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Education

Advice needed please.

31 replies

YummyMummy21 · 22/09/2009 00:40

Hi there, hope you dont mind me posting this here.

My DD has just started reception, she has been there for 2 weeks, entering her 3rd week.

She is very able and has a particular intrest in numbers. She is able to count to 100+ (if we are count sweets or cars, etc),and can recognise numbers up to 100 etc.

At school last Friday (DD tells me) they did what I assume was there first number assesments. DD said that they had numbers 1-10 on paper and had to join them in the right order as they were jumbled up. She got a sticker for brilliant effort which I praised her for.

Anyway over the weekend it transpired that the teacher asked if DD knew any of the numbers that come after number 10.

DD said that she didnt know any. When I asked why, she said "because I only have 10 fingers mummy, and ..... (her friend) only knows 3 numbers so 10 a big number".

I am not sure if I should just wait and hope that DD will give away that she does know more than numbers 1-10.

Or if I should just have a quick word with teacher to say "oh by the way DD does know more numbers.

When DD was in nursery at a different school, she was sent home with 'extra work' and I was told to give a copy of her report to new teacher so they could see what she was able to do. But I didnt want to do this as wanted the teachers to do their own assesments, so as not to put any ones nose out of joint. Also I wanted her to beable to settle in and play with her new friends.

I dont want to look like the pushy mummy, but am also worried about DD continuing to pretend not to be able to do things, she can.

Many Thanks in advance

OP posts:

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gorionine · 22/09/2009 11:31

I think you should give the teacher a bit more time maybe? Three weeks is quit ashort (especially as it is the start of the year and they must be quite busy as well helping the ones that are not as confident as your D) If by half term you are still not happy go to the teacher then?

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:34

I would be very angry about this.

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:35

Who would you be very angry with, hullygully?

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:36

The one that she's talking about.

clam · 22/09/2009 11:43

Who, the teacher? Why is it her fault? She asked the child a question, the child answered it, incorrectly in the OP's opinion, but that's hardly the teacher's fault.

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:44

That is hardly the point in this case.

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:44

The one what?

OP decided not to give the school any information about her DD's attainment levels in advance.

She has some very limited information about some aspects of the assessments that the school may have been doing, relayed by the DD.

The DD has told the teacher that she doesn't know any numbers greater than 10.

We have no knowledge of whether the teacher believed that the DD didn't know any numbers greater than 10 (a Reception teacher is not going to be a stranger to the concept that children can often under- or over-sell their achievements and abilities). We have no knowledge of what other assessments may be planned. We have no knowledge of what number work the DD is actually going to be given.

And on this basis you would be very angry? Really?

clam · 22/09/2009 11:45

Anyway, I certainly wouldn't go in yet. Maybe at parents' evening it might be appropriate to point out that she is prone to underplay her strengths, but the teacher will probably have sussed it out by then anyway.

clam · 22/09/2009 11:46

Well, hullygully, what is the point in this case, then?

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:48

OP, you need to decide whether you do want the teacher to make up her own mind about your DD or not.

At DS's school (also just started Reception) they asked for nursery reports after the children had been at school about two weeks -- so basically the school had done all their assessments, had formed their own views, and then looked at the previous records. That seems like a good idea in that it will flag up any misunderstandings such as the one that may have occurred here (although I suspect that if your DD showed that much facility with the numbers 1-10 an experienced teacher is likely to assume that she does know the numbers greater than 10 as well, whatever she may have said).

Could you send in your DD's nursery report now, even if you were reluctant to do it before the teacher had a chance to get to know your DD for herself.

Our Reception staff said that they have an initial stab at gauging children's levels after the first couple of weeks, but that the first half term (and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the first term) is an adjustment period where they fine-tune this as they get a better idea of what they can do. So I think it's very likely that your DD's teacher will very shortly work out exactly how bright she is, as your initial instincts suggested. In fact, she may well have reached that conclusion already whatever your DD has told her. But if you are concerned, the report would be a good way of helping her reach the same conclusion faster.

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:49

Personally, I'd speak to the head.

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:50

What would you say to the head? What is it that you would be angry about?

clam · 22/09/2009 11:51

I think the Head might have more pressing matters to attend to than what a reception child may or may not have said to her teacher about how many numbers she knew.

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:52

I would be very angry about the situation. Go straight to the head, possibly cc the chair of governors.

Litchick · 22/09/2009 11:53

OP are you the same poster wh started the thread in AIBU about being a pushy Mum and wanting to move your DD up a class?

bigchris · 22/09/2009 11:53

hullygully is taking the piss
dont say anything
you will sound pushy
the teacher will realise your dds brilliance soon enough

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:54

Ah, right, you are taking the piss, hullygully. Thank goodness for that, I thought for a minute you were being serious.

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:54

Now I'm angry with you, BC.

clam · 22/09/2009 11:54

Litchick · 22/09/2009 11:55

If it's the same OP, Hullygully's not the only one.

PortAndLemon · 22/09/2009 11:55

(cross-posted... I did honestly work out that she was taking the piss for myself)

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:55

Boo hiss, it was fun. I shall be angry elsewhere. And I'm going to the head.

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gorionine · 22/09/2009 11:55

Litchick, unless OP namechanged it is not the same person that started the other thread.

hullygully · 22/09/2009 11:56

Where is it? Does it need some anger?

Litchick · 22/09/2009 11:56

Fair enough - just sounded similar, and well...a bit daft.

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