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Should I be worried that DS is still bringing home books without any words at all?

45 replies

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:36

He’s in reception and I realise it’s early days in a way but I do wonder if he should be having some words by now? Can any EYFS teachers advise?

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NearlyDec · 11/11/2025 16:37

Did he know any phonics and was he blending before he started reception or is this all new to him?

Overthebow · 11/11/2025 16:38

What reading scheme is he doing at school?

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:38

It’s all new to him. He seems to be doing OK at phonics - not amazingly but fine, which is why I wondered. I have to admit I don’t really know what I should be doing with the wordless books either, it seems pointless although I’m sure there’s a logic to it.

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horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:38

Overthebow · 11/11/2025 16:38

What reading scheme is he doing at school?

Little Wandle phonics

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KnickerlessParsons · 11/11/2025 16:40

Wordless books are meant for him to look at the pictures and describe the story, so he gets used to storytelling.

If you're that concerned, you can always introduce him to words yourself you know - you don't have to rely on the school for everything.

Overthebow · 11/11/2025 16:44

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:38

Little Wandle phonics

Not that unusual for Little Wandle, some schools like to follow the scheme exactly and there are 6 wordless books to get through before moving to Phase 2 books. I would hope he'd move to Phase 2 books with words in the next couple of weeks though.

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:46

I’ve been trying very hard to do this and he is quite good at recognising words by sight. He identifies the, you, I, is, it and ‘and’ - he does get confused sometimes though and I don’t want to add to this confusion. From my point of view he seems to be doing OK but I suppose this is the worry; that he actually is quite behind as I would have expected a few very short words in books after what, nine weeks?

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horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:48

Overthebow · 11/11/2025 16:44

Not that unusual for Little Wandle, some schools like to follow the scheme exactly and there are 6 wordless books to get through before moving to Phase 2 books. I would hope he'd move to Phase 2 books with words in the next couple of weeks though.

Thank you, that’s very helpful to put into perspective Smile

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spanieleyes · 11/11/2025 16:49

Depends when they started phonics. Some schools spend a few weeks on phase 1 activities before beginning phase 2 so you would expect to get phase 2 books about now, some schools start phase 2 straight away and books with words might begin to appear around half term. You just need to ask the school!

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 11/11/2025 16:49

Can he blend? C-a-t = cat

Or just recognise the letter sounds but not put them together yet?

Little Wandle have a parent section on their website. Might be worth a browse.

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:53

Yesimmoaningaboutbenefits · 11/11/2025 16:49

Can he blend? C-a-t = cat

Or just recognise the letter sounds but not put them together yet?

Little Wandle have a parent section on their website. Might be worth a browse.

He can blend but sometimes needs some prompts. It’s strange; sometimes he barely needs to think about it and other times he looks blank. I guess that’s four year olds …

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biscuitcat · 11/11/2025 16:55

My DS’s school does Little Wandle too and they told us that at the earliest children would bring home their first book with words was after half term (we also had the picture books before then), and that they aim to have all children blending by Christmas, so it doesn’t sound like he’s massively behind to me, especially if he was brand new to it. If you’re worrying you could always send his teacher a message to check in.

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:57

Thanks, I know I probably should … just don’t want to be the dreaded ‘that parent!’

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Dartmoorcheffy · 11/11/2025 16:57

My mum taught me to read. Can you give that a go ?

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:59

I wouldn’t know where to start!

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BoleynMemories13 · 11/11/2025 17:02

Every school is different. Personally I don't bother sending wordless books home. I do see the point in them, as they're great for getting children to tell stories in their own words, developing their oracy and comprehension skills. We do use them in school during whole class sessions for this purpose. However, I find most parents either get confused what to do with them, or don't see the value in them, so I don't send them home.

We send a library book for pleasure from day 1 (changed twice a week) and scheme books with words from about week 3. This is for all children, regardless of ability. We ask parents to read it to them to begin with, asking the children to spot sounds they might know and listen for what the word is, after the parent has modelled sounding out and blending. Most children have completely taken over from their parents now and are moving swiftly through the units. Those who are finding it tricky are moving at a slower pace, staying on unit 1. I do think it's important they get to practise sounding out and blending at home from pretty much the off.

All schools are different though and all schemes are different. Some insist on no books (or no books with words) until the children have reached a certain unit or achieve a certain tick list of skills.

From what I've heard, it's sadly not unusual for some schools to still be sending home wordless books in November. From what you've said he can do, he doesn't sound behind at all to me.

Tintarella · 11/11/2025 17:06

My DS was on wordless books until, I think, October half-term when he was in Reception and then moved onto Pink. (It could have been wordless all first term actually, and then moving on the next term. It's funny how quickly you forget!) I queried it with the teacher who is v experienced in early years and she firmly said they knew what they were doing and not to worry. He's in Yr 1 now and tbh still a bit behind where I'd like him to be but progressing nicely. He'll be fine and I'm sure your son will be too

Dartmoorcheffy · 11/11/2025 17:07

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 16:59

I wouldn’t know where to start!

Eh? You just sit with him and help him to read and write. Don't all parents do this? You start off with a simple "learn to read " book. There are thousands of them. Can he write his own name yet?

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 17:07

Thank you I’ve attached a photo of the sounds done so far and the highlighted ones are the ones he’s confident in, if that helps

Should I be worried that DS is still bringing home books without any words at all?
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horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 17:08

Dartmoorcheffy · 11/11/2025 17:07

Eh? You just sit with him and help him to read and write. Don't all parents do this? You start off with a simple "learn to read " book. There are thousands of them. Can he write his own name yet?

There is quite a lot more to it than that. Sometimes you will get a child who picks it up very swiftly just from exposure to books and a bit of nudging but I don’t think that’s true of all children.

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Tiebiter · 11/11/2025 17:09

My experience is that you need to do a lot at home. Flashcards at the breakfast table, constantly pointing out letters and asking them to recognize the sounds etc. buy all the books in whatever scheme and work through them. If you're unsure then YouTube the sounds.

Dartmoorcheffy · 11/11/2025 17:09

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 17:08

There is quite a lot more to it than that. Sometimes you will get a child who picks it up very swiftly just from exposure to books and a bit of nudging but I don’t think that’s true of all children.

Have you not even tried?

nozbottheblue · 11/11/2025 17:10

Ex- primary teacher here.
Do you have a parents evening coming up where you can discuss this with his teacher?
Sounds like he is progressing at the usual rate, please relax!
The point of starting with no words is to get him used to the form of story books. All you do is look at the pages together and work out what is happening- ask him questions to draw out what he thinks is happening. It’s a happy, relaxed activity to do together to build his confidence before challenging him with words.

Bringemout · 11/11/2025 17:11

I do think you need to practice phonics sounds and blending at home. I taught mine how to read and it wasn’t easy but you start with phonics sounds and then try cvc words for blending and so on.

horrificafternoon · 11/11/2025 17:13

Dartmoorcheffy · 11/11/2025 17:09

Have you not even tried?

Shall we move on, as I feel you’re trying to move the conversation into a direction I don’t really want to discuss. I’d be very interested in a general sort of chat about teaching own children skills but not right now.

@nozbottheblue we have had one but I have to admit I don’t feel particularly clear about reading … everything else seemed good.

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