Creating
Confident Learners

Starting children early on the road to literacy is crucial for their
development and helps establish a love for learning.

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learner today.

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Hi I'm Mel,
Owner of
Reading Bees

Speech Pathologist & Early Literacy Development Specialist.

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Portrait,Of,Happy,Excited,Amazed,Open,Mouth,Kid,Child,Girl

EPPING opening
January 2024!

Register now via the app using code RBEPPING10 for 10% off Term 1

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Big benefits for
little people

Reading Bees is an enhanced learning program for 3 to 9-year-olds who want a head start on school or need extra help learning to read and spell.

At Reading Bees, your child will:

Learn to read, write and spell
Develop social skills
Develop strong listening skills
Develop basic maths concepts
Reduce anxiety around starting school
Gain confidence & independence
Understand how to ‘take turns’
Make new friends
Be encouraged to 'have a go'
Have a whole lot of fun!

Our qualified educators follow an evidence-based literacy program proven as the most successful way for children to master reading and spelling from an early age.

Praise for
Reading Bees

“Reading Bees has been such a great
experience. The teachers are kind, patient
and encouraging. It has been quite
transformative for our son, and his self-confidence has grown enormously. We
have loved watching him grow and learn
through the program.”
Hollie, Mum Kinder Program

U N D E R S T A N D I N G

Our programs

Click on the relevant age group for more information, including pricing!

WELCOME

We know that children learn at different levels and speeds, especially in their early learning years. That's why every Reading Bees student gets individualized support from our nurturing and qualified educators.

Reading Bees' enhanced learning program adapts to the individual needs of both Primary and Kinder kids.

We offer affordable literacy and numeracy classes across seven learning studio locations – Williamstown, Williams Landing, Caroline Springs, Wantirna, Clayton, Templestowe and Epping.

Whether your child needs extra support or is hungry for more knowledge - there’s a Reading Bees class to ignite their love of learning.

Term Dates 2024

Term 1: Mon 5/2/24 – Thur 28/3/24
Term 2: Mon 15/4/23 – Sat 29/6/24
Term 3: Mon 15/7/24 – Sat 21/9/24
Term 4: Mon 7/10/24 – Sat 7/12/24

Closed on these public holidays:
Mon 11/3/24 – Labour day
Fri 29/3/24 – Good Friday
Sat 30/3/24 – Saturday before Easter
Thu 25/4/23 – Anzac day
Mon 10/6/24 – King’s birthday
Mon 4/11/24 & Tue 5/11/24 – Melbourne cup weekend

Class frequency: 1 x class per week during terms.

Which class is right for my child?

Pre-Kinder and Kinder classes are based on the year your child commences school.

Primary classes are based on your child’s reading and spelling abilities. A 20-minute screening appointment is required before any Primary class booking so your child is placed in the appropriate class.

If you’re still unsure, contact our friendly Reading Bees team at 0412 268 636 or hello@readingbees.com.au.

Click ENROL to download the Reading Bees app to see class times, availability, locations, dates and prices at your nearest Reading Bees learning studio.

ENROL

PRE-KINDER

For children starting school in 2026.

Our Pre-Kinder class is the perfect way to introduce your little one to letters and sounds while developing their listening skills.

Each lesson covers concepts in phonemic awareness, sound and letter recognition, handwriting and basic maths concepts. Our goal is for every student in our Pre-Kinder class to develop the emotional and social skills required to thrive in the classroom.

We'll show you how fun learning can be and help your child build a solid foundation for future learning success.

With a maximum class size of 10 students, led by a qualified educator and an assistant, every child gets the personal attention they need and deserve.

Class frequency: 1 x 60-minute class a week
Price**: $39 per class + annual fee of $30 per child for their workbook pack and classroom material

**We also strongly recommend each family purchase a copy of the Milo storybook ($25) and a set of flashcards ($25) for essential practice at home. These can be purchased via the Reading Bees app in the online shop.

ENROL

KINDER

For children starting school in 2025.

Whether you are new to Reading Bees or continuing from Pre-Kinder, the Kinder class is designed for children starting Prep the following year.

Our Kinder Class is an enhanced school-readiness program that builds confidence and gives your child a head start on reading, spelling and basic maths concepts.

Our students learn more than letters; they discover sounds, build listening skills, and understand how to blend the sounds to read words.

