Reading age vs NC level

[mrsbaffled]

Just wondereing how/if a child's reading age is related to their NC level in reading....

DS(8) was assessed 6 months ago as having a reading age of 11.5yrs and comprehension level of 12yrs. However, his yr 3 NC level has just come back in his report as 3b. I would have expected it to be higher than that, surely? He struggles with writing, is that holding back his NC level?

They aren't related. His writing could be holding him back on the longer (3 mark) questions. I wouldn't worry. He is clearly able.

Did the mention what reading age test they used? Was it Salford test? I always found these came out a bit higher than I thought.

The comprehension test was the Neale Analysis of reading ability. Don't know what test it was for reading age...

No easy match as it does depend on the actual reading test used, although I agree comprehension age and NC don't seem to match. I must confess I take reading test ages with a pinch of salt. NC level teacher assessments (e.g. APP) give levels and identify areas for development, which are far more useful. I don't know if your school uses APP but it might be worth googling "APP guidelines reading" for definitions of what the requirements of level 3 and 4 are. Alternatively your child may have sat the optional QCA reading comprehenion test to give the 3B and then yes, writing does play a part, as they are expected to write the answer to the comprehension questions.

That's interesting - he sat some papers this year, but I couldn't say whether reading was one of them....

Yes I used to take reading age tests with a pinch of salt too Abigail although it was occasionally useful to show progress when comprehension was slower to progress than decoding.

The Neale Analysis is an oral test- the comprehension questions are multiple choice. A NC assessment requires written answers- different process.
Having said that, to get a RA almost 4 years above his age is quite unusual - I have the Neale Test and the harder passages are hard.

DS2(8) had a reading age of 12.9 last time they tested him, but he is mildly dyspraxic which means that he can't write as well as he reads. His NC levels come out at fairly average for his age because of this.

Does he have g&t support if his reading age is that high? DS2 gets an interesting mix of g&t support as his reading/comprehension/spelling is so good, and extra help from the OT for his dyspraxia and from SALT for his speech problems.

No, I don't think he's on any G&T registers - haven't been told anyway. He's on SEN register on SA+ due to "Specific Learning Difficulties in spelling, writing and fine motor control". He gets 1-1 spelling intervention for 10 mins a day and can use an Alphasmart and writing slope/pencil grips etc. When he was tested 6 months ago his spelling age was less than 5(!) However, he's pulled himself up to a 2a in writing this year which is phenomenal progress :)

DS is also really good at numeracy and particularly good at science. I am concerned that his writing will hold him back all round.

In the long term it might be a good idea to work on keyboard skills. It may be an acceptable alternative to writing in some future tests as he gets older and good typing skills are essential.

DS2's writing has improved enormously over the past 12 months since he has been having extra support with it. It still isn't as good as it could be, but the fact that he is catching up (albeit slowly) gives me hope!

Thanks, I have taught him basic touch typing using Nessy Fingers. It's slow, but improving.

His handwriting has improved loads this year too. It's much much smaller than it was in Sept, and more even. I think it's mostly due to the fact that he's completed a course of vision therapy to correct an eye tracking issue - it helps to be able to see what you are writing :0

The NC reading level will be assessing comprehension as well as accuracy.

The Neale Reading Analysis tests is often used by researchers and educationalists because it measures decoding and comprehension. Personally I wouldn't be worried he's doing well and 3B at the end of Y3 is a good level.

Interested in this because my DS in YR 3 sounds quite similar - also scored highly with reading age and comprehension on the tests (11.5 yrs) but has a lot of difficulty with writing. I think his reading is really good, very quick and fluent but only came out 'as expected' for his age on the NC levels apparently (I've yet to see levels as not in report).

What kind of intervention has your DS had in school if you don't mind me asking? DS has had loads of support this year but hasn't moved on much with writing or maths where he also has problems

Outside of school he has completed a course of vision therapy (which I think has done the most good) for eye tracking problems.

Inside school he gets 1-1 for 10 mins a day doing Word Wasp, plus a group spelling session once a week. I have taught him touch typing and he can use an Alphasmart computer sometimes in lessons, and is allowed to type his homework if he wants to. He uses a writing slope and pencil grips, and I am supposed to be doing finemotor OT with him, but TBH I haven't had much time to do this :(

A lot of the support has been to take his fear of writing away. He gets over emotional about it because he finds it so hard. At the start of the year they just let him do Mind Maps rather than proper written pieces, so the teacher could see what he wanted to put, rather than a blank page.

shouldbe have you had any investigations, or dx of dyslexia, say??

mrsbaffled - the touch typing sounds good and it sounds like your school have been very supportive over the writing which is great.

We are baffled over DS as no dyslexia as that would have been picked up on tests but definitely an issue with spelling and writing. Teacher thinks much of it is a boy thing and a maturity thing! DS is incredibly stubborn and like your DS gets very emotional about his work but he gives up at the first hurdle. The battles over homework have been painful! DS is very hypermobile in his fingers and thumbs so has a pencil grip (well a rubber band!) and this does clearly affect his writing and willingness to do it.

Glad your DS is making good progress

DS has hypermobile elbows and fingers too, which affects his fine motor control and he says it hurts to write. We were given exercises by the physio, but again, we've not really been doing them.

My worry is that he will lose his help soon as he compensates quite well (so now he's 'average' they won't worry, even though he shuold be much higher than that), as he's very very bright. He's not been dx with dyslexia, just SpLD in spelling, writing and finemotor control. However, i am convinced he has "stealth dyslexia" (google it), which isn't really recognised.

I think there are two things here. One is that NC levels aren't that helpful when children are way ahead for exactly the reason you say, that some aspects may pull their whole score down. Reading age is quite often much further ahead, and it's more useful to look at the individual parts of literacy separately rather than just the overall score.

But your DS sounds as though there is a bit more going on than just that. Have a google for "twice exceptional", this kind of mix isn't uncommon and it is worth addressing so that both his difficulties and his abilities are catered for. The NAGC has some useful factsheets and advice too.

Thank you x