5 year old doing 8-9 year old bond 11+ / potential plus

[skal]

Hi there,

Sorry for the long post but I am just looking for guidance as to whether people have views on if we should be going for a Potential Plus assessment.

Our DS turned 5 couple of months ago. While working with him on bond books, I realised that he is able to do non-verbal reasoning for 7-8 years old (bond 11+ and Schofield & Sims) with 100% accuracy and 8-9 years old (bond 11+) with more than 80% accuracy. He's almost 2 years ahead in reading as well (the reason he doesn't read Harry Potter is not because he cannot but because he wants to read animals books, which I let him). We have a child-led approach towards teaching him and I do a lot of work with him at home too (as I think he has not found the school entirely challenging uptil now - although he has only been a term in reception).

At the same time, we have had a few behavioural issues too at school as well as home. It is mainly to do with attention and following instructions (like not pushing other children, not talking / singing while doing work in the class or at home / not being fidgety etc). I feel we have become a bit paranoid and check with teacher almost everyday whether the behaviour has been unacceptable on a particular day. DS says he simply forgets the instruction when he is asked to demonstrate good behaviour. I have no idea how not to give another chance when he says that, but I am getting sick and tired of complaints!

I have been reading other posts about Potential Plus.

1. I don't know whether he needs an assessment, although I just want to help him in the best possible way I can. e.g. if he does have a high IQ, then partially homeschooling? If there are areas of problem, I would like to help him.
   

1. Other than the financial cost, any bad experiences / downside of using Potential Plus? Impact on family life? Not that I want to shut my eyes to potential issues but I want to take an informed decision.
   

Any views / help / guidance / experience?

TIA

[BlackCatsRule]

My son was very similar and has dyspraxia- I would speak to SENCO - the attention and other points need to be supported from experience

[Wimbles101]

It could be Aspergers - goes hand in hand with a high IQ.
My son was the same in reception - although not lack of behaviour just lack of
attention.
The danger with home schooling in addition to letting him go to school is that he's not learning to learn at school which is important - hence he's getting bored and misbehaving.
Great if he's showing signs of being ahead of his age but it's not uncommon and often it will taper off by age 8. If he's still showing himself to be ahead by later in primary school that's what matters. You'll find that the kids who seem less able than him at the moment will
Catch up.

[Ginmummy1]

I don’t think anyone either ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ go for Potential Plus. It’s an optional thing that doesn’t have bearing on school. Not done it ourselves but people that have chosen to spend money getting a careful assessment done and going on some of their organised activities seem to think it’s pretty good, going by occasional comments posted on MN. If you fancy it, go for it, but it’s not going to affect things at school.

Generally it’s hard to tell whether your son is ‘gifted’ in some way at this age, as many children that have the advantage of a ‘rich’ (experience wise) home life and take an early interest in reading and/or numbers can seem quite advanced when they start school. Also, Autumn-born children like your son are often ahead at this young age.

The issue for me is that your son, however bright, does not seem to be coping well with the routine and expectations of school. If he is pushing other children and disrupting learning time with singing and fidgeting instead of listening, his teacher is understandably focussing on addressing these key issues (which are affecting the behaviour and learning environment for the whole class) before stretching him academically. Most of Reception is about these social aspects, more than academic learning.

The other posters have mentioned dyspraxia and Aspergers, but it might be just that he’s five years old and needs more exercise and learning through play before he can ‘knuckle down’. I’d suggest working with the teacher to really improve the behaviour aspects. Hopefully this will make a difference and you and the teacher will then be able to find out how able he really is.

Meanwhile there’s loads you can do with him at home that doesn’t get him ahead on the curriculum (as this will result in him being more bored at school). It might be that some activity such as a sport might help with discipline as well as providing mental stimulation.

[skal]

Thanks ginmum and others for sharing amazing insights.

I agree with ginmum that may be he is not challenged enough at school and the teacher is indeed focussing on social aspects (quite rightly).

I should have mentioned earlier, the class is already split according to birth dates and all the children in the class are Sept to Dec born.

[stopthecavalry]

Sounds like a bright kids and pp may be good but for his own sake I would put focus on developing social skills. Playdates, out of school activities that encourage physical development and working in groups. If he is bright he won't stop being bright by doing more social activities and it may make him happier at school. Glad to hear he loves his animal books - HP far too gruesome for a 5 year old - even if they can read most of the words.

[stopthecavalry]

Also only time will tell if there is some sort of neurological difference leading to any behaviour issues. Might be just because he is 5 and still settling into school.