minutes of work a day should be fine.

PurpleBugz · 06/07/2023 06:53

Your op says you taught child at home. Then in comments you say teaching a child to read is the schools job..... but you did not send the child to school?

Look up letters and sounds. That's a good one and free from the government.

If you were not educating your child because you believe that's schools job please don't say you taught at home. People like you make the life's of real home education families harder by acting as you have

Florad · 06/07/2023 07:20

Hiya, I am a reception teacher and early years lead.
There is a great document called Development Matters that we use. Children are assessed against the early learning goals at the end of the reception year which cover all the different areas of learning. I would have a look at this but only if you want an idea of what he would have been working towards in school. (The older version is actually better if you can find it online as it splits into more stages and age ranges.) Being able to write a sentence would be an expectation for most children BUT phonics is taught in year 1 too and there will be lots of children who haven't mastered this yet. The class will be split into smaller phonics groups where your child will be able to learn this so please don't worry. It could even be suggested that your child will be more ready for it now so will pick it up quicker. ALSO, please don't stress about it and try to teach him over the summer, phonics is an absolute minefield and it's better to wait for the school to do it. If you wanted to get him ready you could let him watch things like alphablocks to learn the proper sounds for each letter, or play the games from Letters and Sounds Phase 1 (available online) to practise tuning into the sounds in words etc but I honestly wouldn't worry too much. If he can recognise letters, draw with a pencil etc he will have the foundations there to build on when he gets to year 1.

PeachesOnTheBeaches · 06/07/2023 07:29

Amygreenh · 05/07/2023 18:36

That's great but were you not worried your kids would be a bit bored? The point of school is to learn together as a group, if they already know a lot what did they do when everyone else was learning?

I'm definitely not going to be teaching my DC to read at home surely that's what school is for. This year we've been lucky to spend time outside playing and exploring the world around us like a 4 year old should

Wow. So basically you’ve pissed about with your kid for their entire reception year and are now sending them to school completely behind because you couldn’t be bothered?

Poor kid.

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