English reading lessons for children

From letter sounds to understanding a full passage. Reading problems usually have a specific cause, and the fix depends on which one it is.

Ages 4–16 One-to-one, always Cambridge & Oxford materials from $7 per class Free first class

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Three different reading problems

Parents often describe the same symptom — "my child struggles with reading" — for three unrelated causes. Telling them apart is most of the work.

Decoding

The child cannot reliably turn letters into sounds, so unfamiliar words become guesses. Phonics is the fix, regardless of the child's age.

Fluency

They can decode but it is slow and effortful. So much attention goes on the words that none is left for the meaning. Repeated reading of manageable text fixes this.

Comprehension

They read accurately and fluently but cannot say what it meant. Usually a vocabulary gap or unfamiliarity with how questions are asked.

How lessons address each

Decoding. Oxford Phonics World and the Family and Friends phonics strand, taught in short focused bursts. A child who guesses at new words needs this even at ten years old.

Fluency. Reading aloud with the teacher at a level slightly below frustration point, repeated. Fluency comes from volume at the right level, not from struggling through hard text.

Comprehension. Reading passages together, then talking about them: what happened, why, and what the writer assumed you already knew. Question types are taught explicitly, because exam questions have patterns.

Why one-to-one helps reading specifically

Reading aloud in front of classmates is where many children learn to hate reading. One teacher, no audience, and a mistake that gets quietly corrected rather than publicly noticed — for a self-conscious reader that difference is often the whole problem.

What you will see at home

Written feedback after every lesson notes what was read, how fluently, and which words caused trouble. Those words are worth ten minutes at home before the next lesson — that small repetition is what moves reading forward fastest.

Free guide for parents

You do not need to book anything to start helping at home. Our guide on reading activities for primary students is free to read and written for parents rather than teachers: read the guide, or browse all our learning resources.

Pricing

Plan	Classes per week	Price per class
Weekly plan	1–3	$8
Monthly package	4–7	$7

A 50-minute lesson costs exactly double a 25-minute one. No registration fee, no materials fee, no platform fee. The first class is free and no card is required. See the full pricing page.

Questions parents ask

My child can speak English but cannot read it. Is that normal?

Very common, especially for children who learned English by listening. It usually means decoding was never explicitly taught, and phonics work fixes it.

At what age should reading lessons start?

Letter sounds can begin around 4 to 5. There is no upper limit — we regularly teach decoding to children of nine or ten who were never taught it properly.

My child reads aloud well but does not understand it. Why?

That is a comprehension gap rather than a reading one, usually caused by unfamiliar vocabulary or not knowing how questions are structured. Both are teachable.

Which reading materials do you use?

Oxford Phonics World and Family and Friends for early reading, and Cambridge Global English or Oxford THiNK for older learners working on comprehension.

How long before reading improves?

It depends on the cause and on practice between lessons. Decoding often shows visible change within a few weeks; comprehension is slower because it depends on vocabulary, which accumulates.

How much do reading lessons cost?

$8 per 25-minute lesson for 1–3 a week, or $7 each for 4 or more. The first class is free.

Start with a free class

Every new family gets one free lesson before choosing a plan. No card, no obligation.

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Last reviewed: 22 September 2026