Changing schools and reading schemes (reception)

[newname0601]

His current school does Ginn and he's sight learnt all the words for those books including the names of the characters etc. Most of the words he's learnt are the normal high frequency words. He's by no means through to the end of all the words sent home (I know this because my dd has had all the words now as the teacher told me). He's currently reading level 1 books.

He's moving schools at half term to a school that does ORT. Now I know that the character names are different for a start. I'm assuming at level 1 most of the high frequency words are the same as Ginn but I'm not sure. Would it be worth me getting him to learn the character names for ORT before he starts at the new school? Or shall I just leave it? I don't want his reading to be held back by the change in schools but he's been through a lot recently and sometimes I think a break is good for them. I will obviously continue to read to him between now and starting at the new school.

NN,

You really need to chill. Everything will be different at the new school. It will take him a little while to get used to it, and then he will be fine.

At this stage it is far more important he settles in at school well, rather than whether he is on level 1, 2 or 100.

He really needs to concentrate on settling in and making friends. Reading by sight words is not something he needs to concentrate on.

Hopefully his new school will be teaching phonics anyway....

I know what you're saying Indigo but I'm worried. I'm worried about everything right now tbh! The logistics of transition and training. The logistics of 2 schools etc. How we're going to tell him? What if we've made the wrong decision? Honestly I think I'm just programmed to worry now after all the worry I've been living with! We have decided that the most important target for ds is social and behavioural and we're not too bothered if he's bottom of the pile academically at the end of the year. We can work on that later.

He's already lost half the school year thanks to the crap school. I know we're doing this for all for the right reasons and I know that we desperatly need him to use the rest of the year to work on his social skills and behaviour more than his reading skills but I don't want him to feel frustrated or upset that he suddenly can't read his school books. Thats exactly the kind of thing that kicks off the difficult behaviour.

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate at the moment. I agree with IndigoBell that you should try and concentrate on him just settling in. I know you can buy 'read at home' ort Biff and Chip books but only if you really want too. If you have shops like 'The Works' near you they often have special offers on them eg 4 for £5. Try to calm down. As a worrier myself I know that is hard! Good luck.