Reading in Reception

[fulltimeworkingmum]

I am a little concerned at the low standard of reading books which DD brings home. She is bored of them as they are rather simple and she could read stuff like that long before she went to school.

The issue is that her teachers do not really grasp that she is ready for the next stage up(at least) and because she has reached the target (Key Stage one) then no further work needs to be done. She needs to be challenged a bit more. I have already joined Reading Chest out of desperation. Any suggestions?

At my children's school the books are outside on trolleys for parents to choose, in which case when your DC has moved beyond the reception books you just choose from the next year up.

Have you got a parent consultation coming up, if not could you meet with the teacher to find out how your DD could start reading from the KS2 stock? I guess if the pupils choose whilst in class this would be difficult but surely you can't be the first parent to have raised this issue.

Can I ask what she is bringing home?

Jolly phonics - I don't think it's too bad at all. She just needs a higher level

Jolly Phonics are quite low level (4 levels) and I would be very surprised if they don't have other books for reception and KS1.

You'll be surprised then MRZ. They will not allow moving up a level as this may disadvantage other children (WTF?) There is no shortage of appropriate books to read at home and DD loves her books and adores being read to and sharing the stories. I'm just surprised that primary school educators (in this school, anyway) seem to be so short sighted.

It does seem strange. At family assemblies certificates are given out when a child becomes a 'free reader'. You should hear the gasps from the year 2s when a little bugger from reception gets one [my gasp quite loud too!]. The point is though that kids are able to progress if they need to and the range in reading in each of the early years is huge.

I'm horrified rather than surprised! How can children progress if they haven't got adequate resources to support them

I completely agree. Aside from paying obscene amounts of money for private education I cannot see what else we can do. Moving is not an option due to DH having 2 businesses in the town where we live. I'm glad though, that the schools elsewhere appear to be much more switched on to the needs of their pupils. Thanks for the really valuable input.

I never understand stories I hear like this. Like mrz, it horrifies me. Can you imagine, as a teacher, your Literacy co-ordinator telling you she is not buying any more books for Reception, for that reason? I can't, but it does happen. Mad,

Goodness fulltimeworking mum - do you think you should try and talk to teacher/ though I imagine you have done that. I think you need to take this further. Letter to teacher, copied to head expressing your concern for your child and others/ ethos of reading teaching at the school? It does seem strange. You would have thought the school would support its able readers as well as support those who need extra help. Do they have a good supply of books? Does their policy change in year 1? If a child a good reader and run out of books from reception boxes at our state primary [in deprived area for what its worth..] books are got from other year boxes. If school short of books perhaps pta should be on case. Our school doing readathon at mo for charity and books. Sounds more of a strange school policy though. Time to be a pushy mum???!!!

are you absolutely sure about the not allowing them to move on and disadvantaging other children thing? No possibility of a misunderstanding?

Because if you are, you should be in the head's office on Monday morning. This goes against all the official guidance for schools not just on reading but on everything.

I spoke to my headteacher before half term because I have a particularly able group of readers who have been accessing KS2 books since they entered Y1 but aren't finding the subjects very engaging ...his response ... order some that will engage them

Agree with Narnia that maybe PTA should be involved, harder for the head to ignore if there are more pushing for change. Also they could fund some new books.

Do you have any nights out with other Reception parents to gauge their opinion and hopefully support? If not may be worth emailing the class parents to see what they think.

DH has spoken to DD's teacher twice about this issue. The response on the last occasion a couple of weeks ago was " That's strange - she never gives the impression of being bored while she's here"
Possibly because the teacher is having a hard time with some of the other "challenges" in the class of 35 and DD never makes a fuss.

35!

I know - it's awful. This is a village C of E school too but is horribly overcrowded as the primary a mile down the road is on a sink estate and has had grim Ofsted reports - you can't blame parents for wanting to get their children into a better school.

No I don't blame parents - are the extra 5 all from appeal?

I thought they weren't allowed to take 35 without taking on an extra teacher (not TA) too?

mrz- what did you order please?

I ordered some Project X level brown band for more able and some Rapid Readers (high interest for boys although lower level than currently reading) plus some Project X phonics ( also high interest for boys in particular)

Hmm... are Project X very popular then? I have hated the ones DD has had so far, and she has seemed bemused by them, possibly because they are the lower levels and the stories were dire, she is too young to play computer games yet, she doesn't watch television, and she just didn't get what was going on in them. (children shrinking and having races in tiny cars, being chased by insects etc)

They are with the older children (Y2) for the subject content but I agree the early ones are pretty dire
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198472048/ref=oss_product#reader_0198472048

You must talk to the school quickly.

My DD did the whole phonics thing in pre-sch and in reception her ability was quickly ascertained and she was put straight on to reading books by the November (2 oxford reading tree + as many free choice books as she wanted).

Her class were all started at different levels (eg some on phonics, some on books without words) to suit their ability and all have made excellent progress.