Find the bear club for your little one
Our personalised bundles help readers big and small practice the essential skills that are taught in school. Explore our bear clubs below and discover how you can help support your child’s learning at home
Age bands
The age ranges are only included as a reference point about which club might be best for your child. The description for each club will give you an idea about which club level your child might be best suited to or if you know which book band level they are currently reading in school we will start them in the corresponding club (there is further guidance about this during the ‘Get started’ process).
Otherwise, we will place your child in a club that is a good starting point given their age and the time in the school year. We can then easily move your child up or down within that club or even to another club once you get started. Don’t worry if your child is in a club with children who are older or younger. Reading is a journey, and we need to give each child the activities and books that are just right for them right now, so they can progress.
Personalised bear clubs
Every unique box gives every unique reader exactly what they need right at that stage in their own special reading journey… from shy first timers (Cubs) to fearless readers (Polar).
Your first box includes a rewards chart and stickers so that your child can celebrate each time they spend time reading by adding a paw print. Every time your child starts a new Book Band level, we include a bookmark with tips and advice for how to support them at that reading level. And after 4 months, you get a free The Bear Can Read pouch or bag to store all your child’s phonics cards or books.
Just like you, we know the power of rewards and treats to spur children on.
We loved receiving the box, really pleased with it and can’t wait for the next one!
Natalie Granger (Mum to Layton)
Our clubs
CUBS
Foundation for reading
(2–3 years old)
Our most hands-on club for our littlest members has a different theme each month such as farm animals or colours. The activities included follow the theme and gently teach children a range of skills, such as sorting farm animals into groups of two-legged and four-legged animals or mixing paints to learn about colours. All the activities in these boxes have been authored and reviewed by nursery school teachers who work with this age group every day. These bundles are designed to help children develop the early essential skills and knowledge which become the foundation for everything else. Every special delivery includes:
- a nursery rhyme or song, which is great for encouraging children to hear rhymes and patterns (the foundation of reading)
- a Spotlight card to highlight the focus skills that month, including ideas for additional activities and games to extend learning.
- 6 highly illustrated worksheets for children to practise the focus skills.
- a book related to the theme of the month’s box.
- an additional item each month to complete the activities or extend the learning, such as little farm animals to play with, paint and a paint brush or a magnifying glass to delight children when they open the box!
TEDDY
First steps
(3–4 years old)
Personalised Bundles for 3-4 years old
To give your child the best start, they need to be supported at home with their understanding of essential concepts and skills. The Bear Can Read does just that. Our TEDDY bundles help pre-reception children develop a range of basic life skills, from sparking curiosity about the world around them to being able to talk about a story. Every special delivery includes:
- a nursery rhyme or song, which is great for encouraging children to hear rhymes and patterns (the foundation of reading).
- a Spotlight card to highlight the focus skills that month, including ideas for additional activities and games to extend learning.
- 6 highly illustrated worksheets for children to practise the focus skills.
- a wordless book related to the theme of the month.
- 2 flashcards to gently expose children to the letters and sounds they will be learning.
- an additional item every month such as a themed story book, small set of paints to help complete one of the activities or colourful sticker sheets to create a scene.
KOALA
Early reader
(4–5 years old)
KOALA bundles offer a gentle start to reading, with books that only use the letter and sound combinations they’re learning at school. The words are very simple and easy to read, and the books increase very gently in difficulty throughout the year, as children become more confident. Each month your bundle will include:
- 3 of the latest phonics readers carefully selected to practice that month’s focus letters and sounds.
- a Spotlight card with the letters and sounds that you need to focus on that month.
- 8 worksheets for the children to practise their Spotlight letters and sounds.
- flashcards of the focus sounds for that month.
- 2 tricky/sight word cards. These are the words that children need to learn by sight as they aren’t phonically regular. The Bear Can Read slowly drip feeds these words at each stage so they never feel overwhelmed.
HONEY BEAR
Growing reader
(5–6 years old)
HONEY BEAR bundles take a step-by-step approach to developing your child’s reading skills and confidence. Starting with very simple words and letter sounds, the books gradually increase in complexity, gently and naturally extending your child’s reading ability. Honey bear bundles also include prep materials for the Phonics Screening Check many children take towards the end of Year 1. Each month your bundle will include:
- 3 of the latest phonics readers carefully selected to practice that month’s focus letters and sounds.
- a Spotlight card with the letters and sounds that you need to focus on that month.
- at least 8 worksheets for the children to practise their Spotlight letters and sounds.
- 2 tricky/sight word cards. These are the words that children need to learn by sight as they aren’t phonically regular. The Bear Can Read drip feeds these words that children need to learn at each stage slowly so they never feel overwhelmed.
PANDA
Transitional reader
(6–7 years old)
This is a key stage in your child’s reading development as they’ll be reading longer and more complex books. PANDA bundles take them through the process gradually, extending their skills without over stretching them. Each month your bundle will include:
- 3 specially selected books from the UK’s top educational publishers, which have been specially crafted to be age-appropriate, engaging and introduce new vocabulary.
- 6 double-sided activity sheets created by experienced teachers to help extend your child’s vocabulary, improve their spelling and enhance their reading confidence.
- a custom-made spotlight card with advice about how to support your child’s reading at home.
- a bookmark with stickers so reading time and progress can be tracked.
- an additional item to surprise and delight!
POLAR
Becoming independent
(7–8 years old)
By this stage, most children can read quite fluently and without much help. This is our most advanced bundle, encouraging them to practise their skills, with slightly more complex and longer books. POLAR bundles also contain prep material for the National Curriculum English Reading Test so that children can sit the test with confidence.