Has anyone any experience of a child already reading fluently upon entry to Reception?

[pooka]

I am sorry - this is really long!

DS1 is due to start Reception in September. Over the past 3 months he has pretty much taught himself to read. Having an older sister has helped, as has his interest in Flixter and looking up films and things on the internet!

He attends 5 sessions of pre-school a week. For older children the pre-school give a little book with letter sounds to learn, during the last term before big school.

His letter sounds this week were a, b and c. Letterland (though the school he'll go to does Jolly Phonics - though that's no big deal). He read the instructions to parents on how to mime the letter sound. Read the letter to me. Read the printed instructions on the zip-loc file.

I asked the pre-school today if there was any chance, given how keen he is, and how excited to be getting "homework", if he could maybe be given a book to read at home, or something a little more geared to his needs/abilities.

The pre-school leader told me that having talked to all local schools, she had been asked not to teach children to read or to provide resources that might be used in Reception. She said that Ofsted would criticise her and that one of the local schools had said that even if a child started at school being able to read, then they would still have to start from the beginning.

I'm really sad about this. I know that there's loads more to Reception than learning literacy and numeracy an d that, understandably, great emphasis is placed on the social and managing personal needs side of things. But I'm depressed at the possible prospect of ds1 spending the first year at school making no progress, and that the impetus and enthusiasm he currently has will be lost.

My mother has suggested I speak to the head at his prospective school (dd's current school) to find out whether there is a school policy on the issue. I was wondering whether anyone else had experience of an early (ish - he's one of the oldest ones in the intake) reader in Reception, and whether anyone had any advice. IIncidentally, my brother started school having read all Ladybird books and became very adept at flying beneath the radar and suggesting to the school that he couldn't read. I don't want this to happen with ds1.

I was PiccadillyCircus when they were born I think. And changed to IdrisTheDragon at some point

pooka - your DS1 sounds very naturally intelligent.

My DSs went to a Prep schol was it was very common for chldren to start Reception already readng. One girl was able to read Oxford Reading Tree Stage 12 (i.e 4 years ahead of her actual age). Our DS1 could not read when he started Reception but flew once he started. DS2 oved schoosl and hs new teacher did held him back on reading and he just did not get enough practice. IME when a child is ready to read they should be given the opportunity - not held back.

My experience also is that learning to read is about the amount and regularity. The more often they read the quicker they learn to read. It is a stupid ideology in state schools that children should start at a certain age and go at a certian pace. If they are ready an able then they can go as fast as they are able. Children are sponges for knowledge at the age of 5.

You will have to take this into your own hands. Go and but the first 3 stages of the Oxford Reading Tree Magic Key series. These books have recognisabe charracters that get repeated in each book (Biff and Chip). The stories are interesting and build in complexity in a graduated way. Get him to read regularly every day at home. There is no such thing as 'too much reading'. Do as much as he enjoys but dont turn him off by pressuring him.

If you can afford it pay for Prep school. They have a different aproach. If that is nt posisble, find a state schol that will assess him and push him along. This teacher is wrong. Ofsted would not criticse her.

emy72 - coasting along on level 2 is exactly what they did to DS2. I was so annoyed. He has now pushed ahead but it took 2 years of repair work from more experienced teachers in a new school.

I advise you do thE same as I said in my previous Post. Get ORT books and get DD1 to read to you at home.

My DD is in nursery and also reading. It was her nursery teachers who spotted she was ahead and have sent her home with reading books accordingly. Its still early days so she is still doing the level1/2 Kipper and Biff books but loves them. I don't push her but think she will be pretty fluent in reading by the time she starts reception in September.

My experience is that for the first few weeks they will give them 'easy' books -and quite rightly IMO. They have enough to cope with being in their new surroundings.But after the first half term moved to a level which suits their ability.This is my experience across 3 schools and 4 teachers.

Pooka - this website might make you feel better.There's alot about the positives of children learning to read at an early age www.earlyreadingskills.co.uk

Surely a bit of AKA is inevitable with an early reader as reading is so much easier than writing and spelling combined? My DD (nearly 4) can now read almost as well as I can, but is still inclined to write phonetically, so we are beginning to do some spellings with her which she loves being able to do. She has no problems forming all the letters though.

I suppose there are degrees VP - ds1 has difficulty making marks on a page. Getting better but really finds just using a pen/pencil hard, let alone actually forming letters.

BeenBeta, I would just like to point out that holding a child back at an inappopriately low reading level is not a state school issue, it's a bad school issue. There are plenty of bad prep schools out there, too, failing their children in a whole host of expensive ways.

You should, of course, if you have the luxury, choose your child's school carefully, but that doesn't mean you must go private wherever possible. It isn't a question of a state school philosophy versus private school philosophy: every school is different.

I agree with rabbitstew.

DC's preschool stopped 1-2-1 reading because the school nearby said the dcs were too advanced when they started.
DS couldn't reaqd but DD was reading fluently within weeks of starting. They gave her books for her level, but i never understand why people get such a hang up over the reading levels at school.
1.the books they bring home should be easy to build confidence. They should be reading harder books in guided reading.

1. they can read what they want at home and I never even bothered listening to dd read in yr 1. She read them to herself.

1. there is usually so much more going on at school than just learning to read , even for the brightest of children to keep them interested, they don't just learn phonics and numbers all day.