Fun and interactive weekly lessons systematically reinforce concepts so students develop the tools to master reading and spelling successfully.

With a maximum class size of 12 students, led by a qualified educator and an assistant, every child gets the personal attention they need and deserve.

Class frequency: 1 x 75-minute class a week

Price: $45 per class + annual fee of $30 per child for their workbook pack and classroom materials.

**We also strongly recommend each family purchase a copy of the Milo storybook ($25) and a set of flashcards ($25) for essential practice at home. These can be purchased via the Reading Bees app in the online shop.

For more on our Kinder Program, click here

ENROL

KINDER PLUS

For children starting school in 2025.

Our Kinder Plus Class is an extended learning program for children who’ve already developed some literacy skills.

This class is ideal for students who have attended our Kinder Class or already have some reading, writing and spelling abilities.

Children will also develop social, listening and communication skills.

Class frequency: 1 x 75-minute class a week

Price: $45 per class + annual fee of $30 per child for their workbook pack and classroom materials.

To discuss if the Kinder Plus program is right for your child, please contact our friendly Reading Bees team at 0412 268 636 or hello@readingbees.com.au.

ENROL

PRIMARY

For Preps to Year 3.

Children up to nine years old will effectively overcome reading and spelling challenges with the Reading Bees enhanced Primary learning program. It encourages students to progress their learning - from basics to advanced.

Our systematic approach in small groups complements your child’s schoolwork. This evidence-based format allows students to fix knowledge gaps and become confident learners in the classroom.

Classes are created based on reading and spelling ability, not age. Our primary program is aligned with each child’s needs whilst reflecting the progression of the Little Learners Love Literacy stages.

Primary students start and progress at their own pace through nine possible levels.

With a maximum of five students per class and one qualified educator, each student develops the confidence to learn and is set up for success.

Primary Screening Appointments

Before enrolling in the Primary Program, your child will need to attend a 20-minute screening appointment to gauge their reading and spelling ability.

Six Reading Bees locations offer the Primary Program - Williamstown, Williams Landing, Caroline Springs, Wantirna, Clayton and Templestowe.

Class frequency: 1 x 45-minute class a week

Price:

$25 screening fee.
$49 per class + an annual fee of $30 per child for their workbook pack and classroom materials.

**Additional resources are available for purchase (e.g. flashcards at different program levels) if desired. Speak to your child's educator for recommendations.

ENROL

1:1 LESSONS

1:1 lessons are available for our Primary students by appointment only.

Price: $75 per 30-minute lesson or $105 per 45-minute lesson.

Please call 0412 268 636 or email hello@readingbees.com.au to book.

Download the app
to start your
Reading Bees
journey today.

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READING BEES

FAQs

Why do over 800 children attend Reading Bees each year?

Reading Bees is a unique program that continues to develop based on the needs of our most important customers - the children. Reading Bees appeals to a wide community of children and their individual needs, whether it be building on their knowledge, providing a safe and nurturing learning environment, or offering structure so that too many choices don't make your child anxious.

Reading Bees provides a service to the community that no one else does. You could say we slot between kinder and primary school. We provide a service to children in our local community and the wider community. We have families that travel for over an hour one way to come to Reading Bees each week.

Our vision is to help children to become the best version of themselves. We respect that children develop at their own pace and empathise with the children according to their unique needs and character.

Why does my child need to come to Reading Bees before starting school? Isn’t that what school is for?

‘Children are more likely to cope with the challenges of school when they are self-reliant and confident; are willing to try new things, can listen to and follow instructions, can take care of their own belongings, can interact confidently and co-operatively with other children and adults, and can cope with inevitable frustrations’ (Associate Professor Kay Margetts - Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Teacher Education).

Research has proven that 'adjustment to school is also supported when children have basic literacy and numeracy skills and the support of sensitive adults' (Associate Professor Kay Margetts - Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Teacher Education).

At Reading Bees, we focus on phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge and basic mathematical concepts through play. The program is developed from evidence-based literacy and numeracy research.

Children start reading real stories once they know the first 8 ‘sounds’. The sounds and letters are introduced in an order that makes it easy for children to learn. The emphasis is on ‘decoding’ (sounding out) and a few ‘heart words’ (high-frequency words children need to know 'by heart' as they cannot decode them at this stage). This is all taught in a fun and engaging way.

