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bloody stupid school!

15 replies

ilovemyhens · 04/02/2011 21:39

I have changed my ds2 (year 1) to another school. It's a lovely Catholic one and he's fitting in well.

His previous school wasn't teaching him very much and he hardly ever came home with homework or any reading books. All they seemed to do was do colouring in and watching movies on dvd Hmm (and I don't just mean in the run up to Christmas).

Well, today, he told me that he got 0 out of 10 in a maths test Sad. I felt so sad. He's a bright little thing and comes from a bright family, so should be doing far better, but it's because he hasn't been taught anything at this other school. He's been at this new one since January and I'm hoping he'll catch up.

I just feel so angry. The school we pulled him out of had an Outstanding Ofsted Score, but it's rapildy becoming apparent that it's worse than we suspected and I'm relieved that ds2 is in this new school.

We're going to speak to the teacher next week to find out how we can help him to catch up as he was upset about his test score. I know he's only in year 1, but he wants to do well.

Also, when we went to the school Mass the other morning, many of the other children had been selected to read a few prayers and they were reading fluently, which ds2 still can't do, although he is reading a lot better now.

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Ormirian · 04/02/2011 21:42

Perhaps it will take him a bit longer to settle in to his new school. There is still plenty of time for him to learn.

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Panzee · 04/02/2011 21:44

Maths tests in year 1? No wonder he's upset.

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whatagradeA · 04/02/2011 21:46

It will take him some time to catch up but at least he's going to get taught all this now. Definitely ask the school to support you in helping as much as you can at home but it will come. Don't get down heartened at this early stage.

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skybluepearl · 04/02/2011 21:48

maths-whizz could be helpful. it's an online maths tutor programme and has really helped my son.

www.whizz.com/

with reading maybe try and do 15 mins a night at home. mine did this and were free reading in no time.

i understand you being cross but also it's great that it's still early days really.

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MadamDeathstare · 04/02/2011 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovemyhens · 04/02/2011 21:57

thank you for that link skybluepearl

I haven't spoken to the Head at the old school because I didn't really like her. I just wanted him out of there. ds2 never actually seemed to be taught by his teacher, it always just seemed to be a succession of teaching assistants. We passed the school yesterday and there was a whole line of Year2 kids out standing on the street with what looked like dozens of young teaching assistants Hmm I don't think they're coping with the kids behaviour. ds2's teacher did admit that the standard of behaviour recently had dropped to very poor levels Sad

I don't like ds2 being tested at his age, but this school is quite keen on learning and the teacher is very competent, so we've been encouraging ds2 like mad, but the poor soul just isn't used to being taught.

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GrimmaTheNome · 04/02/2011 21:58

I've had it described to me that reading is like a 'module' that in some kids gets switched on at 4 (or earlier) and others it just doesn't kick in till 6 or 7 even if they are very bright.

Not being able to read in yr 1 is worrying... I've been there, done the worry, got the well above reader a couple of years later. (My DH was uncharacteristically unfazed because he'd been exactly the same)

Obviously you should talk to the teacher and help your DS all you can, but if he's fretting and upset, reassure him that its not a race, some kids develop later than others and that now he's in a better school he will catch up.

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HumphreyCobbler · 04/02/2011 22:12

maths tests in year one seems a bit much to me

any testing I would do with such young children would be framed as seeing exactly what I still need to teach them.

What exactly has your child learned from getting 0 out of 10 in a maths test? That he can't do it.Sad It is a good plan to talk to the teacher about how to move forward, I would also ask about how much testing goes on in the classroom. IMO assessment should be mostly done by the teacher and feedback should be in terms of praise and helpful suggestions and plans to improve work that are managable for the child concerned. Formal testing is more useful for older children.

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ilovemyhens · 04/02/2011 22:13

yes, I agree about the testing. I will ask the teacher about it.

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bestdaysofmylife · 04/02/2011 22:18

DVDs, not good but Why on earth would you want a six (?) year old to be given homework?SadBiscuit

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PoppetUK · 04/02/2011 22:19

Please don't panic, you are on the case so all shall be fine. We arrived in the UK a few months into year 2. DD had missed 6 months of year 1 and the rest because of the curriculum differences. She only started reading books with us half way into what would have been UK year 1. We were very consistent with this every night. As for numbers etc she didn't really get taught very much. We've used maths whizz and this has really helped her in year 2. I would definitely talk to the teacher. You can have a look on the web at what other schools are giving for homework to give you some ideas as to what they are up to. See if you can spend some time in the classroom, I've found that to be a huge help but do ask the teacher. If there are a few things to work on sometimes school holidays can be a better time because they are so tired from their day.

Good luck.

p.s she hadn't had half the spellings and homework the other kids have had but she's doing absolutely fine and I'm now confident she's going in the right direction.

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ilovemyhens · 04/02/2011 22:24

I don't mind a bit of homework for him. Mostly reading which is what ds1 used to get. I'm not into hothousing kids and I'm not trying to push him, I just want him to make some sort of progress and not be left behind.

I know that homework doesn't really benefit ks1 children, but because of the lack of teaching at the previous school, I just felt that homework was the only way he was ever going to learn anything because the classroom was being disrupted by about 6 other boys Sad

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bestdaysofmylife · 04/02/2011 22:37

Horrible situation to be in. It's great that you've found him a lovely new school. I'm sure he will catch up now. Just watch that test results dont put him off in the meantime. Good luck.

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IndigoBell · 05/02/2011 08:02

Most year one kids won't be reading fluently yet. Some will. The teacher is obviously going to choose the competent readers to read in mass. But I'm absolutely positive most of the kids can't read fluently.

0 out of 10 in one maths test means nothing. He'll catch up so quickly if he has a good teacher. Please don't worry. Give him the rest of year one to settle and catch up.

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MigratingCoconuts · 05/02/2011 11:34

I would be surprised that the test would not be on what they were taught immediately prior to it, during that week...so surely this cannot be blamed on the previous school??
Your son may not be used to the school yet, or used to tests but that is down to the settling in time he needs and, whatever other complaints you have about the last school, I don't see that this is their fault too.

Your son is only in year 1 so he has plenty of time to settle in and get used to this new style of teaching. I would try to relax about it and find ways of boosting his confidence

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