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The need for a reading scheme for SEN
The free decodable books in this section of Reading Made Simple have been borne out of our work with children with severe processing difficulties - children suspected of having profound dyslexia or known to have other severe learning difficulties. Many SEN children have a short attention span, partly due to the effort required to process information. These children are also often thought to be 'lazy' or 'naughty' because, despite having been taught, they have failed to learn to read.
These children need intense phonics instruction - they need to overlearn everything. They need to read books that help them to develop reading fluency, as much as is possible, without needing to sound out every word.
With the increasing number of such children, we realised that a significant gap existed in available resources, and those that were available were too costly for the average parent to access. And so, this part of our programme is being written as we teach our pupils - and some parts are free, while others are as low-cost as we can make them.
If you have such a child, then this is the reading scheme you need.
These children need intense phonics instruction - they need to overlearn everything. They need to read books that help them to develop reading fluency, as much as is possible, without needing to sound out every word.
With the increasing number of such children, we realised that a significant gap existed in available resources, and those that were available were too costly for the average parent to access. And so, this part of our programme is being written as we teach our pupils - and some parts are free, while others are as low-cost as we can make them.
If you have such a child, then this is the reading scheme you need.
All the vital ingredients of a good dyslexia/SEN reading scheme
- Systematic
- Highly structured (more structured than many)
- Highly sequential/incremental
- Cumulative - each tiny step building on those that have gone before, with constant review and revision
- Multisensory
- Flexible - can be tailored to the needs of each pupil
Reading Made Simple can show you how to teach a special needs child to read
Our simple weekly lesson plan, available FREE on this site, requiring minimal equipment with free download-and-print reading books makes it possible to teach a special needs child to read and spell.
Teaching Manual
For the Level 1 special needs programme we follow the main Level 1 programme but use these free decodable books to provide more structure. The Reading Made Simple programme will teach your child to write as well as read, though writing comes up more slowly behind.
You can access the teaching programme for free on this site, or purchase the PDF/book teaching manual here:
You can access the teaching programme for free on this site, or purchase the PDF/book teaching manual here:
PDF download
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Soft back book
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Special SEN phonic worksheets
Worksheets to accompany these books can be purchased here. Unfortunately, I can not make them available for free as they represent hours and hours of work and are of a highly specialised nature. Only a very few children will need this intense teaching. Most will be able to use the special needs (SEN) books here. Of course, the reading programme will work with all children, though it goes more slowly than our main reading programme, while progressing through the same sound order.
These resources contain the necessary repetition needed to help children become as fluent readers and writers as they can be, as simply as possible, in a form that is accessible to the child: that being short, targeted activities, simply presented, to limit mental overload.
These resources contain the necessary repetition needed to help children become as fluent readers and writers as they can be, as simply as possible, in a form that is accessible to the child: that being short, targeted activities, simply presented, to limit mental overload.
Reading Made Simple - a road map
Although these free decodable books and worksheets have been tried and tested on real pupils (aged to 12), always remember that first and foremost, Reading Made Simple is a road map. The task of the teacher, as always, is to observe the child while working and to learn how to support the child in achieving the desired goal. This may mean using other strategies (which you can find online or make yourself) while following the RMS progression. The reading books should, however, be read and the child prepared to read them through adequate study of each word list, and any stated additional words.
The Scope and Sequence can be downloaded here.
The Scope and Sequence can be downloaded here.
Level 1 Introductory Lessons: a, o, i, u and e
For very young children or special needs learners
These short vowel activity packs each contain 2 reading books, which precede Level 1 for those who need a slower pace and/or have had difficulty building a sight vocabulary of the words decoded in Level 0. These phonics reading books only use vocabulary introduced in the basic red word box for the five vowel lessons.
They help to build a bank of known words on which reading fluency can be built.
If a child has/has read the CVC and Consonant blends reading books but has not begun to build a bank of known words, then use these reading books. They should only be used in conjunction with the FREE lesson packs in which they are contained to ensure that pupils gain the key phonics skills needed to move forward in reading. They should only be used in conjunction with the lesson indicated below each pack, or they cannot be expected to help your child.
They help to build a bank of known words on which reading fluency can be built.
If a child has/has read the CVC and Consonant blends reading books but has not begun to build a bank of known words, then use these reading books. They should only be used in conjunction with the FREE lesson packs in which they are contained to ensure that pupils gain the key phonics skills needed to move forward in reading. They should only be used in conjunction with the lesson indicated below each pack, or they cannot be expected to help your child.
The first five lessons vowel lesson packs, with worksheets, are free so that you can try them on your pupil.
These books are set to print on A4 landscape, printing on both sides. Simply cut in half, arrange the pages in order and staple on the left-hand side.
These books are set to print on A4 landscape, printing on both sides. Simply cut in half, arrange the pages in order and staple on the left-hand side.
Access this section of the Special Needs Course, with 20 teaching videos, for just £6
Get access to the lessons I use in my tutoring lessons!
Get access to the lessons I use in my tutoring lessons!
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Level 1: The RMS reading scheme for SEN
Jack's Historical Adventures
These incremental phonics reading books follow on from the first five short vowel books and introduce new characters suitable for older children who may find earlier materials too babyish.
The Story:
Follow Jack's exciting journey through history, beginning in his stick-and-mud hut, where he hunts for food in the woods. When invaders arrive, life becomes thrilling as Jack navigates a changing world. The historical narrative keeps older struggling readers engaged while building essential reading skills.
Carefully Controlled Vocabulary:
Like the first five vowel sets, these books primarily use Level 1 vocabulary with a few additional words gradually introduced. New vocabulary is listed at the front of each book where it first appears. Words build cumulatively from book to book with meaningful repetition—never in a babyish way—helping children who can decode but struggle to retain words without repeated practice.
