New school, new reading scheme

[ggmom87]

My son is in year 1 and recently moved schools. The new school also started the Little Wandles reading scheme this year. My son ended on yellow books in reception, and had mastered phase 2 and 3 phonics and was learning phase 5. He was right on track. At his new school, he’s being sent home with pink books. Stuff like “Sid sits in. Pam sits in.” It’s far too easy for him. I am trying to figure out if this is because of the new reading scheme or if they’ve just not assessed him correctly. Is it normal for children to be set back like this when they change schools? I know I should probably just speak with my son’s teacher about this but it’s not easy to do. Would require scheduling an appointment through the office as we don’t have teacher emails nor are we allowed to chat much at pickup and drop off. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Reading levels aren’t that important and we can of course read whatever we like that fits his ability at home. I’m just curious to see what others think. Is it worth addressing or might it sort itself out with time?

Doesn’t he have a reading record to go with the book? I would maybe just pop a post it in there to ask. It may be that they’ve made a misjudgement or it could be that they have their reasons for giving him certain sounds to practise again. They can just write a note in the book to you for clarify then. I don’t think it requires an appointment being made.

With LW they have special placement assessments to assess any child new to the school. Little Wandle is really good at book matching but they expect fluent reading. So if he was reading yellow books but sounding out most words - that's not what is expected with LW. They expect a child to be reading 9 out of 10 words fluently and correctly sounding out and correctly blending 1 word in 10.

So far they haven’t written anything in the reading record so I’m not sure it’s being looked at, but I could pop a note in there. Thanks for the idea.

Thank you, I didn’t know this about LW. Yes, he still sounds out a lot of words but I would say it’s mostly out of habit now. My daughter did the same all the way until green books. Perhaps that is why he’s been set pink books.

Little Wandle is quite a change from some other reading schemes.

It’s quite a structured programme, in that the entire class is generally at a similar level and class taught, rather than small groups racing ahead. On the plus side, those that struggle are given a lot of input to keep them on track with the main class.

My son can absolutely read the Little Wandle books fluently without any blending, but the set progression doesn’t allow for moving to the next phase.

On the plus side, the books do get significantly better after the initial SATPIN books, and I’ve liked the content of them more than others!

This is helpful to know. Thank you!

This is really interesting - do children who have already got the grips with that phase get a bit held back?

In a sense they are held back because the more able children might have the ability to read harder books than the scheme allows, had they been taught the relevant phonics, and I also have a suspicion that the more able children get a significantly lower amount of teacher/TA help because they simply don’t need it because they’re already fluent and fully comprehending the highest books they can read this term on the system.

My DS is an able reader and can read well ahead of the level they are currently at in class, but absolutely loves the phonics lessons in class. He also loves free play still, which works well as he gets much more of it because his reading group doesn’t get a lot of guided reading time!

Little wandle assesses every 6 weeks so you might find his book changes in the next couple of weeks when he is assessed and book matched.

This is really interested. My D.C. is in year 1 and is a very strong reader. She’s coming home with light blue band books but at home she’s confidently reading white band (6 levels higher). She’s also just read a whole set of Naughty Little sister books and some secret 7 ones on her own. It’s frustrating that they won’t send home something more suited to her level.

And just to be clear before I’m accused of bragging, there are loads of things she isn’t good at too!

This is something I struggled with teaching little wandle last year. I had 2 children fluently reading at a year 2 level but was only allowed to send home books that corresponded to the band being taught. Little wandle's disregard for more able students is the main reason I'm happy the new school I'm teaching at uses a different scheme. Ofsted has a big emphasis on reading, but boring children is not how you create avid readers.

As a parent I don’t mind the books being way too easy for our capable reader, he just wizzes through them.

What I do wish we’d had was it set out by the teacher at the start that this was the case - I spent ages wondering if it would be seen as pushy if I said they were too easy. In the end I mentioned it at parents evening half way through the year and found out that they agree but we’re tied to the Little Wandle system!

With LW they have special placement assessments to assess any child new to the school. Little Wandle is really good at book matching but they expect fluent reading

We have had to completely reallocate books after starting with Little Wandle too.

DDs a school moved to Little Wandle but the class are all on different level books 🤷🏼‍♀️ They do group reading every morning, with the kids broken down into abilities. There are 2/3 parent helpers each day (including me twice a week, which is why I know this) & TA’s from KS2 come support while the older kids do 30 minutes of reading to themselves..

The books levels are all over the place. My DD’s group are happily reading level 4 LW at school but are only allowed to come home with level 3 Biff/Chip/Kipper/Songbirds etc. It frustrates her as she read basically every level 3 book in reception, so we are repeating them all 🤦🏼‍♀️ We’ve bought loads books personally & we get books out the library each week at a harder level..

I don’t hate LW, some elements seem
quite good but I’m not convinced it’s encouraging enthusiastic readers, particularly those working towards the top end for the year group.

Ofsted only want reading books sent home if the teacher has taught the sounds in them. So if a child hasn't been taught in school 'kn' knight etc but does know that sound, they aren't able to take books with that sound in. Complete rubbish and very limiting as teacher and annoying as a parent. OFSTED have a lot to answer for-mostly not related to a child's learning!