1)      Sharing a bedtime story is a great way to start. As your child becomes more fluent they can read part of the story to you. 

2)      Build short, sharp reading sessions into your routine. Your child reading aloud to you for 10- 15 minutes an evening is enough for Key Stage 1. If your child is in Key Stage 2 and reads independently, encourage them to show you their reading diary summaries.  

3)      Talk to children about their book. What are they enjoying about it? What has happened so far? What do they think will happen next?  

4)      Ask your child to practice reading the ‘Weekly Wandle’ in EYFS and Key Stage 1. 

5)      Encourage your child to do an Accelerated Reader test (Year 2 and above) and ask them about their scores. 
 

6)      Use technology where you can. If your child is still learning Phonics then websites like Phonics Play and Phonics Bloom have free games. BBC bitesize has English games for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. BBC Iplayer and Youtube have Alphablocks clips to help your children in EYFS and Year 1 practise sounds and blending. 

7)      Join a local library. Complete the local library’s ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ and encourage children to keep reading something they enjoy over the school holidays- remember comic books count! 

8)      Attend our school reading events when they are advertised. 

9)      Ask children to read things in your everyday life such as labels, recipes and signs. Some studies have shown that something as simple as having subtitles on whilst children watch TV can help develop speed and fluency.

10)   Try to get them hooked on a book series, like Harry Potter or Beast Quest. Remember it’s okay if children are reading lots of the same genre of books or even reading their favourite books more than once.  It's all about children reading things they enjoy and that inspire them.