What are Age Expected Norms?

[homeappliance]

My Year 1 child has come home with his school report today. His performance for the different curriculum areas is based on Age Expected Norms.

Now my Ds doesn't turn 6 til the very end of August. So, is his progress being compared to children his age i.e. 5 or is he being compared to all children in year 1 i.e. some who are nearly a whole year older than him?

[mrz]

I would image they mean expectations for a child in Y1 aged 5-6.

[homeappliance]

Thanks mrz. I guess I just want to know if he is doing ok for his age (like in a standardised assessment) not how he is doing compared to a child who is a whole year older.

[mrz]

The new curriculum lays out what children should be taught/learn in each year group so basically the school are saying he has learnt what the curriculum requires for Y1.

[SweepTheHalls]

I'm afraid you need to get used to him being compared to his peer group. No one else will cut him slack at A Levels for being August born!

[mrz]

Can I just add that in my Y1 class there are 2 children who have exceeded expectations ...one has an April birthday and the other an end of August birthday.

[homeappliance]

Sweep - you're right but we (and all the other parents of summer borns) shouldn't have to get used to it. The current system is biased.

Mrz - I understand there will be summer borns that do really well despite being young in the year - there were probably a few in my son's year. But it's hard not to feel like my son is one of those summer born statistics aka youngest in year, male and average(ish) ability.

Thank you for you replies, I have a better understanding of my son's report.

[mrz]

Homeappliance I'm the mother of two summer borns and the greatest disservice we can do is to have lower expectations for our sons because of the month of their birth.

[homeappliance]

You're right mrz, and I won't use it as an excuse and never in his presence have I made any reference to age and ability.

[mrz]

It's not just parents some teachers seem to have lower expectations for summer borns it was certainly the case for boys in my son's reception class.

[LilyTucker]

Can be a benefit if you do the 11+ as you can get extra points the younger you are in a year.