Designed for Struggling Readers:
Used carefully with the matching worksheets, this series helps students who are truly struggling to learn to read. The structured worksheets provide:
Authentic Illustrations:
The books are illustrated in part by the child for whom they were originally written. You'll see the pictures improve as he matures—a touching reminder that every child can grow and develop their skills.
Growing Series:
This series is still growing, with new titles added regularly. The bundle below offers the most affordable way to purchase the complete set—a truly amazing resource for supporting struggling readers.
These incremental phonics reading books follow on from the first five short vowel books and introduce new characters suitable for older children who may find earlier materials too babyish.
The Story:
Follow Jack's exciting journey through history, beginning in his stick-and-mud hut, where he hunts for food in the woods. When invaders arrive, life becomes thrilling as Jack navigates a changing world. The historical narrative keeps older struggling readers engaged while building essential reading skills.
Carefully Controlled Vocabulary:
Like the first five vowel sets, these books primarily use Level 1 vocabulary with a few additional words gradually introduced. New vocabulary is listed at the front of each book where it first appears. Words build cumulatively from book to book with meaningful repetition—never in a babyish way—helping children who can decode but struggle to retain words without repeated practice.
Designed for Struggling Readers:
Used carefully with the matching worksheets, this series helps students who are truly struggling to learn to read. The structured worksheets provide:
- Phonemic awareness development
- Guided practice applying new sounds
- Essential repetition through structured sentences and passages
- Revision of previously learned sounds
- Support for developing reading fluency
Authentic Illustrations:
The books are illustrated in part by the child for whom they were originally written. You'll see the pictures improve as he matures—a touching reminder that every child can grow and develop their skills.
Growing Series:
This series is still growing, with new titles added regularly. The bundle below offers the most affordable way to purchase the complete set—a truly amazing resource for supporting struggling readers.
Click to purchase from TPT
Teachers! Buy the first 38 books + PowerPoints in a growing bundle plus 100's of matching worksheets as they become available - you will get all the subsequent books and worksheets for the price you pay, though the price of the product will increase as I add each book and worksheet pack.
Buy now and save £££s! Worksheets provide tracking exercises, reading triangles, word recognition exercises, phonemic awareness activities, help with consonant blends, games and much more.
Or download just the reading books individually below for FREE.
Buy now and save £££s! Worksheets provide tracking exercises, reading triangles, word recognition exercises, phonemic awareness activities, help with consonant blends, games and much more.
Or download just the reading books individually below for FREE.
It is advised that these books be read alongside 'Our Island Story' by H. E. Marshall.
Other helpful books include:
Little Arthur's History
And 'Wulfgar and the Saxons' by Christina Eastwood (Christian content)
Other helpful books include:
Little Arthur's History
And 'Wulfgar and the Saxons' by Christina Eastwood (Christian content)
Set 1: ck to or
Pre Iron-Age to the coming of the Romans
Printing: I am slowly working through reformatting the books for easier printing.
This section prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
Printing: I am slowly working through reformatting the books for easier printing.
This section prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
1. Free Lesson Pack
6.
11.
16. Julius Caesar: Read Chapter 2 of Our Island Story
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2.
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12.
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3.
8.
13. First sign of invaders
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4.
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14. Avoiding invaders
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5.
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15.
20. The Story of Caligula: Our Island Story Chapter 4
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Set 2: Powerful 'e'
The Romans and the Saxons
This section now prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
This section now prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
22. Our Island Story Chapter 6
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23.
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24.
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25.
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26.
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Set 3: ai to ou
The Saxons to the Normans....
This section now prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
This section now prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
This section of the programme is usually quite pivotal to a child's reading development so we have more books.
27. An adaptation of Our Island Story Chapter 14
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28. The ability to read spreads through the good green land thanks to King Alfred.
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29. Our Island Story Chapter 15
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This section prints booklet double -sided
32. Our Island Story Chapter 16
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33. Based on Our Island Story Chapter 17
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34. The Battle with the Danes and Guthorm's conversion: Our Island story Chapter 17
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35. King Canute: Our Island Story Chapter 20
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36. The Battle of Hastings, 1066: Our Island Story Chapter 22
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37. Coronation of King William (The Conqueror): Our Island Story Chapter 25
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38. About the feudal system: Our Island Story Chapter 26
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Set 4: aw to ea (e)
The Normans to the Edward 1 (Medieval Period)
Print Booklet double-sided
Print Booklet double-sided
39. The Domesday Book: Our Island Story Chapter 26
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40. Every day, Norman village life under King William: the blacksmith
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41. Every day, Norman village life under King William: the mill
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42. Every day, Norman village life under King William: the church
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43. Norman children's adventures
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This section prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
44. A retelling of the story of Robin Hood Our Island Story Chapter 33
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45. King Richard (Richard Lion Heart) Our Island Story Chapter 33
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46. King John and the Great Charter Our Island Story Chapter 36
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47. Feast days and games were looked forward to events in the Norman era!
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Set 5: ow to ...
The Medieval Age
This section prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
This section prints A4, portrait, double-sided.
48. The Normans built many castles.
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49. Life is calm until news comes that Edward I is wanting men to fight with him against the Scots. Tension rises!
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50. Our Island Story Chapter 42: The Hammer of the Scots: Edward I
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51. The brave men come home from the fighting in Scotland.
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52. Life settles down again. Jack and Eed marry
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53. Finding a house
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54. Life is disturbed by the Black Death
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55. After the Black Death came the Statute of Workers in 1351. This story takes place at that time.
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