Reception reading books

[CrispsandCheeseSandwich]

DD1 is 4 and started reception in September.

She's had maybe four reading books that have been sent home. The current one we've had for a couple of weeks and she just knows it by heart. Obviously we can and do read other books with her at home, but they are often more complicated and she can't manage all the words. I know it's still good practice for her, I'm just wondering if it's normal to have the same school book for so long? I always write in the reading diary so they know she reads the school book, and I do put a comment along the lines of "now knows this book by heart", and then we stop reading it.

Ours are replaced weekly in lower school, when read in juniors. Is speak to them and ask how often they're replaced, explain that you read them as soon as you get them and write in the diary so wondered if she could have a new one each week

We just read them twice and then carried on with other books until the school one was replaced. I tried bringing up with the school that the DCs were bored after a couple of readings but they weren't interested.

I'd have a word with the teacher and ask if they can be changed weekly as she's getting bored of reading the same book again and again.

I change the books in my Reception class twice a week, providing they've read it (only once if there's no obvious signs they have). I encourage parents to write in the reading diary but I think weekly changing is important even for those who don't read regularly at home as I think it keeps the children more interested and more likely to flick through independently at home if they see it's been changed, even if there's nobody actively reading it with them.

We do have set book changing days though so those who only bring their bag in on an adhock basis may end up keeping the same book for a couple of weeks if they forget to bring it in on book changing day. Do you definitely bring it in every day? (Sorry, I'm just trying to think of a logical explanation for why her books might not be changed regularly). Overwise that does sound like bad practice to keep them on the same book for so long. Definitely address it with the teacher.

Thanks all.

@BoleynMemories13 yes it's definitely sent in every day, along with the reading diary. It's not that easy to speak to the teacher, parents aren't allowed into the school grounds in the morning at drop off and they can be a bit hard to find at pick up. The TAs send the children out into the playground.
Also both reception teachers (there are two small classes and both teachers do different things with both classes) are leaving at Christmas so I'm slightly worried about what the provision will be after that. I'm assuming supply teachers. I was hoping I was maybe being a bit precious and one book every few weeks was the norm, as I do worry that after Christmas there won't be the set up for anything more frequent or consistent.

What reading scheme is it? If it’s one of the major ones you should be able to find them pretty easily off eBay?

I completely gave up on waiting for school to send books home when my DD was at primary school. Instead I bought the entire Songbird collection written by Julia Donaldson and took a subscription to the Reading Chest: https://www.readingchest.co.uk/

That's such a shame they don't have a welcoming open door policy for parents to ask questions and raise concerns. That's so important for building relationships with parents, especially in Reception where parents are understandably full of questions.

Are you able to email at all? Or speak to the TA?

That does indeed sound worrying re both Reception teachers leaving and I understand your concerns but it doesn't sound like things are great now so, thinking positively, hopefully it will improve? Long term supply teachers are often on the look out for permanent contracts, ie looking to make a good impression. It sounds to me like the current ones may be coasting, perhaps having already 'signed off' mentally, so maybe a change will be a good thing? I certainly hope so for you.