Sydney, Jan 4 - Children who start reading late are not disadvantaged, says a new study.

Sebastian Suggate, who completed his doctorate in psychology at Otago University, conducted three studies, which showed no difference between the reading abilities of five and seven year olds by the time they reach their last year at primary school at age 11.

Comparing children from Rudolf Steiner school, who learn to read at seven years and children in state-run schools, who start reading at five, he found that children later caught up with the early readers by the time they were 11, or by class 7.

Therefore, the previously unscientifically tested and widely held view that children should learn to read from age five, now appears contestable.

Suggate, in three years of studies, involving regular surveys of around 400 New Zealand children, found no statistical evidence of an advantage in reading from the earlier age of five.

"One theory for the finding that an earlier beginning does not lead to a later advantage is that the most important early factors for later reading achievement, for most children, are language and learning experiences that are gained without formal reading instruction," says Suggate.

"Because later starters at reading are still learning through play, language, and interactions with adults, their long-term learning is not disadvantaged. Instead, these activities prepare the soil well for later development of reading." (IANS)