Read with Oxford
If you would like to give your child a bit of extra help with reading, then look no further than Read with Oxford. Read with Oxford is a home reading scheme that can be used alongside any school reading scheme that your child is using. It has six Stages to take your child from their first steps in phonics to being independent readers.
Find out what Stage is right for your child here.
Read with Oxford Stages use the same reading skills progression as Oxford Reading Tree Levels – but in wider bands:
Stage 1
Oxford Level: 1, 1+
Book Band: Lilac, Pink
Approx. age: 3–4
Stage 2
Oxford Level: 2, 3
Book Band: Red, Yellow
Approx. age: 4–5
Stage 3
Oxford Level: 4, 5
Book Band: Blue, Green
Approx. age: 5–6
Stage 4
Oxford Level: 6, 7
Book Band: Orange, Turquoise
Approx. age: 5–7
Stage 5
Oxford Level: 8, 9
Book Band: Purple, Gold
Approx. age: 6–8
Stage 6
Oxford Level: 10, 11, 12
Book Band: White, Lime, Brown
Approx. age: 7–8
Find more information about the individual Stages below.
Stage 1: First steps
First steps – I am starting to use letter sounds to read simple words
Read with Oxford Stage 1 is for children who are ready to start learning to read. They will enjoy listening to stories and will be beginning to recognise letter sounds and read simple words.
Approximate age: 3–4
School: Early Years
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 1 and 1+ | Book Bands Red, Yellow
Stage 2: Early reader
Early reader – I can use letter sounds to read simple words and short sentences
Read with Oxford Stage 2 is for children who are able to read very simple stories. They will still enjoy listening to stories while practising their own early reading skills at the same time.
Approximate age: 4–5
School: Reception/P1
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 2 and 3 | Book Bands Red, Yellow
Stage 3: Growing reader
Growing reader – I am starting to read more words and longer sentences with less help
Read with Oxford Stage 3 is for children who are becoming more confident in their reading. They will be building on their earlier reading skills and will often use their knowledge of phonics automatically.
Approximate age: 5–6
School: Years 1 and 2/P2 and P3
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 4 and 5 | Book Bands Blue, Green
Stage 4: Gaining confidence
Gaining confidence – I sometimes read by myself, and I can read lots of everyday words
Read with Oxford Stage 4 is for children who are beginning to read with more confidence. They are often able to use the phonics they have learned without being reminded, and they are starting to feel more comfortable reading by themselves.
Approximate age: 5–7
School: Years 1 and 2/P2 and P3
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 6 and 7 | Book Bands Orange, Turquoise
Stage 5: Becoming independent
Becoming independent – I can read and enjoy a whole story by myself
Read with Oxford Stage 5 is for children who are reading confidently, silently and independently most of the time. They will use their phonics knowledge automatically to tackle words they don’t know and will be able to make predictions about what happens next in stories.
Approximate age: 6–8
School: Years 2 and 3/P3 and P4
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 8 and 9 | Book Bands Purple, Gold
Stage 6: Independent reader
Independent reader – I can read and understand longer chapter books by myself
Read with Oxford Stage 6 is for children who reading confidently, silently and independently. They will have a greater understanding of what they are reading, feel comfortable tackling longer books in one sitting and will enjoy books of different genres.
Approximate age: 7–8
School: Year 3/P4
Equivalent to: Oxford Levels 10, 11 and 12 | Book Bands White, Lime, Brown
Oxford Reading Tree
Find out more about the Oxford Reading Tree and discover how the scheme can support your child in their reading journey.
Bookshop
Discover the wide range of our Read with Oxford titles in the bookshop, with suitable adventures for every stage.