Got a Child Starting Year 2? Here's How to Get Them 'School Ready'

Kate Baker
Aug 18
3 min read

Updated: Aug 19

Last week I was chatting to a parent whose son is about to start Year 2. She was excited about him getting a new teacher, but was also worried:

“He can read, but it's quite slow, and he doesn't seem to comprehend what he's reading.”

If that sounds like you, don't panic - it’s not too late to get your child school ready for Year 2. Even with just 10–20 minutes a day of the right kind of help, you can boost their skills, confidence, and enjoyment of reading before the new school year begins.

What ‘School Ready’ Looks Like for Year 2

By the start of Year 2, children are expected to:

Know all letter sounds — both single letters (a, b, c…) and digraphs (sh, ch, th, ng…).
Read at a pace of about 1 word per second — so they can focus on the meaning of what they read, not just decoding.
Recognise tricky words by sight — such as do, said, was, were.

Why Home Practice Matters

Research shows that 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read at the level expected of them, which seriously impacts their ability to access the curriculum (see this article).

25% of 11 year olds can't read at the expected level

This shows that unfortunately, children don’t simply “pick up” reading skills as they grow up — they need to be taught in a clear, structured way. This is especially true for children who:

Struggle with memory or attention (perhaps due to dyslexia or ADHD)
Are reluctant readers.
Have missed chunks of school due to illness or other reasons.

That’s where short, consistent home practice makes all the difference.

How to Help — Even If You’re Not a Teacher

You don’t need a degree in education to help your child get school ready for Year 2. The key is to keep activities short, specific, and fun:

Daily sound review — 2–3 minutes using phonics flashcards.
Tricky word practice — practice 10 words at a time and turn them into a game.
Short reading session — Use a page-cover to reduce overwhelm.
Celebrate effort early — praise specific things, like:
- “I love how you spotted that th sound.”
- “Well done for pausing at the full stop.”
- “Great job remembering that were is a tricky word.”

This builds confidence quickly, which is essential for children who might be anxious about reading.

Make It Multisensory

If your child struggles to remember a sound or word, switch up how you teach it. Using movement and visuals together makes learning stick — and it keeps even the fidgetiest kids engaged. My Picturing Method is one example, and it works brilliantly for reluctant readers.

Want to learn more? Watch this ⬇️

Video preview of teacher explaining the Picturing Method

Where to Start Today

If you’d like ready-to-use resources that follow this exact approach, my Reading Skills Workbooks and Phonics Flashcards & Games Pack are:

Structured so skills build step by step.
Packed with opportunities for praise.
Designed to keep even reluctant readers engaged.

They’re all tried and tested and are easy for parents to use at home — no teaching background needed.

👉 See the Phonics Flashcards & Games Pack

👉 Explore the Reading Skills Workbooks

And if you want quick, daily ideas you can try right now, follow me on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook.

💡 Pro tip: Even 10 minutes of focused practice a day adds up to over an hour of extra learning a week — which can make a huge difference in getting your child school ready for Year 2.