Another here in agreement with Rabbitstew - a child does not need to go to prep school for a good education. At least in the state system I know that my Dcs teachers are qualified.

lovecheese, that's a meanie comment ("At least in the state system I know that my Dcs teachers are qualified"), and one that begs many questions. There are good schools and bad schools in both sectors. Let's not turn this into a private/state squabble.

And bear in mind that early reading does not guarantee that a child will always be ahead of his/her peers, and that by yr3 an early reader may well be average in the class as everyone else has caught him or her up; some kids learn to read earlier than others, others ride a bike earlier than others, hell! my middle child was 4 before she was toilet trained but she has never weed on the carpet.

I was wondering when someone was going to come along to give the usual MN warning, just because your child is doing really well for his age, don't let yourself think he really is bright for life

And, lovecheese, you're right about others potentially catching up (though it's not happened with my DS yet, and he's in Y3). However, that's underestimating the huge amount that children get from reading. My DS's general knowledge is outstanding - and he has got most of it from reading. His interests and mine don't overlap. Children who read early get a huge advantage over those who don't. I speak as the parent of one early reader and one average reader.

Ant - no meanie comment intended but find comments such as "if you can afford it pay for prep school" quite offensive.

Last year my daughter started reception (state) able to read and like OP taught herself. I was concerned that her teacher would think I had hot housed her but I also wanted her to be started on books appropriate for her reading ability. I spoke to the teacher on the first day and DD was started on ORT level 4 and within a week was moved up to level 8.She has continued to progress and was given lots of opportunities in reception to read out loud to the class. She and we were encouraged to develop her expressive reading and she is a delight to listen to - better than my 9 year old. We also concentrated lots on developing comprehension and vocabulary. She was never bored and happily joined in phonics and guided reading with her friends even though she had a higher ability. Her nursery were aware she could read and encouraged her to read there but they didn't send books home- they didn't need to- she read whatever she came across at home anyway. She now reads more home books than school books of all sorts.

I would recommend speaking to the new teacher when your DS starts. For now just allow him to read whatever he wants at home and do the nursery work but don't expect them to provide reading material. I would also help develop his expressive reading (so much more pleasurable to listen to!)and continue to discuss the stories you read with him. When he does start school, don't just read the school scheme books; encourage him to read others from home,library etc.

Sorry - long post

I think for able children, reading any books other that reading scheme books does more to build their confidence and reading ability as well as improving their comprehension skills and vocabulary. My dd has just turned 5 in Reception and can now pretty much read whatever she wants. She loves being able to read "real" books rather than the reading scheme ones.

School were good in that she didn't have to plough through all the earlier books, but she does enjoy the carpet time phonics sessions with everyone else. Her teacher did say that she could put her into Year 1 or even 2 for some literacy sessions, but as she's not the most outgoing child she thought her confidence would improve from being the most able in her reception class instead, which made perfect sense to me.

have only skimmed thread but dd1 was reading fluently on entering reception (she could read newspapers, recipes, the lot).

her reception teacher picked it up by day 3 and called me in

by oct half term she didn't have to sit through the "letter sounds" on the board, she was left to do a workbook, or write her news book.

they started her on about level 6 ORT but she only read a few books at these early stages, they jumped her on quite rapidly

this is a state school. there is another boy in her class the same.

as others will have said reading/letters is such a small part of learning in reception, focus on all the other areas, social skills etc, and he should be fine.

Check what the school's approach will be - ie does he have to read every book from level 1 or not? some are rigid, most not.

like runoutofideas, dd1 likes being able to do things, she likes finding it all easy and now in Y1 is a very sociable, confident, happy little girl.

the other boy in her class who is similar academically has struggled socially and is very bored. i am not sure how much of that is instilled from the parents, they are both academics, not impressed with the school and think they should do more with him. Personally i think this attitude filters down to the child.

oh yes, as i read more of the thread i think of more things to say!

they really focus on expression!!! it is quite over the top but seems to be essential. DD1 became quite theatrical at one point and her teacher loved it, encouraging it more and more. Now she reads out loud less this has calmed down a bit, but it must be a key part of learning - expression, responding to punctuation etc. I listen to the class read quite a bit and some of the children (now y1) are good readers but can't/won't express and it does seem to be holding them back.

I would:

a) speak to the teacher - there is usually a good deal of flexibility in reception in terms of how they execute the curriculum.

b) not worry too much!

My son taught himself to read at 3 yrs old. I told the reception teacher when he started and she has been pretty relaxed about it (there were two other fluent readers in his class, too). They set the readers 'extension' tasks when they are doing basic phonics stuff (all teachers have to show differentiation in their lesson planning, anyway. Even if kids start off not reading, some will quickly race ahead or not...). They also concentrate more on the stuff he is not so great at (like writing).

He gets to choose books from the school library to take home, rather than follow the ORT.

He is still an avid reader at home, and to be honest, at this age that is the biggest influencing factor in how well they get on, I think.

BeenBeta "It is a stupid ideology in state schools that children should start at a certain age and go at a certian pace."

not the ideology in any state schools i am aware of actually.
and the smaller class sizes in prep schools often mean less differentiation from my friends' experience. at least with DD1's 3 form entry school, so 90 children, the top tier can be creamed off and accelerated.