AIBU to be pissed off at child's nursery?

[Ka2017]

I received my 2 and a half year olds report this week and was surprised by what I received.
I am very familiar with the EYFS working in a nursery within a school.
They have used 'emerging' 'developing' and 'secure' for each area. My son is very good physically and as expected got secure in the relevant age bands for the areas in physical development. However I was surprised to see that in all the other areas he is has been marked down as developing even in age bands as young as birth-11 months. He is in no way at this level, I am under no illusion that he is gifted and talented but he is where he should be for his age. When I questioned this with his key worker and then the manager I was told that unless they see children doing something 3 times they cannot mark them as secure in an area. They then said that my son is where he should be and they haven't got any concerns, they just haven't got the evidence.
AIBU to feel that more of an effort should be made (set up adult initiated activities) to gauge a proper understanding of his development?
AIBU to believe that this report is a bit half arsed and pointless?
It is a real injustice to my son and my argument is, how can I see areas he may be struggling in and see where I can support him if he is marked down as developing in birth- 11 months in all areas bar physical development (Where they have lots of evidence and observations).
To me if a child in my care was developing in these areas at an age band much lower, I would first make sure that I am enabling scenarios where I can see if they need extra support. I made the point that the report reflects a child that is SEN or one that refuses to join in with anything but they then talked about the evidence again and that they know he isn't at that level.
I am fully aware of time constraints and pressures in environments like this, particularly working in one, but I would never give someone such an unfair and inaccurate report. If eveidence was missing I would take time out to make sure i have it.
How can I and future key workers see where my son needs extra support?

He has been at the nursery 8 months doing 1 and a half days. Also the nursery is an outstanding setting.

[marcopront]

If he is only doing one and a half days then that really limits the number of times they can observe anything. A child doing a full week has the three times the opportunity to demonstrate anything.

[icklekid]

The requirement for evidence 3 times for every statement is outraged. They need read more up-to-date guidance. It is now best fit. If they 'know your son should be higher they need to input it as such. If Ofsted came and observed him working at a much higher level they would be rated inadequate! Perhaps look yourself at where he should be and suggest they start collecting evidence at that point. Eyes is also about parents being part of the evidence sharing/ collection so you can contribute to that!

[Grumpbum]

I don’t think anywhere can get a good handle on what your child is like in one and a half days a week to be honest, and st this stage I don’t take a huge amount of notice of how the Nursery band my child as I know he’s pretty average and happy, I will save my concern for year one upwards as long as no big issues arise in the meantime. I really don’t think I’d get too worried about it or annoyed

[Cupcakegirl13]

He is only 2 , it really dosn't matter as long as he is happy and well cared for.

[Threenme]

I just wouldn't care! You've said you know so relax!

[OldWitch00]

report cards really rarely matter. as a parent you know your child best.
you have another 10 years of this.

[Psychobabble123]

Oh for crying out loud, you need to get a grip. He's 2. It really doesn't matter! You've got 14 years of school to go, you need to learn to pick your battles.

[Bue]

He's 2. It's not school. I understand it's irritating (I'd probably be feeling irritated and irrationally worried too) but it really doesn't matter at all. Let it go!

[Frazzledmum123]

See my first response when I started reading this was to roll my eyes and think 'ffs it doesn't matter' too, but actually reading through to the end I kind of get wht you mean. It doesn't matter really in your case but I take your point that if they aren't doing it properly then they may miss a child that genuinely needs help with something.
I think I'd be more worried that it was an indication that your child is being missed a bit because he's only there 1 1/2 days. I had to talk to my son's preschool because he wasn't getting included in some activities he really wanted to do that the others were because they'd miss him on his days in and then he didn't get another opportunity later that week. Mind you he was 4 at this point

[AnnaBay]

You say you have no concerns regarding his development.
They see him for one and a half days a week in a noisy room full of other children and have written a report based on that.

At this age, as long as he's healthy, happy and having a ball at daycare, that's what it's all about.

[Cupoteap]

It means nothing. If you think this means they are a crap misery then move him.

[highinthesky]

This is a stupid system. Treat it with the contempt it deserves.

If the nursery is unable to apply common sense in other areas then consider finding another one. If your 2 yo is happy and settled one and a half days isn’t worth worrying about.

