Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Help. My dd is starting school in September and can't read!

51 replies

blueslide · 29/06/2011 13:53

my dd is due to start school this September. It seems to me that practically every other child who is going to be in her year can already read a little bit and i spoke to one mum who said her ds can do things like take 4 from 10 mentally. I am starting to panic that i need to hothouse my dd. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

JaneBennet · 29/06/2011 17:12

DD has just finished Reception today. She couldn't read in September and is the very, very youngest in her class. She knew the majority of the letters of the alphabet but no phonic sounds at all at the start of the year. She has ended her Reception year in the top reading group, having worked her way up.

Please don't worry and don't listen to the other mothers. Your child will read when they are ready and not a moment before. I know it's hard when mothers are saying that their child is doing everything and then some.

bright1 · 29/06/2011 17:12

My ds didn't have a clue when he started reception. Both dc actually but ds is ending the year on turquoise so I wouldn't worry.

signet · 29/06/2011 19:24

I wouldn't worry about it at all. My DS is coming to the end of his reception year and is only just starting to read now and I'm not worried about him. In the last few weeks he's gone from not reading at all to flying through his books. Seems when they're ready they just fly with it. Mind you he is my 3rd child so perhaps I'm just a bit TOO laid back about things!!

MissBetsyTrotwood · 29/06/2011 19:44

One of mine starts school this September and can't read at all. We've tried a little tiny bit but he just gets cross so we stopped immediately. I figure as long as he's enjoying books and reading with me it's OK. It's there for him when he wants to and he knows that but as long as he's able to dress himself and go to the loo independently that's enough IMO. Having the skills to be pretty independent and comfortable in the classroom, iykwim.

girliefriend · 29/06/2011 19:50

my dd could not read when she started reception, they are still so little and I feel quite strongly that children should learn to read when they are ready and not at the expense of their social and emotional development which should be the priority at this age.

aries12 · 29/06/2011 20:02

I would not worry, as other posters said help and encourage your child to be independent, take off coat, put on coat, take off shoes, close bag, hang up coat e.t.c. It sounds basic but some children find these things so difficult because we as parents do everyhing for them! I think reading is best left to the teacher and if a child is bright they will pick it up quickly even if they can't read when they start. My DD could not read and could barely write her name, she learned how to read during her first year and I supported the teacher's work along as reading to her every night. She is now 6 and in Y2 and is well able to read 9 plus books. Enjoy the summer and let your play and have fun!

Tiggles · 29/06/2011 20:22

DS1 could read well when he started school despite being a summer baby, it was just his thing - at 2 he wanted to read. He has always had a reading age about 4 years ahead.
DS2 on the other hand is an October birthday and starts this September. He goes to the nursery attached to the school he is going to. For a while they have been giving out the story books with no words in, but decided he needed to move on. 5 weeks ago they gave him his first phonic books and now he can decode loads of words - in just 5 weeks. So don't stress she will soon be catching up with most early readers.

BrigitBigKnickers · 29/06/2011 23:30

DD2was 5 the day before she started school (Early September birthday).

She could not read at all. Just about wrote her name. Didn't know her sounds.

In fact didn't really get going with reading till the beginning of year 2. During year 2 she caught up with and largely overtook other children who had whizzed through the levels in reception and year 1.

She's 12 now and just completed her first year at grammar school.

Chill.

voddiekeepsmesane · 30/06/2011 00:12

Another one whose ds did not read before starting reception and is doing fine now at the end of year 2. We read to him a lot and made sure there was an interest in books but left the actual teaching to read to the teachers. No need to worry at all

boxingHelena · 30/06/2011 02:07

my ds is starting school in september cant read cant write cant even speak the language and i have all the intention of letting him enjoy the summer too
i do not know of any adult who cannot read and write, doubt it will be my ds

boolifooli · 30/06/2011 08:46

Actually Boxing, there are quite a few adults who can't read or write to a satisfactory level. No, I'm not referring to the cat fighting on MN about others spelling but people who can't write well enough to turn out an acceptable job application and do struggle with reading. It's usually a multitude of socio-economic factors that are responsible or even solely a learning difficulty, but yes, some adults do really struggle with those skills and its partly the assumption that adult illiteracy doesn't exist that makes it harder for an adult with these issues to access help and support.

