Mumsnet Talk

Hi to you all,

DD (8) Yr 3 has always seemed to be particularly good at literacy, language and memory and now is doing very well in maths. She has always been in the top group for everything.

I have Parent Consultation tomorrow and would like to raise G&T as a teacher friend has suggested she is probably "gifted" compared to "bright". She has pointed out several things, a few are here - but there others I have observed too -for example:

- Fluent reader at 3.
- Gets emotional over silly things
- Always asking questions
- 1-2 repititions to mastery
- Can be bit intense
- A bit of a dreamer but is always listening and can repeat the whole subject/question
- Is self-critical
- Quick to learn
- Very good at memorising
- Has strong opinions
- Top speller - finds it easy
- Always has subtitles on TV - Insists on it - but can hear fine.
- Always has the last word....
- Gets very annoyed if cant get something right
- Enjoys learning
- Always observing things

Every School Consultation they tell me she is doing very well and there are no problems with her. I would like to find out if the school have her on their G&T list without sounding too pushy.

Do I mention be observations, keep quiet or just ask if she's on it????

Thank you in advance

I like your list...

I'm guessing if she's on it you'd know already. Yes I think you should ask. And btw, I love watching TV with subtitles on - clearly the sign of a G&T person!

What are you going to gain from asking your question and being answered with a yes?

Thank you

I would like to know, because if she is, then perhaps she can be extended in School.
Also, I understand there are "clubs" that she could get involded in outside School - although not sure what they are....

May also befefit her if we move to other Schhols (scholarships) as she gets older.

g and t in a school sense just means that she is in the top 10 % of the cohort

now in some years you can be g and t and only averagely bright
other years you have to be einstein

her teacher will be differentiating the work for children of different abilities anyway

Just ask "Does the school have a G&T list, is she on it, and" (if answer=yes) "what does that mean in practice?"

I fear you'll find it means very little! But can be satisfying to know for yourself.

I am going to ask..... Scary! In a way, I hope she is otherwise I'm gonna look a bit silly.

However, if a child IS identified as Gifted by the School, then how does this benefit them - are they extended etc ?

What have you, as other parents seen as the benefits?

Sorry to be negative but imo it doesnt really benefit them,all schools are different i suppose but i think G and T is a box ticking exercise for school to 'prove' they are providing for the more able pupils.
My dd was privately assessed and found to be on the 99.9th percentile for IQ and gets zip from school,although we are noticing a few small changes its still not nearly enough.

Yes means you are qualified to come to this forum for leisure/pleasure/writing practice.I am not joking.

OP my child has not been privately assessed yet her school has differentiated for her for the past 3 years.

personally, i would not ask, but I would be asking how she compares to the expected levels for her year group and wht the school are doing to ensurer the work is at her level... they may then tell you but i am a wimp

But are you entirely happy with the level of differentiation iamnotminterested?
Imo if you were you would not be posting about sats papers to practice at home.

I think Susan has it spot on. A child can be on the g&t register, but that means nothing if the work and other differentiation isn't being provided for them. What really matters is their overall assessment of your child, and whether they are then providing work at the right level for that ability.

mrsshears My eldest struggles with maths - the SATs papers are for her, for maths.

My middle one is being well differentiated for, she does not need SATs papers - although she does nick her sister's and completes them for fun. But thats another story.

If your DD is in yr3 then presumeably you know her KS1 results and have a good idea of whether she is performing way above expected levels? l would ask but in an indirect way like blackeyed. 'Do you think she is showing the best of her ability in her work?'

DS is labelled G&T by the school. I would call him bright. He gets differentiated maths in class & different homework. There are no 'benefits'.

Thank you for all these posts.

It has all been very useful and helpful.
She did very well in her SATS so they must know she is doing well.

As you suggest, I think I am going to ask indirectly - so something like:

"Have to noticed any particular qualities with DD",
"is she showing the best ability in her work?" (iseenodust)
"are you able to differentiate her work so that she is extended?"
"are you able to give her different homework?"

or something like that....

Hi FuntoLearn. To be honest, the g and t thing does nothing at all. My dd is now 12 and she has been on it since the year dot and it has not done anything for her. Primary school didn't tell me or her that she was or had indeed been on it until the end of year 6! Nothing had been said prior to this whatsoever.I was never given any information on it either and had not heard it before. Only remarks by the teachers about being gifted and all that rubbish. I always called dd brainy all her life! The only thing g and t did was give dd extra work to do and help in the classroom with less able children (learning children to read was one) but not really helping my dd at all. Now at high school. dd in set 1 for all subjects except pe and ALL set 1 children are classed as g and t and they are not on the register. There is nothing special that goes on with them. Maybe a different school trip or helping at open evenings etc if they want to do that. Apart from that, there is nothing. To me its not worth anything. Best of luck.