How can I help families to support their children with reading at home?

Send home two books a week and make sure families know the difference between the two books.

A decodable book matched to children’s secure phonic knowledge. Explain to parents that this book should enable children to ‘show off’ their new learning. If the child reads the book fluently and with expression, that’s great – it doesn’t mean that the book is too easy.
A love of reading book. Tell parents that the best way they can support their child is to share books together at home. The child will not be able to read this sharing book alone. Parents should read the book to the child, explore and talk about the pictures and enjoy reading together!

Create extra times in the school day for children to practise their reading if you know it’s tricky for them to do this at home.

In schools with high proportions of EAL:

Continue to encourage children to read their decodable book to their families.
Adults can still share the love of reading book with their children without having to read the words.
They can chat about the pictures in their home language.
A book to share is about dedicating time to look at, read and talk about stories together.

If family members lack confidence with supporting their children:

Why not invite them into school at the end of the day for an after-school reading club?
Help them to support their children with their reading.