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Primary education

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Original poster

Helpful book band/reading age chart

32 replies

Mehfruittea · 13/05/2017 20:08

Found this and thought I was so useful I should share.

It shows ORT book level, colour band, NC level and school year; with whether your child is needing support, in the expected range or more able.

I found it really helpful. Smile

Helpful book band/reading age chart
OP posts:
Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:16

TBH that is quite out of date and the expectations have shifted up quite significantly since 2014.

I would shift the 'support/ expected/ able' ranges two places to the right to match current expectations.

Arkadia · 13/05/2017 20:22

@low, do you mean that expectations have gone down (or, if you like, have been dumbed down) or that the chart was too ambitious?

Original poster
Mehfruittea · 13/05/2017 20:27

Oh poo! I didn't know it was out of date. What are the expectations now then for exiting Reception? Damn.

My DS has been on Yellow since Christmas but they won't move him up to Blue until the 'able' group in his class are all ready. I'm trying to be calm about it and not feel like they are holding him back. He is reading ORT level 6 at home.

Do I need to be more pushy with school then?!

OP posts:
Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:30

No, I mean expectations have gone up.

So now for Y2 on that chart (as and example) I would put 'support' under 6&7, 'expected' under 9-12 and 'more able' under 13&14. Likewise I would shift the ranges for the other year groups 2 boxes to the right.

There are no levels and reading ages don't inform standardised reading scores though so it is not directly applicable to school assessment anyway.

AppleMagic · 13/05/2017 20:31

I think that chart seems to be correct for reception. My dd has finished all the level 3 phonics books and is being given old non-decodable because the level 4 books are kept in year 1 classroom Hmm

spanieleyes · 13/05/2017 20:33

No,the opposite. Expectations have gone up. White level is the "age appropriate text" recommended in my authority

spanieleyes · 13/05/2017 20:34

Sorry,White/Lime are the age appropriate texts required at the end of year 2 to be working at expected

AppleMagic · 13/05/2017 20:34

In reception for ORT, spanieleyes?

AppleMagic · 13/05/2017 20:34

X-post!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:36

Are they actually using ORT? That is also now out of date as a lot of the early stage stuff is not decodable. Your DC should be reading books closely matched to their phonic knowledge.

slightlyglitterbrained · 13/05/2017 20:37

DS is in reception receiving additional support and is on book band 3 atm, so most of his class will be on higher book bands now.

What was the reasoning for increasing expectations?

SleepWhatSleep1 · 13/05/2017 20:38

So what is now expected for at the end of yr1?

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:48

This is the expectation at the end of Y1.

Helpful book band/reading age chart
Helpful book band/reading age chart
Tomorrowillbeachicken · 13/05/2017 20:50

I like that and used it on google search many times but DS' class has a very big range in reception and quite a few are in more able.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 13/05/2017 20:52

Sorry to be dense but what is a Gpc?

mrz · 13/05/2017 20:54

Grapheme phoneme correspondence ( letters /spelling matched to sounds )

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 13/05/2017 20:55

Ty mrz.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:55

grapheme-phoneme correspondence, so see it written- know the sound (or list of potential sounds).

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 13/05/2017 20:57

What was the reasoning for increasing expectations?

The Government just decided that if we did a bit less art and PE they could all read better sooner.

SleepWhatSleep1 · 13/05/2017 20:58

Thanks lowdoor

Original poster
Mehfruittea · 13/05/2017 21:00

So should I ask for a meeting with the teacher then? I was happy that he is reading more difficult books at home but the are not fully decodable.

Should he just be moved up to the right level for him in class? Or if they are only using decodable books in class, is it possible that he is Yellow for phonics style books but more able when they become less reliant on decoding and more opportunity to use context, guess etc.

Oh I'm so confused now! Confused

OP posts:
Tomorrowillbeachicken · 13/05/2017 21:00

The irony that my sn could do with more art and pe as it could help his physical delay but doesn't need help with reading as he is steaming ahead isn't lost on me.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 13/05/2017 21:01

I'd speak to the teacher, yes, but I'm that mum that will suggest the band isn't right once my son has no challenge from the books.

mrz · 13/05/2017 21:03

"but more able when they become less reliant on decoding and more opportunity to use context, guess etc."
Ideally he will never resort to guessing etc as these are very ineffective strategies. If he can't read decodable books he's not going to be able to read other books accurately.

SleepWhatSleep1 · 13/05/2017 21:12

Hmm well we're in sort of the same situation - at home dd1 reads anything and everything and often borrows a friend's (different school) stage 8 ORT books to read and can read them fine (and answer the stuff at the end) but school have her on stage 5 or Rigby Rocket orange. But I'm not bothering to speak to the teacher as I'm happy that she's reading enough at home that challenges her.
Besides, she started the year "behind" with extra support, so I guess they just haven't realised quite howmuch reading has suddenly clicked with her

So no, I wouldn't say anything. But I'm probably wrong! Grin