Daughter is behind in English - how to help

[SunflowerLV]

Hi,

My daughter is in year 2 and is behind in her reading and writing. She will be taking her Stats in May. Just wondering what would be the best way to help her. Tried to find a private tutor but this is proving difficult and besides it is only a short-term option due to the expense.

Grateful to hear of different options I could try such as books or websites that you have found helpful or anything else that I have not mentioned.

I was thinking of Kumon English but it is £60 a month which is quite expensive and not sure if it works.

Thank you so much!

Really without knowing details it's impossible to help.

How far behind? What targets is she hitting?

Reading. To her and with her - as much as you can - is a really positive way to encourage both her reading, vocabulary and writing.

If you are thinking Kumon, online paid website IXL is the better option.
IT's similar to Kumon as in repetition, but way cheaper, around 4/5 pounds a month.

uk.ixl.com/ela/year-2

Reading, like others said, it's difficult to help without what she is struggling with.

Could you get her to do "fun" writing things, such as doing your shopping list for you? Maybe making a simple dinner, and cakes, for the family where she has to read the recipe, and then design/write out a menu? Get her to write a letter or postcard to someone like a grandparent or auntie, maybe to say thank you for an Easter egg. Try and choose someone who will write back!
Go to story time at your local library. Get her to choose some books that interest her, and let her read to you/you read to her. Try her with different things, maybe poetry or non fiction. Also buy her a comic - it might spark an interest.

Has she got her phonics rock solid? It might be worth going back over them and making sure she has all 44+ sounds on instant recall and can spell them all.

DS had tracking issues and rubbish phonological awareness leading to terrible spelling. I found Dancing Bears and Apples and Pears (although they had to be done quite intensively- at least 30 mins a day) really helped.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about SATs, the timescale is too short now. I would think about having her ready to access the Y3 curriculum in Sept and do some daily structured catch up work focussed on that.

When reading ask her inference questions, prediction, justifying why she thinks this, etc.

How is her spelling? Plurals s, es and common exception words, homophones?

I'm a tutor and in all honesty, don't pay for tuition just yet. Your dd is very young and may not be quite ready for tutoring.

If you haven't done so already, join your local library. It is free. Many have audio books to borrow as well.

You could try the Reading Eggs website as well. It is a paid website but is full of good ideas.

As suggested already, revise phonics. Did she meet the threshold for the Year 1 Phonics check last year?

I would second reading aloud to her every night. If you are exhausted you can get books on CD or I'm sure a more up to date technological method! My kids listened to tons of books in the 2000s. It helps them love to read, builds vocabulary and comprehension.

Following

What have school said?
How far behind is she ?

Read regularly. Both fiction and non fiction.
Listen to story podcasts when you’re in the car. There are some excellent short story ones.
Watch some documentaries. Put subtitles on if there any.

Write letters to family, shopping lists, stories.