Reading level - no progression

[Anyother]

Having a bit of an issue with my daughter's reading at the moment and wondered if anyone has any insight/ advice.

She started reception already knowing her letters, as she had done some phonics at preschool. It was done in a really fun way and she didn't seem to have trouble learning them. She also grasped the idea of sounding out pretty quick. They use read write inc at her school and she progressed really well in reception finishing on yellow level and achieving 'exceeding' for reading.

Over the summer we read every other day or so. She wasn't hugely keen, so I kept it brief and didn't push.

In Year 1 her reading became all over the place. Sometimes she would read okay, sometimes she wouldn't. Eventually we gave up on the read-write books and she seemed to do better on a random selection of the old Oxford Tree type books. She really resisted reading too often at home, and wouldn't engage if she wasn't in the mood. She just scraped a pass in the phonics test and was given 'expected' for reading in her end of year report.

Now she's in Year 2, she says she loves reading, but she's still on the same level as end of reception beginning of year 1. Nothing has been mentioned by the teachers, but surely this isn't normal? I'm seeing the teacher soon, so would love any insight/ opinions that people can offer. She's a June baby, in case that's relevant. Thanks to anyone who got this far.

Has she been assessed for reading recently? She might not have moved up if no one has taken the time to assess her. You might find that when she is assessed she jumps up several levels at once.

Would your school allow her to read what she wants to read at home, rather then the books the school provides? Not every child gets on with the books schools have - they can be a bit boring or just not of interest to some children. Your daughter might prefer non fiction for example. If they will let you do that, I'd probably let her choose her own books so that she's more motivated to read them.

Has she had her eyes tested?

The donkey house

The thing is - I sort of agree with the level she is at. She sometimes reads really well and sometimes almost can't read at all. It's so variable. I have tried lots of different books.

Underneaththeash

She has had her eyes tested - but just a standard eye test. Not sure if she needs something more. She did use to do this strange thing pulling the book closer and squinting for a while in the beginning of Year 1. But it seemed to just be when she didn't want to read. I would ask her what the individual letters were and she could tell me fine.

Thanks for your replies.

No one with any advice or experience of similar?

"Eventually we gave up on the read-write books and she seemed to do better on a random selection of the old Oxford Tree type books." It often appears that children do better with these books simply because they are repetitive and words can be guessed rather than read.

I agree, norestformrz. I would say she knows lots of sight words, but isn't as good at sounding out new words. She's back on the read write now - she has to read at least once a week. So do you have any inkling why she might have stopped progressing? Should I go back to basics with her - revise phonetics and practise sounding out?

I'd certainly go back to basics and look at where she is struggling.
Does she know all the alternative ways sounds can be represented can she decode cvc/ccvc/ cvcc/ ccvcc words ? Can she tackle words with more than one syllable etc

Thought I would come back with an update, incase it would be useful for anyone.

After my post, I spoke to the TA and she told me that my daughter was behind as her reading age was 'only' 6.9. I was a bit since this was greater than her chronological age - it's hardly her fault if she's in a class of bright autumn born girls.

I went back to basics in terms of reading using Julia Donaldson's songbirds. They're much nicer than the read write inc stories. Very engaging stories, beautifully illustrated and not too long even as they go up in difficulty. To be fair to my daughter she did the work herself and would read lots of the books to herself every night. She then started the project x alien books. Things suddenly seemed to click over lockdown and now she's enjoying chapter books at a rate of knots. I tested her reading age (out of curiosity) a month ago and it was 9.2. So I just wanted to give hope to anyone whose child as a similar issue.

Her spellings have yet to catch up so I've ordered apples and pears to do over the summer. She doesn't seem to remember words that's she sees often. I'm not sure if she might have a 'click' with spellings just like reading, but thought I better not leave it to chance.

Can I ask where to assess the reading age please

Hi Lolakath. I used this link from toe-by-toe:

toe-by-toe.co.uk/test-your-reading-age/

Hi, teacher here. Sometimes children can struggle with sounding out because they haven't developed competent phonological awareness skills. These involve being able to manipulate sounds in language and are key to developing fluent reading skills via phonics. Phonological ability can be looked into and tested; can she count syllables in words, rhyme words etc. It may not be the issue your daughter has but it may be worth looking in to. These skills can be supported via interventions and explict teaching. Probably best to speak to your sendco about your concerns too and they can help offer advice.