School report, yr 1, a waste of paper?

[minimathsmouse]

I have just received my son?s school report for this term. He is in yr1. I have steam coming out of my ears. The letter that accompanied the report is longer and written in more detail than the report. The letter states that they have made changes to the report system, in future the reports will only show next step targets.
There are four headings, one statement under each. I am livid, last year at the end of reception I was given a scrap of paper and no indication of what levels he has achieved at the end of the eyfs.
Now this, am I being unreasonable to expect to know how my son is working in school, at what sort of level, what skills he has acquired, where he needs help and just a little note about something he achieved. He must have achieved something. I could weep.
They have also included a handwriting copy sheet so that parents can teach their children to write. Under general comment they have written "M.....likes to play with the construction toys outside" Wow, just as well I am not paying them to teach my son isn't it.
Is this normal?

[Ladymuck]

How frequently do they give reports? If this is a halfterm report (which many schools don't provide) will you get another report in December?

[minimathsmouse]

Hello Lady, this is the only report we will receive this term. They always give out a report just before the half term we then go to parents evening in the week leading upto half term.

[Feenie]

Indeed - there are only rules governing the end of year annual report. It's quite unusual for a school to give extra reports, and definitely over and above the call of duty. Next steps also sound very useful.

I don't think you have cause to complain when it's an 'extra', and not the statutory end of year report, minimathsmouse.

[minimathsmouse]

Feenie, even the end of year reports give very little detail and no levels. DS1 was in Yr 4 at this school and the reports were very vague and gave no levels.

[mrz]

It doesn't sound like a report (and it isn't usual to get one each half term) could they be targets rather than a report?
The handwriting sheet is so you can reinforce what is being taught at school if you wish not for you to take over the teaching. Some parents inadvertently teach incorrect letter formation when trying to help their child so it's better for the child to have the same message from home and school.

[Feenie]

It's only statutory to report levels in Y2 and Y6 though, minimathsmouse.

[PaisleyPumpkin]

I was thinking it might just be targets too. Are the headings something like: reading, writing, maths and science?
We get that in the run up to parents evening.

[minimathsmouse]

The letter states "termly report" The reports are always given out half way through the term which seems strange to me.

Mrs, I agree the handwriting sheet should help to ensure parents are not teaching children incorrect letter formation. I just feel agrieved that the school informs me he likes construction toys and then they hand me this waste of paper and the means to help him write at home. Are they failing to do this in school. I haven't failed in offering him boxes and boxes of construction toys at home.

He is in school for 6hrs a day to learn from the experts what parents are not qualified to convey! I am qualified to offer lego, outside space, shoe lace tieing exersises and lessons in how to behave.

I have concerns that he is falling behind and I want to know that the school is doing everything they should rather than just shuffling him off to the outdoor play space AGAIN.

[minimathsmouse]

Feenie, we changed schools with his older brother but M started in Reception at this school.

Our experience in the school that DS1 attended before the move was very different. The reports were given out at the end of every term, lots of info, targets were set and in every yr and term we were given the teachers assessment of the level he was working at.

Maybe we were spoilt!

[pointythings]

OP,

We get reports at half term and just before spring half term, then at the end of the year. They're detailed for each area of learning (maths, reading, writing) and do state what SATs level your DC is, what they're expected to reach by the end of the year and concrete targets for the next term for the three key areas of learning. I know that levels are just a framework to hang things on, but the school provides lots of examples of what work of a particular level should look like which helps us as parents to identify what we should be looking for. We are definitely spoilt (this is in a state school BTW). You are not being given enough information, unless of course your parents' evenings are utterly brilliant to make up for it.

[minimathsmouse]

Pointythings thank you so much, I was starting to think I was unreasonable. You are so lucky to get so much information. Current levels and predicted levels, clearly teachers who are very confident with their ability to teach. We are told that the Home school contract is so important, but I am left feeling that the school isn?t open, honest and transparent in its assessment of children(long story with failing G&T DS1)and the sharing of information with parents.
I wonder what the levels are for yr 1. I just wonder what an average 6 yr old should be doing? I am very worried about little M. I might not worry so much if I felt they were sharing their assessment of him with us, the people with the most vested interest in him

[emy72]

OP
I suggest you make an appointment with the teacher and ask what level they have assessed him at and whether they have concerns about his learning and what his targets are for this term.

