Year 1 Reading Stages

[Blossomtreetoken]

My son has started year 1 and has been put onto a red book (level 2). It does seem quite basic but I’ve googled a few of his last reception books which also appear to be stage 2.

According to google, he should be at stage 4-5 so slightly concerned he’s behind. I read with him multiple times a week and he always seems so reluctant. He read tonight’s book well but seems to rely on sounding out letters and blending still. Not sure if he should still be doing this or not but I’ll keep with it. I praise him and he looks chuffed that he has done a good job. Any tips or advice to help me help him to progress with his reading.

Schools all have different reading schemes and bands so red won’t necessarily mean anything to others.
He will probably have been placed on the level that he was on at the end of Reception to start with.

It's really important to foster a love of reading at this age. Look for environmental print when you are out , logos etc. Give access to a wide range of reading materials fiction and non fiction comics etc. Visit the library.
Reading books with rhyming or repetitive text or those you think are too young for him will build confidence.

Speak to his teacher if you are worried about phonics but they will send home spellings and homework. Find out what scheme they follow.

There are no such "reading stages" as a universally recognised thing. Your child will be on a stage of a reading scheme and what stage he is on will depend how the scheme his school uses is written.

I wouldn't worry too much. It was pretty common when my DD was year one for kids to jump a few levels (she was one of them, and ended up reading chapter books just after xmas).

I was concerned about DD's reading and spoke to DD's teacher a month or so into term, who worked with me when I shared my observations - it turned out she was bored, which came through as her not bothering to show any effort. She's now just starting y2 and racing ahead.

You may see him jump a few levels, or you may see that they stick rigidly to whatever phonics scheme they have. The y1 phonics test is a big deal for schools (though generally kids are unaware it is a test!).