Does my child need to know how to read before starting school?

Starting school with confidence is really important. The demands, both socially and academically, are huge in the first year of school.

Learning to read is not easy or natural. It is a complex process. Oral language and pre-literacy, phonological awareness skills support early reading and writing development. Skilled readers have good decoding skills (word recognition); understand what they read (comprehension), and read with fluency (Maureen Pollard - Little Learners Love Literacy).

A child’s level of phonological awareness (ability to identify sounds and sound patterns in language) is an important predictor of their later reading development (Maureen Pollard - Little Learners Love Literacy).

If your child begins school knowing something about sounds, reading and writing, it can make a significant difference to how they feel as a learner and how easily they settle into that new school routine and expectations.

Will my child be bored in Foundation/Prep if they’ve done Reading Bees?

Not at all. We do not teach the children everything they will learn in Prep. We help the children develop the skills that will assist them with their transition into school.

Why do you teach sounds?

The awareness of sounds and their link to speech and letters is an important part of learning to read. In fact, the awareness of sounds is a prerequisite skill before children can learn to associate sounds with letters.It is sometimes assumed that because children are immersed in a sound-rich environment, they develop phonemic awareness naturally. The truth is that the speaker and listener are not actually attending to individual sounds; the focus is on communication - speaking and listening (Maureen Pollard - Literacy Consultant).

At Reading Bees, we use the Little Learners Love Literacy program for the literacy component of our lessons. The program is developed from evidence-based literacy research that emphasises the importance of explicit teaching, along with a focus on:

Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Vocabulary
Fluency
Comprehension

It also includes teaching handwriting skills as an integral part of literacy learning.

My child has a speech &/or language delay, will Reading Bees help?

ABSOLUTELY! Children with speech and language delays often have difficulty with literacy skills as well. Children who have difficulty pronouncing or understanding certain speech sounds may also have difficulty with reading and writing those sounds. This can lead to trouble decoding and sounding out words.

Children with language delays may not fully understand all parts of language, such as grammar, syntax, vocabulary, etc. This can lead to problems understanding text or putting one’s ideas into writing in a logical manner.

Before children are ready to read, write, and spell, they develop phonological awareness skills. These skills help them understand how words are made up of sounds and that sounds are represented by letters. These skills are essential for reading and are often impaired in children with speech disorders, especially phonological disorders.

At Reading Bees, we help your child develop phonological awareness skills by incorporating the following in their play-based activities....

Rhyming
Alliteration (same beginning sounds)
Letter-sound correspondences
Manipulating sounds in words
Identifying sounds at the beginning, middle and end of words.

With a maximum class size of 12 children, led by a dedicated educator plus an assistant, your child gets the personal attention they need and deserve.

My child finds reading difficult, will your classes help them?

Definitely! We are very passionate about helping children learn to read and believe we have the tools to help them.

'Approximately one student in every 10 in our primary schools experience some form of learning challenge within their educational setting, with three to five percent having a Specific Learning Disorder such as Dyslexia' (Kristin Anthian - LDA Consultant).

“These students require early identification and appropriate intervention using a systematic, explicit and cumulative approach to reading and spelling instruction, with high intensity and frequency. The Little Learners Love Literacy phonics program provides a comprehensive scope and sequence for teaching literacy in the early years. It can be equally effective in supporting students experiencing learning difficulties with its systematic and carefully sequenced methodology” (Kristin Anthian - LDA Consultant).

How many children are there in a class?

Our Pre-Kinder classes have a maximum of 10 children with two educators.

The maximum number of children in the Kinder & Kinder Plus classes is 12, with two educators.

Our primary class numbers are much smaller—a maximum of 5 children per class with one educator.

How long is the program?

The program runs for 38 weeks per year, commencing in February and running during school terms only. Although we recommend commencing at the beginning of the program, it is never too late to join.

Do you do individual lessons?

Private tutoring is available for children from Foundation/Prep to Year 6.Please call 0412 268 636 to discuss.

What is the Reading Bees App?

We keep things simple with an easy-to-use Reading Bees app.

The Reading Bees app is the only way to sign up and enrol your child in our enhanced learning program; Pre-Kinder, Kinder and Primary.

App | Reading Bees

Read more +11 July 2023 By Reading Bees in FAQs

Creating
Confident Learners

Hi I'm Mel,
Owner of
Reading Bees