If a child can read before they start reception what do the teachers do?

[camembertandcranberry]

Ds has always been very interested in letters and words.

He is now able to read simple sentences of short easy words (I think they're called CVC words?) like 'the car is big and red' (and let me get my little proud mummy thing in here before I burst - he's only 3.8 ).

ANTI-FLAMER MESSAGE: I DID NOT PUSH HIM HE ASKS AND LOVES IT.

He starts reception in September and I'm curious, what will they do with the ones who can read already (I'm assuming this isn't that unusual as a few will be able to)?

I'm very, very happy for him to play and have fun but when they do the learning bits (albeit in a playful way as far as I am aware in reception) what do they do with the ones who already know the basics?

[Hulababy]

In that situation then yes, locket, I wouldn't be happy at all. And I would speak to the teacher and ask them what they are going to do about it. No primary school should ever be stumped at the idea of chidlren being able to read early or being ahead of others in the class. reading early, or before schoola ge, is not uncommon and I can't imagine it is the first time a teacher, unless very new and then they only have to ask another teacher in the school anyway, will have come across it.

[solidgoldbrass]

Hmm this thread is by turns worrying and reassuring. My DS is 4.6, will be starting school in September and he can read (and write a bit). He has pretty much taught himself, between Fun With Phonics on Cbeebies, a bit of phonics at nursery and just wanting books all the time.
I thought for ages he ws memorizing favourite stories until he started reading words off adverts on the tram/street signs.
Will keep an eye on how the school react when he starts, I suppose I can always either move him or contemplate HE.

[cory]

There are loads of children who can read when they start school. An experienced teacher should be well able to deal with that.

[Madsometimes]

dd could read when she went into reception, but was given the same reading books as the other children. Although the books were not stretching her, I did not worry about this. We used the library so she was not bored.

Reception is mainly about developing social skills, and my dd was rather behind socially. She was also not good at practical things such as getting dressed and undressed for PE.

It took the school a long time to realise that she was already a good reader (about 4 months). However, when they did, they jumped her up 4 reading stages in one go, and she was on free reading by January of year 1 (she was a January starter, so it only took 12 months).

I certainly would not worry about a child who is reading being bored in reception. Reading is only part of the what they do in reception. Year 1 is much academically focused.

[camembertandcranberry]

Just curious, how many in a typical reception class could read simple sentences of easy words before they start?

I'm trying to gauge how common this is in RL as I'm not sure us clever Mumsnetters are representative (as in we pass our clever genes on ).

[christywhisty]

My DD could and by the end of the first term was reading words like architecture, my DS couldn't and struggled until yr2 when he just took off.

There were at least 5 or 6 fluent readers when ds was in reception. I used to listen to them read.There may have been others but not in my group.

[Dottoressa]

My DS was reading extremely well long before Reception. They just gave him extra/more advanced things to read. He's now in Y2, and his teacher is doing the same. It was not a problem at all. Go with the flow. Good luck!