Help my child: where to start

Choose your child’s class and what you are seeing. Each route gives the next step, the practice that fits it, and a free sample where we have one. This is practice material for an adult to use with a child. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not replace a teacher or a specialist. If you are worried about dyslexia or another difficulty, a specialist assessment is the right route.

3. A short reading word check

Sit with your child and ask them to read each group of words aloud, one group at a time, without help. Tick a group if they read the words smoothly, with at most one stumble. The first group you cannot tick is where to start.

Band 1 (reader steps 1 to 3)
sat tap pin sit dig dog cot cat
Band 2 (reader steps 4 to 7)
hen sun hut red bug fox pig fan
Band 3 (reader steps 8 to 12)
ship chop thin sing ring duck bell fish
Band 4 (reader steps 13 to 14)
stop drum frog tent lamp nest jump flag
Band 5 (reader steps 15 to 17)
rain play seed leaf night high tree day
Band 6 (reader steps 18 to 22)
boat road moon book farm corn bird out coin toy
Band 7 (reader steps 23 to 24)
cake bike home hopping jumped helpful

First group your child stumbles on

Reader steps to start with

Band 1

1 to 3

Band 2

4 to 7

Band 3

8 to 12

Band 4

13 to 14

Band 5

15 to 17

Band 6

18 to 22

Band 7

23 to 24

This is a rough guide written from our 24-step sequence. It is not a test, and it has not been reviewed by a reading specialist. If your child is far behind or finds reading very hard, talk to a teacher or a specialist.

My child is finding it hard. Where do we start?

1. Your child’s class

2. What are you seeing?

3. A short reading word check