Supporting your child with reading

Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.

There are two types of reading book that your child will bring home in Reception and Year 1:

Reading practice eBook or Book I Can Read

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, ask them to decode (sound it out) and blend it. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

Reading for pleasure book or Book I Can Share

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. From Reception up to Year Two, children will choose a book for you to share and enjoy together, with no expectation for them to read this independently. You can read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. Additionally, after reading the book you can pick out some words and help them to expand their vocabulary by discussing alternatives for these words. Most importantly, have fun!