That's what we did - although we never got the targets at least we got the levels. In our school they won't give you any levels until you ASK...if you don't ask then they will put them in the end of year report.

I feel for you, as I seem to have ongoing issues with my DD1's school and this is the second one she's at now!! (don't get me started with the LEGO thing, we've had this loads and it's far far worse with my DS1 as I am seeing him regress daily....)

[minimathsmouse]

Emy, we have a parent consultation eve soon so I am going to ask although I am expecting them to be avasive.

Emy when you say your son is regressing, do you mean he is losing skills he started school with? I am seeing something of this with my son.

I think that is why I feel afronted by the handwriting task sheet. In reception last yr they did no writing with him. I taught him to write over the summer holiday. Over the last few weeks he seems to be struggling again and then they send home this work. They want him to practice joined up writing, when he is fast loosing the ability to even print letters.

LEGO, I could scream too!

[carefulwiththataxe]

I work at a small primary school and we only give reports at the end of the year (although these are very detailed) so I think your son's school is doing pretty well to give out termly reports even if they are very short! However you should feel able to speak to your child's teacher about any concerns and get a satisfactory response.

[Gubbins]

If the parents evening is taking place just after the report goes out then I'd assume the statements were just being given as a starting point for the discussions you will then have with the teacher.

We only have end of year reports (which don't set out the levels) and any information or concerns about the children's attainment during the course of the year is for the parent/teacher consultations.

[emy72]

Emy when you say your son is regressing, do you mean he is losing skills he started school with? I am seeing something of this with my son.

Yes minimathshouse. Sadly we've seen this happen with my DD1 too but it really aggravates me.

My DS1 started reception in September able to read simple books (ORT 2 type) because he LOVES books and has been pesturing his sister to read. He could also write simple words and is pretty good with numbers too.

Since September they have not even started phonics yet and because he's tired from school etc when he gets home he tends to crash so we've done nothing apart from read to him. I have seen him slowly forget all that he started and it annoys me so much.

The thing that really gets me is this: the Y1 teacher told my husband that boys arrive in Y1 really behind (not being able to do either at all) and that's because "they're not interested in reading and writing". Well I am sorry but my son is desperate to read and write, do I need to teach him? It appears so.

Sorry for the rant!!! :o) Let me know what they say/how it goes as I just want to tear my hair out sometimes....!!

[minimathsmouse]

Emy, it's shocking that boys are being left to play, it seems that many teachers are just taking the easy option. My son is desperate to learn, he was reading a little before he started school but could only write numbers and his name. During the summer holiday I spent hrs with him and got him writing simple words and brought his reading on to level 4. Just a few weeks back at school he is regressing and loosing the skills because he isn't using them.

I am loosing faith in the school, I am actually starting to think it is free child care with a bit of teaching thrown in.

They are so tired when they get home from the social and physical demands of school, it isn't possible to make up the deficit. I would love to relax and enjoy my children at weekends, we visit museums and take them to places of interest, I don't want to give all of that up, just to sit in and practice skills he should be learning at school.

More steam escaping from ears!

[flickaty]

my daughters school doesnt give any grades or levels at the end of reception year. from year 1 on they grade them at the end of the year.
her school just had target setting which was just about useless. i found out very little of what she is doing or at what level she is at. like your son she is in year 1 and i would like to know how she is doing. i know she is learning but i would just like a littel more info. the targets that were set were exactly the same as all the others taht are in her ability group and not personal at all!!! most of the things on there she can already do and even as the teacher was reading them out she was going but p.. can already do that, so why set them as targets!!!!

i would speak to his teacher about your concerns, if i was worried that dd wasnt learning as much as she should be i deffinatly would. i have no doubts that my dd is learning plenty i just wish that parents were told a little more about it.

[emy72]

minimathshouse, the way I have witnessed it so far is that the argument is that reception is mainly for socialisation skills etc...

This is true for some children, as I have myself observed some with a total inability to behave, control their emotions in the setting, take turns and share, sit down to listen, etc... but certainly there are a number of children at the other end of the spectrum and they have not been catered for.

I have stepped back a little with my DD1 now as I kind of feel I need to see how it unfolds for a little while and I don't want to become a pita. I can't say I am happy though tbh.