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School holidays

Find half term and school holiday activity ideas.

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Original poster

Reception - phonics knowledge test.

18 replies

gemloving · 22/10/2023 19:07

My son started reception in September. He got his test results sent home Friday where they checked his knowledge on his phonics.

He knew all of his phonics apart from 1 but got none of the word blending.

It's basically a 3 letter word for him to read such as:

h - a - t for him to be able to read.

I feel like he's only started 6 weeks ago and can he already be behind? He wasn't used to going every day and the transition the first 4 weeks was a lot as it was. I have started doing some phonics he struggled with, a hide and seek sticky note game which he loved but we usually do fun things after school and go out rather than sit down and learn more. Am I not doing enough?

It's half term now and I want us to have a great time rather than sit down and do more reading and phonics. We read before bedtime but I read, I don't make him read or even try to. Maybe I should?

He's also got a 2 year old brother so there isn't always undivided attention and again, I'd rather do things we enjoy together. Is there a lot of pressure to perform for a 4 year old? Or am I reading too much into it?

OP posts:

Parker231 · 22/10/2023 19:11

It’s not a test, it’s for the school to understand where everyone is up to . Your DS is doing well. Just carry on reading to him and enjoy the half term break.

Original poster

gemloving · 22/10/2023 19:25

@Parker231 phew! Thanks for clarifying. I had no idea. They should have said something about this.

OP posts:

Q2C4 · 22/10/2023 19:30

It's interesting (maybe just to me!) that you make a distinction in your OP between having fun & learning. They can & should overlap if possible I think or it's just an uphill battle. Is there a way of making phonics more fun for him at home or when you're out and about?

Planesplanesplanes · 22/10/2023 19:33

I wouldn’t be worried at all. Does he get books sent home for him to ready yet? If your concerned get him to watch alphablocks, it’s how my child learnt to blend during the pandemic.

KatherineofGaunt · 22/10/2023 19:42

Do lots of sounding out in your everyday life. For example, "go and get your b-a-g, bag". Then stop providing the completed word and see if he can put the phonemes together for himself in the completed word and follow the instruction. If you want, you could get a toy or puppet to say the instructions to make it more fun.

BouncyBallBall · 22/10/2023 19:47

What phonics scheme do they use?

Very typical to check the sounds they know at half term in reception- pretty unusual to send the outcomes home though- unless it is a practise this with him type note

bakewellbride · 22/10/2023 19:49

Please just enjoy half term. I used to work in an outstanding school where they didn't do ANY phonics until after xmas and the children did great, much better than those in schools where they start them off right away. It was so interesting to see.

tiredandolderthanithought · 22/10/2023 19:49

75 % of the class can't blend! (Well the one I work in!)

Please don't worry.

mynameiscalypso · 22/10/2023 19:54

My DS is in Reception and we had parents evening last week. My DS is great at phonics and recognises them all but he can't word blend. He recognises some words because he has a good memory but can't make the leap to words yet. His teacher said he was absolutely on track and is in the middle phonics group (of three)

Original poster

gemloving · 22/10/2023 22:41

Q2C4 · 22/10/2023 19:30

Did you read what I said about the game I made for him to learn the phonics he struggled with?

OP posts:

Original poster

gemloving · 22/10/2023 22:51

@Planesplanesplanes he does but they don't have words in them, so I use the instructions to see what they want me to ask and add additional questions. We do a weekly book rotation at our local library, both boys get to choose new books each week.

@KatherineofGaunt that's quite a good idea actually - thanks!

@bakewellbride thank you! I'll repeat a few every day but not overdo it.
@tiredandolderthanithought thank you - that's good to know.
@mynameiscalypso also very helpful - thank you.

@Q2C4 just to add, I follow his interest when it comes to learning a lot more. At the moment it's all about autumn, different trees, the leaves, crafts with what we find when we've been out, animals, the world including the difference continents animals that live there, the ocean, coral
reefs etc I didn't think the comment you made was very kind or constructive but maybe that's just how I read it.

OP posts:

Q2C4 · 22/10/2023 23:00

@gemloving in your OP it states "but we usually do fun things after school and go out rather than sit down and learn more."

That's what I picked up on. I meant my comment kindly & I offered a constructive suggestion.

As others have suggested, there might be quite a bit of scope to mix some phonics in when you're out & about having fun, if you want to.

Blessedbethefruitz · 22/10/2023 23:12

Our school has recommended we do @KatherineofGaunt 'Fred the frog says get a h a t' type things. We're busy with younger sibling too, so sometimes point at things like cars or something red on the walk home.

We were told they'd be assessed this half term - weren't told of any results, but ds sits on a purple sticker table sometimes. He's not super communicative about school but he's come home blending this week (I was really confused at him asking me what word he was spelling with 'ir' as a sound...). Our school doesn't send books home until they can read them themselves.

Our ds has developed a love of writing letters and copying words this first half term. So we're just going with that and random books. Got some chunky pencils to help with grip. Before he started he didn't have his pincer grip correct so the progress is great (he's more of a numbers/problem solver/jumping off of things repeatedly for no reason person), never wrote or coloured much before.

Not planning anything educational over half term beyond a trip to natural history museum to see the dinosaurs, and loads of rest. He's exhausted from school even after full time nursery before.

PieAndLattes · 12/12/2023 07:09

Don’t worry a fig about phonics. My DD failed her year 2 phonics test and got a string of top grades at GCSE. As long as things are generally heading in the right direction and the teachers are not concerned, and your child is happy, then keep doing what you’re doing.

Birdsongsinging · 12/12/2023 07:13

I think it’s a shame that people end up so focused on test results for a 4 year old. It’s no wonder many children end up stressed. As long as a child that age is enjoying learning and is thriving that is surely the most important thing.

lemonsandlimesx · 12/12/2023 07:22

Blending comes.

They're only 4. Autumn and summer babies are much more noticeable in reception.
It will come. Get him reading 3 times a week. Story 5/6 times a week to him. Comprehension questions are key.
I wish phonics were reinforced in juniors where my year 5s fail to read a phonetic word because they can't remember the digraphs or trigraphs.

Original poster

gemloving · 16/12/2023 10:42

@Birdsongsinging thanks for your kind comment.

@PieAndLattes @lemonsandlimesx

Thanks. It's mad how quickly he's got the hang of it and I'm no longer worried whatsoever. He actually enjoys it now and got to reading stage 2 and reads those books.

I didn't learn to read before I was 6 1/2 (educated abroad), so this is all mad for me.

OP posts:

carolsandchristmas · 16/12/2023 10:57

gemloving · 16/12/2023 10:42

@Birdsongsinging thanks for your kind comment.

@PieAndLattes @lemonsandlimesx

Thanks. It's mad how quickly he's got the hang of it and I'm no longer worried whatsoever. He actually enjoys it now and got to reading stage 2 and reads those books.

I didn't learn to read before I was 6 1/2 (educated abroad), so this is all mad for me.

It's a lot of pressure for those so young. I just think consistency is key. And don't push it if they don't enjoy it. School is designed for data. It doesn't cater to that individual child. But as long as he's happy and wanting to go to school then that's the most important thing.

Glad he's progressing well in a short space of time. Please don't be worried though

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