Read this excellent post by Debbie Hepplewhite on MYBABA website. Near the end, she lists 3 important factors that help children grow up a good readers and spellers.
http://www.mybaba.com/chatter-books-and-phonics-by-debbie-hepplewhite/
Thanks to Susan Godsland of www.dyslexics.org.uk for flagging this up.