Why is it so hard for school to supply reading books of the right BB?

[JKB1]

DD is just starting Y2. Last week teacher and TA agreed independently that she should be on BB11 (at least IMO given what she can read at home if she wants to!). That's fine, I'm sure there are a number of children in her class on this BB. But the only available books go up to BB10. Y3 are in another building, where presumably the BB11+ books are. This school claims to cater for all its children regardless of ability, (there is a very wide range) so why is it a constant struggle to get approprate, slightly stretching reading material. This was a constant theme last year. Drives me completely and utterly nuts. Any insights?

What's BB?

I think it is just budget tbh. In our last school - deprived area, lots of FSH so extra cash - there were heaps of books for every year. In the current one - more affluent area - there seem to be very very few. DD2 was on a higher level than the rest of her class - she was either allowed to borrow from Y1 or just had books on a lower level. Now she is in Y1 and the two classes take turns to have the book trolley - so one week your dc will bring home a book, the next they won't because all the books will be in the other classroom.

I find it all quite strange really - surely books are an essential in the classroom rather than a luxury!

Why can't someone bring some books over from KS2 then ?!?

It's not rocket science, is it?

If only one or two can they not arrange for them to go over themselves to the Y3 class and chose a book each time?

If several they need to go and get some to have in the room.

Yes, what's BB?

Book Band.

Ooh. Thanks Iam. I think at First School we had colours but I couldn't tell you what they were. Then they just chose Library books.

Ds1 school never managed it for him. All ks2 books were elsewhere. He was meant to be taken to school library once a week to get suitable book. It happened once. In 2 years. Waiting to see what will happen in y2...(not holding breath).

Excellent stealth boast, OP.

Kudos.

I don't know what BB11 is in your system, but in my school we call anything above lime a free reader. We do have colours on the book bands for year 3 upwards, but don't enforce them and children choose any book to take home.

If your DD is beyond the infant scheme, then I'd guess that she is a free reader and has passed lime. In which case, a reading scheme isn't so important. It takes a bit of engineering on the teacher's part to ensure a child takes home an appropriate book (ie no Dickens) but, as long as she has access to other books, I wouldn't worry too much.

My DDs' primary managed extension perfectly well for both my DDs, supplying books from KS2 and later on from the local middle school when DD1 was in Yr4.

They've now expanded into the Big Cats and ORT Tree Tops scheme which goes up to end of Yr6, but any child who is at that level is catered for. Not all schools don't know how to deal with very able readers.

I had this a bit last yr when DS was in yr2.

The TA/teachers seemed too busy to go to separate junior building (or they forgot).

In the end I did not ask anymore and just sent my own books in for him to read. DS was never that keen on school reading scheme books anyway!!