How to improve your child’s reading skills in KS1

• Can recognise familiar words in simple texts
• Use their knowledge of letters and phonics in order to read words and to establish meaning when reading aloud
• May sometimes require reading support
• Express their response to poems, stories and non-fiction by identifying aspects they like

• Can read simple texts, show understanding and are generally accurate
• Can express opinions, likes/dislikes about major events or ideas in stories, poems and non-fiction books
• Are able to use more than one strategy, such as phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual, in reading unfamiliar words and establishing meaning

Children at this stage in their reading learning journey will be reading books from school reading schemes, texts designed to help children when they're learning to read.

• Can read a range of wide texts fluently and accurately
• Can read independently, competently using strategies to establish meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases
• In responding to fiction and non-fiction in a range of modes, they show understanding of the main points and express preferences
• Can use their knowledge of the alphabet and of search techniques (in contents, index pages, etc.) to locate sources and find information

Most children at this stage will be "free readers".

• Help them work on their letter and sound recognition.  This is best done either in everyday life or when reading together. For instance, over breakfast you can casually look at packaging together, and ask if they can spot certain sounds on the cereal box.
• If they are struggling with an unfamiliar word while reading, encourage them to learn how to use clues to figure out what the word is. Clues can be gained from the pictures or from the whole sentence – get them to work out what would fit. Never criticise a good guess – praise it!
• Keep reading to them. Don’t let their school reading take the place of you reading stories to them. Unless they get their regular dose of bookish pleasure it’s going to be a struggle to get the motivation up for them to work hard on their reading.

• This one can be tricky as we’re all so busy, but try not to rush them when they read to you. At school they’ll be learning lots of different phonemes – probably 1-3 a week. When they are reading words they’re finding difficult, try not to say the word for them; give them plenty of time to process what it might be using their phonic knowledge. If they’re still stuck after 20-30 seconds, then it’s time to help them out.
• Allow at least five minutes after each reading session to discuss likes and dislikes, character, plot and any interesting words the author has used.
• Remember the reading books they bring home from school are really important, but don’t forget to use the books you have at home for them to read from too as this will give them a great variety. To find out if a book is too tricky for them, let them read the first page –  if they get stuck on more than five words, choose another book to try.

• As they grow in confidence, don’t forget they still should experience reading on most days; it’s a skill that needs continual practice to improve upon. In time, reading sessions may become less one to one, and they may start to read to younger siblings or alone.
• Now’s the time to get them enjoying some fabulous literature that will really encourage them to be passionate about the written word. Start reading books to them that need to be serialised. Anything by Roald Dahl is an obvious but fabulous choice here, and The Twits or George’s Marvellous Medicine are great first mini-novels. Reading these books will lead to lots of conversation about language, plot and character, and this will help them greatly as they move into key stage 2. If they don't show much interest in books, why not try comics or magazines? 

Struggling to get your child interested in books? Read our top tips on turning your child from book-bored to bookworm, or find out more about school reading book schemes, reading comprehension and how to get the most out of reading with your children.