Riveninside · 30/06/2011 08:48

Dd started school being unable to read. She is now finishing Y2 and still only reads a couple of 3 letter words. Its a wide mix. My others read fluently. I predict no difference at 18

mrz · 30/06/2011 08:50

A number of our pupils have parents who are unable to read and write at the level expected of a reception child so are unable to support their children's learning.

mrz · 30/06/2011 08:52

As a reception teacher I rarely had children start school able to read perhaps one child every two or three years

MmeLindor. · 30/06/2011 08:53

DD started school at 6yo unable to read. We are in Switzerland.

She is now 9yo and can read in three languages.

I think it was an advantage, learning to read later as they learnt the alphabet and how to put the letters together to make words, not by memorizing the shape of words. It makes it easier for her to read in other languages.

blackeyedsusan · 30/06/2011 11:50

don't worry, hot housing will not help anyay. read to your dd, let her enjoy books. if you ant to help her to be ready for school, help her to recognise her own name, especially if she has an "official" name as these are sometimes used for labels (Catherine/Katie etc) (even when you have told school grrr) make sure she can go to the toilet, wash and dry her hands put on her clothes and coat, fasten shoes, open her lunch box and drinks, blow her own nose, wipe her own bottom.

when she does start school, support dd with reading a little as many days as you can (5-10 minutes) and helping her learn her letter sounds. school will be able to tell you what they are learning.

Mischif · 30/06/2011 13:44

My dc is in reception. There are two classes of 30 of which 2 dcs could read before they started. Once at school, most of the class were reading by Christmas. I really wouldn't worry. Once they start getting the phonics drummed in every day at school, they're away.

IlzeIlze · 30/06/2011 14:19

Sorry but if everyone tells you their kids can read when they start reception - they are exaggerating or making it up! Do not get into competitive mode - there are many years to go yet! :)

motherinferior · 30/06/2011 14:24

I started school illiterate and got a scholarship to read English Oxford, a mere 13 years later

The Inferiorettes, similarly illiterate in reception, are rather good at reading now too.

WishIWasRimaHorton · 30/06/2011 14:27

i too started school illiterate and went to cambridge to read modern and medieval languages 13 years later.

really don't worry about it. my DS is the youngest boy in his class and in the lowest group for reading but is thrilled with what he can do (as am I), so the pressure is definitely OFF...

wildstrawberryplace · 30/06/2011 14:36

I wouldn't worry personally. I'm not teaching mine before school. I will respond if they show an interest obviously and they know some letters and can do very simple sums but really, to me, that's the whole point of school.

I don't think I read before school but soon finished all the reading books/wide range readers and was reading my choice of books from the school library very quickly instead of reading books. Went on to do languages at Cambridge.

We're an academic family but I don't think you should force these things.

seeker · 30/06/2011 19:51

Repeat after me. "All other parents lie"

itsastrawpoll · 30/06/2011 19:54

Jesus Wept, are you serious????

What the hell do you think they spend reception year doing? Analysing the merits of Satre versus Camus?

itsastrawpoll · 30/06/2011 19:55

Sartre

Ponders · 30/06/2011 20:07

my kids started school at ages between 4.2 & 4.9 & none of them could read at all - like GooseyLoosey I was very keen on them not reading too early - & to hear some other parents talk you'd think they had been permanently disadvantaged

Recognising first name is useful (though if it's a common one she'll need the initial of her surname too ) but I know our school, & most others I would imagine, reply on picture stickers for labelling each child's hook, drawer, books etc in Reception

Flip

1 2 3