Find the bear club for your little one
Our personalised bundles help readers, big and small, practice the essential phonics and reading 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 for which club might be best for your child. The description for each club will give you an idea about which level is best suited to your child. If you know which book band level they are currently reading in school, we can also use this as a guide (there is further guidance about this during the ‘Get started’ process).
Otherwise, we will place your child in a club and book band reading level that is a good starting point, given their age and time of 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. Again, please 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, so they can progress with confidence.
Personalised bear clubs
Each one of our boxes is unique and gives the reader exactly what they need to learn and feel secure at their reading level… from shy first time readers to fearless independent readers.
Every box includes a reward chart and stickers so that your child can celebrate each time they read. We always include a bookmark with quick advice for the book band your child is reading, so you can easily see tips about how to support your child at their reading level. You’ll also get little surprises along the way like a pouch to store all your child’s phonics flashcards or a special bear pencil.
Just like you, we know the power of rewards and treats to motivate our little ones.
We loved receiving the box, really pleased with it and can’t wait for the next one!
Natalie Granger (Mum to Layton)
Our clubs
CUB
Reading foundations
(2–3 years old)
Our most hands-on club for our littlest members has a different theme each month. The activities will 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. These bundles are designed to help children develop essential foundation skills and knowledge.
Each delivery includes:
- a spotlight card providing an overview of the learning focus for the month, including ideas for additional activities and games to extend learning
- a nursery rhyme or song, which is great for encouraging children to hear rhymes and patterns (the foundation of reading)
- six highly illustrated activity sheets for children to practise the focus skills
- a carefully chosen picture book related to the theme of the month
- a puppet friend to open up a world of imaginary play and help develop early language skills
- additional items to delight and reward our little readers along the way!
TEDDY
First steps
(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.
Each delivery includes:
- a spotlight card to highlight the focus skills of the month, including ideas for additional activities and games to extend learning
- a nursery rhyme or song, which is great for encouraging children to hear rhymes and patterns (the foundation of reading)
- six highly illustrated activity sheets designed by educational professionals to boost essential skills
- a wordless book related to the theme of the month. By discussing what they see in the pictures these special books encourage children to talk, listen and expand their vocabulary
- at least one carefully chosen picture book, linked to the theme of the box, to enjoy together
- two alphabet flashcards to gently help children master letter/sound correspondences
- additional items to delight and celebrate progress along the way!
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 children are learning at school. The words are simple and easy to read, and the books increase in difficulty throughout the year.
Each delivery includes:
- a spotlight card giving an overview of the key letters and sounds
- flashcards for all the focus sounds
- two tricky/sight word cards outlining words that children need to learn by sight as they aren’t phonically regular – The Bear Can Read will introduce these words slowly so children never feel overwhelmed
- eight activity sheets for the children to practise their spotlight letters and sounds
- three of the latest phonics readers carefully selected to practice that month’s focus letters and sounds
- additional items to delight and celebrate progress along the way!
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 simple words and letter sounds, the books gradually increase in complexity, and extend your child’s reading ability naturally. HONEY BEAR bundles also include prep materials for the Phonics Screening Check many children take towards the end of Year 1.
Each delivery includes:
- a spotlight card with the letters and sounds of the month
- two tricky/sight word cards outlining words that children need to learn by sight as they aren’t phonically regular – The Bear Can Read will introduce these words slowly so children never feel overwhelmed
- at least eight activity sheets for practising spotlight letters and sounds
- three of the latest phonics readers carefully selected to practice that month’s focus letters and sounds
- additional items to delight and celebrate progress along the way!
PANDA
Becoming independent
(6–7 years old)
This is a key stage in your child’s reading development, as they will be reading longer and more complex books. PANDA bundles take them through the process gradually, extending their skills without over stretching them.
Each delivery includes:
- a spotlight card with advice about how to support your child’s reading at home
- three books that have been designed to gently extend children’s reading skills and stamina
- six double-sided activity sheets created by experienced teachers to help extend your child’s vocabulary, improve their spelling and enhance their reading confidence
- a bookmark with stickers so reading time and progress can be tracked and celebrated
- additional items to delight and celebrate progress along the way!
GRIZZLY
Independent reader
(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 books. Grizzly bundles also contain prep material for the National Curriculum English Reading Test so that children can sit the test with confidence.