Daughter is considerably below average at school, but I'm not sure what extra help she should be receiving?

[luvinthesun]

Hi, thank you to anyone who reads this! I am very concerned regarding my daughter and would love some advice as I don't want to appear a problem parent to the school.
Basically, my daughter is struggling. She is in year 6 and is well below average in anything literacy based. Her comprehension skills are very poor and she struggles to retain information. I am concerned that she has slight special needs so I am paying for her to be assessed privately.
Her teacher has been very cooperative with this, but after receiving back some forms today that he had completed for me in preparation for her assessment, I have become concerned about a few things and would really appreciate advice.
Firstly, she has been on a IEP since year 1, but see from the completed form that she is no longer on one. I do intend to speak to the school about this but wont have chance until Friday. I was under the impression that an IEP would not be stopped without discussion from the parents first?

The form also said that she receives extra help each week in the form of two 50 minute sessions (consisting of 5 children). I thought she was receiving extra help daily so also not sure whether to bring this up and would like advice as to what tends to be the norm?

I'm really sorry for the length of this post, I just want to know if my concerns are valid I guess. I really like her teacher so don't want to offend him!

[user789653241]

For reading comp. I recommend this website. It is free and very short. (Normally takes about 5 ~ 10 minutes)
My ds has been doing one a day, and improved so much. Just keep in mind, it is American site, so spelling of some words are different.(color/colour)

[user789653241]

Sorry forgot the link!

www.readtheory.org/

[reni2]

You might want to also post this in the SN section, where you'll find loads of people with experiences like this.

[luvinthesun]

Thank you both for your help, I didn't realise their was a SN section. I will post over there!

[reni2]

Here it is:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_educational_needs

[Ferguson]

That link 'irvine' posted looks like it could be quite useful.

What is DD like at writing - either story writing, reporting events in a 'recount', or factual writing, such as details how to make an item, make a recipe, or plan a holiday. (I worked in English schools but I assume Scottish schools will do similar things).

The following 'links' contains a lot of educational material, and are graded by Year group:

//www.ictgames.com/

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/page/default.asp?title=Woodlands%20Junior%20School&pid=1

(Click on 'Woodlands Resources' at the top right of screen.)

[talkinnpeace]

NB
By definition, half of all kids are below average
you might never guess it from reading the MN Education section
but average is the middle mark in the country
half are above
half are below
a mathematical fact that Michael Gove never seemed to grasp

[user789653241]

But talkinnpeacet , if they talk about school attainment, average means middle set, not average of all the children's attainment?

Above average :top few
Average: most children
Below average: bottom few

So, I don't think half the children are below average? Most children are considered at expected levels?

[user789653241]

talkinnpeace! I don't know how it became talkinnpeacet

[talkinnpeace]

Expected Level is significantly below average
eg in KS2 SATS 4C is minimum expectations
but 4A is the 50% figure

[user789653241]

Thank you. I got it.

[talkinnpeace]

irvine
its tricky because the politicians talk such utter bilge that they mislead parents

I want every school to be above average
was a Gove classic

[user789653241]

Yes, talkinnpeace.

After few years, I finally started to understand NC levels, and now it's gone. Totally tricky for me.

[Wait4nothing]

Unfortunately unless your daughter has additional funding then the schools will struggle to have daily support. A school must find sonething like £3k from the school buget before any Send funding and it can be very difficult. I expect they are doing what they can support wise with the resources available (guidence about ieps has changed too - In my current school only children at the old statement level are on an iep). I'd say the best bet would be to ask the teacher to help you in supporting your dd further at home. I'm sure they could suggest activities you could do together that would help her make progress.

[mrz]

Have the school given any indication of her expected end of key stage 2 outcomes?