My Child Is Struggling to Read

Reading Difficulties Are More Common Than You Think

Watching your child struggle with reading can be worrying, especially when you can see how hard they are trying. You might notice that your child avoids reading, gets frustrated with books, confuses letters or words, reads very slowly, or seems to forget words they knew yesterday. These difficulties can affect their confidence, their enjoyment of school, and their self-esteem.

Reading is a complex skill that involves many different processes working together — recognising letters, connecting them to sounds, blending sounds into words, understanding what those words mean, and holding all of that in memory at once. When any one of these processes is more difficult for a child, reading can feel like an enormous effort.

You are not alone in this worry, and seeking support early is one of the most important things you can do. ChildWize can connect you with specialists who understand reading difficulties and can help you work out what is going on and what might help your child.

What Might Be Making Reading Difficult?

There are several reasons why a child might find reading harder than their peers. One of the most well-known is dyslexia, a specific learning difficulty that affects the way the brain processes written and spoken language. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence — many children with dyslexia are bright and creative but find the mechanics of reading and spelling particularly challenging.

Reading difficulties can also be connected to developmental language disorder (DLD), where a child has broader difficulties with understanding or using language. If a child struggles to understand spoken language, reading comprehension is likely to be affected too. In some cases, difficulties with number processing (dyscalculia) can co-occur with reading difficulties, suggesting a broader pattern of learning differences.

Vision and hearing should also be considered — sometimes a child's reading difficulty has a straightforward physical explanation that can be addressed. It is also worth noting that some children simply need more time and practice, and with the right approach they catch up well. A specialist assessment can help clarify what is going on for your child specifically.

What Is Typical for Different Ages?

Reading development follows a broad trajectory, though every child is different. In Reception and Year 1, children are typically learning letter sounds (phonics) and beginning to blend them into simple words. By the end of Year 2, most children can read simple sentences and short books with some fluency.

By Years 3 and 4, children are generally moving from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," and are expected to read more independently. If your child is still struggling with basic decoding at this stage, it may be a sign that they would benefit from additional support. By Years 5 and 6, reading fluency and comprehension are expected to be more developed, and children who are still finding reading very difficult may need a formal assessment.

The Department for Education's phonics screening check in Year 1 can sometimes flag early concerns. If your child did not meet the expected standard, this does not necessarily mean there is a problem, but it may be worth exploring further with a specialist. The earlier reading difficulties are identified and supported, the better the outcomes tend to be.

How ChildWize Connects You with Reading Specialists

ChildWize can connect you with dyslexia specialists who can carry out assessments and recommend evidence-based interventions, educational support specialists who can help with school-based strategies, and speech and language therapists who can address any underlying language difficulties that may be affecting reading.

All our specialists are qualified and experienced in working with children who find reading difficult. Sessions take place online, which many families find convenient — your child can work with their specialist from home, using the books and materials they are familiar with.

An initial assessment will usually involve your specialist getting to know your child, understanding their reading strengths and challenges, and identifying where the breakdown is happening. From there, they can recommend targeted approaches — this might include structured phonics programmes, strategies for building reading fluency, comprehension support, or a formal dyslexia assessment if appropriate.

Supporting Your Child at Home

While professional support can make a significant difference, there are things that some families find helpful at home. Reading together regularly — even when your child can read independently — helps to model fluent reading, builds vocabulary, and keeps reading feeling positive rather than like a chore.

Choosing books that match your child's interest rather than their reading level can help maintain motivation. Audiobooks can be a wonderful way for children who struggle with reading to access stories and build vocabulary without the pressure of decoding text. Many children find that following along with an audiobook while looking at the printed page helps bridge the gap.

Try to keep the focus on enjoyment rather than accuracy. If your child makes a mistake, gently correct it and move on rather than asking them to sound out every word. Praise effort rather than achievement, and celebrate small steps forward.

ChildWize does not replace your child's school or NHS services. If you are concerned about your child's reading, you may also want to speak with their class teacher or SENCO, who can arrange school-based assessments and support.