[isitginoclock]

Get a grip OP. The nursery has admitted they think he's fine it's just they hadn't observed and recorded the specific behaviour. What would you rather they do? Spend the day testing him to tick the boxes or spend the time having fun and making sure he's happy and cared for?

[SKYTVADDICT]

I work in a Nursery and this is ridiculous. If his key worker is planning for him individually as they should be then activities to get the evidence (3 x is definitely outdated!) should be being provided, especially as they know he can do it! We would be pulled up massively by Management if we produced such an inaccurate report. Tapestry would be red flagging wildly too (if they use it)

[PerfumeIsAMessage]

Those next 16 years are going to take their toll if this is how you feel about nursery.
Unfortunately, as you will know from working in one, nurseries have to tick the boxes too.
What you'll also know, as the unconditionally loving mother of your child, AND someone who works in the same setting, you're the last person to see him objectively. I teach in the same school that dd is in, and though I'm used to it now, initially it was hard to step back and not go "but..." every time they said something to me.

[FeistyColl]

The idea that you needed '3 pieces of evidence ' or to have observed something 3 times to judge it as secure has never been the case. Total misinterpretation of the EYFS sadly perpetuated by some LA s and some ofsted inspectors. Practioners should be using their professional judgement to make best fit judgement based on observations. I'd be frustrated that they didn't have a sound understanding of the framework and I might wonder what else they hadn't understood.

[SofiaAmes]

My ds' nursery teacher wouldn't check the box saying he knew how to count to 10 because she had only ever heard him do it backwards (correctly of course). I have been uninterested in box checking assessments since then.

[Ceesadoo]

You know your child. These reports are really just administrative b.s and I definitely would not take them too seriously. If developmentally you KNOW your son is at a different level to the one his key workers place him in based on their limited time with him then I suggest you ignore the report. You could also write a letter/email raising your concerns.

[pictish]

I understand that the report is inaccurate and doesn't rightly reflect your son's abilities...but you are too overwrought about the significance of it. You know he's secure in these things so there is no need to worry. They simply will not have the staff or time available to carry out a more in-
depth observation of him, particularly when he is only there for a day and a half. They have recorded what they have factually observed in the time they have had. It's all they can do without making it up and they have told you as much.
Chill out mama. This really doesn't matter at all. x

[Ka2017]

Frazzledmum and skytvaddict- thank you, that is my point exactly. I want to know where my son may need extra support and where I can help. I am really not bothered about how many boxes are marked green. My concern was that as every box is marked low, there is no Chance of identifying any areas he may struggle in as another poster mentioned, I am the least objective person to do this. Thank you feistycoll, I agree, It just doesn't seem good practice.

[Ka2017]

And thank you all for your comments- maybe I am over reacting.

[insancerre]

Yanbu
I'm a nursery manager and of course the report should be accurate
There's no point in doing it if it isn't
I have children that only do one session but we still do reports that are accurate
We have good links with parents and use what they tell us about their children as evidence
As others have said, it is best fit
I guess if they are outstanding then they haven't moved with the times are a little stuck in their ways
I think it's outrageous to have a 2 year old in the 0-11 age band and not to have questioned it and it interventions in place

[HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone]

I love that some people are saying you should just get over it and that it doesn't matter. I agree in the grand scheme of things that it is not important but if they are going to offer a report then they should fill it in correctly. The fact he is only there 1 and 1/2 days is irrelevant I am sure in that time they have observed him on a rough level, to simply mark him so low on all areas is terrible practice and as stated above if Ofsted saw this on their visit they would be rightly asking questions. How can they possibly say he is developing well and at an appropriate level, obviously they have observed this at some point and then produce a report basically implying the opposite because they have no evidence ?

[Threenme]

I do think your overreacting op but I don't blame you, this is why the whole system of assessing children like this, this young pisses me off. All you need imo is lots of photos having a lovely time and teacher observations to the extent of- 'exploring the sand, interacting well with other child' for example and the n a sensible teacher paragraph saying what they enjoy, how they are doing socially/ academically and what you can do at home. The endless box ticking and assessing babies is hideous. If kids have problems practitioners should flag anyway. The current system is ridiculous and labour intensive! (RANT OVER)!