Reading comprehension

Read to understand, not just to finishReading every word does not always mean understanding a text. We work with short passages at a suitable level. Before reading, we look at the title and pictures. During reading, we pause to check what has happened and which words need an explanation.Your child learns to return to the text for evidence. We ask where an answer comes from, rather than accepting a guess. For unfamiliar words, we practise using the sentence around them before looking up a meaning. We also talk about when it helps to read a section again.Skills we practiseFinding the main idea and useful detailsRecognising cause, contrast and sequenceWorking out what a question is askingGiving a short answer with evidenceA manageable reading routineBring a recent school text and the questions that were difficult. Each session lasts 45 minutes and includes discussion, guided practice and a short independent task. We can suggest a brief reading activity for home that follows your child's interests. This is educational support, not a diagnostic assessment. If reading words themselves remains difficult, we discuss that separately with parents before choosing the next step.

Prepare for your lesson

Start with a real question

Bring an exercise you found difficult and the work you have already tried. We use it to decide what to practise first. A mistake is a useful starting point for an explanation.