Support for Struggling Readers: Build Skills Without Tears
If reading feels hard for your child, the most important thing is to make it feel achievable. This guide helps you understand what's going wrong (phonics, fluency, comprehension, or confidence) and what to do next.
✓ Short sessions ✓ Repetition ✓ Right difficulty level
What’s usually behind reading struggles?
Most reading difficulties fall into one (or more) of these areas.
1) Decoding / phonics
Children may guess words, struggle to blend sounds, or stumble on unfamiliar words. Phonics practice and decodable texts can help.
2) Fluency
Even if children can decode, reading may be slow and tiring. Re-reading short texts and building automaticity improves fluency.
3) Comprehension
Some children read the words correctly but can’t explain what they read. Practice with questions (VIPERS) helps build meaning.
4) Confidence and anxiety
If reading has become stressful, children may avoid it. Confidence grows when practice feels safe and achievable.
How Primary Story supports struggling readers
Right-level stories + gentle questions + feedback = progress without overwhelm.
Match reading level (not age)
If a Year 4 child is reading at Year 2 level, they need Year 2-style texts to rebuild foundations first.
Short, repeatable practice
Frequent small wins are more effective than long sessions that end in frustration.
Comprehension feedback
Children learn why an answer is correct, not just whether it is.
Struggling Readers: Common Questions
Clear, practical answers for parents (with next steps)
A struggling reader finds some part of reading unusually difficult for their age—this might be decoding (phonics), fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension. Many children struggle temporarily, especially after a curriculum jump, but consistent, targeted support can close gaps.
If your child stumbles on lots of words, guesses, or can’t sound out unfamiliar words, phonics/decoding is likely the bottleneck. If they can read the words but can’t explain what happened or answer questions, comprehension may be the main issue. Often it’s a mix: weak decoding reduces mental energy available for understanding.
Start with right-level texts (slightly easier to rebuild fluency), keep practice short and consistent (10–15 minutes), re-read familiar texts to build automaticity, and build confidence with lots of praise for effort. If phonics is shaky, add focused phonics practice alongside reading.
Yes—if they help your child read more fluently and successfully. Reading at the right level builds confidence and practice volume. You can also read harder books aloud to expose them to richer vocabulary while keeping independent reading achievable.
With consistent practice, many children show noticeable improvements within 4–8 weeks. Progress is rarely linear—expect plateaus and growth spurts. The key is sustained practice with materials that are not too difficult.
Primary Story generates stories matched to your child’s current reading level (not their age), helping them experience success. It also provides comprehension questions with feedback and progress tracking. This combination—right-level reading + targeted questions—supports decoding, fluency, and understanding while building confidence.
Talk to your child’s teacher if the gap is widening, your child is distressed, progress has stalled for months, or you suspect dyslexia. Schools can advise on interventions, assessments, and whether specialist support is appropriate.
Still have questions?
Contact SupportStart building reading success—one small step at a time
Choose a story topic your child likes, set the difficulty to feel achievable, and keep practice short and consistent.