Can someone explain reading levels and EYFS outcomes?

[User14567]

My son is in reception and he’s reading Oxford reading tree yellow band books. He couldn’t read or write beyond his name before he started school so I feel like his progress has been ok, but from talking to other parents he is really far behind his friends in reading. Just had parents evening. Teacher says (confusingly) he’s behind in reading but securely in “expected” in terms of early learning goals. Is this because he’s in a high achieving class so he is at or near the bottom of class but still in average range for children overall?
He’s an anxious kid and starting school was a bit tough for him so we didn’t push him to do too much homework in the first half of the school year. Now I’m worried we’ve let him fall behind and he won’t be able to catch up. Will he be considered low achieving with low expectations of him as he moves through primary school?
I don’t expect, or want him to be a genius but I don’t think he’s meeting his potential at the moment, but he’s quiet and well behaved and getting by just well enough to be easily overlooked 🙁

Just as a bit of reassurance- ds2 was in the ‘cause for concern’ reading group in reception and year 1. Struggled with blending and any intonation etc. Suddenly in year 2 he ‘got it’. He flew through the levels and now is reading 2 years above his chronological age and spends all his spare time reading. We did subscribe to Reading Chest for a while as school did not keep up with his massive leap.

We would often do ‘you read a page I read a page’ when our dc were struggling. It helped the books go faster, modelled use of expression, helped with comprehension and took some pressure off.

Try getting a free trial of reading eggs. That way he can have some practice while dinners being made etc

My ds is in yr5 now. From what I see, those excelling at reading now is not same ones who were good at reading in reception. The ones who really got the love of books. It must be tough to be a normal ability but classed as behind because of cohort, but it will be different in next couple of years. Just keep reading with him. You shouldn't worry.

I agree dd learnt very easily but may not get inference and spelling/stamina or a love of poetry etc. Certainly as both dh and i only have gcse c/d so are no help.
Same as maths arithmetic is different to gcse/a level.

We used both Reading Eggs and the Julia Donaldson books and did some reading everyday. It worked well and more than the 1 or 2 books the school sent home each week.

My daughter was on red when she finished reception. She is now in year 2 and teacher says she will probably finish year 2 higher than expected level. Doesn't sound like he is behind at all.