Advice 're primary progress

[hoping2016]

Hello

I'm looking for some advice please:

My ds started school as a bright high achieving child. However by yr 2 I felt his progress had stalled somewhat ...
.he didn't seem to be the same little boy that at age 4 was curious about the world and spoke using a wide vocab. I felt the school was not a good fit for him (socially and academically) and moved him to another local school at the start of yr 3 (Sept 2017).

He has gone into middle group for maths and 4th group out of 5 for literacy... this school is very academic in an affluent area....im just wondering should I start tutoring to support....if so when?

Or should I wait bit longer for him to 'settle in'.although he has settled in very well and has made friends easily and actually socially fits in better with his peers than at previous school...

Sorry if I have rambled just can't help feeling things would have been different if ds had started at current school from the start!

Advice would be greatly appreciated

[hoping2016]

P.s

Ds doing well with reading (always progressed well with reading) now on level 12 ort ...age 7 1/2

[user789653241]

Around yr3 a lot of early achievers starts to get taken over by later bloomers.
Also lv12 at start of yr3 won't be a top group at my ds's school. (not so affluent)
I don't think you need a tutor unless he is really struggling, but maybe need to do some revision work at home?

[hoping2016]

Thank you for posting..... yes maybe I need to start at home....see what happens...wouldnt say he is struggling teacher said it's a high achieving class at parents evening...out of interest what level would your schools top group be at for Reading?

[user789653241]

My ds started yr3 at lv16.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Schools do completely different things with reading levels, so you can't compare levels, even as groups do differently.

First thing, is are you sure it's an actual lack of progress, or was he really ahead on entry at the previous school, you said it was socially wrong, and this one is more academic. So it implies that the other one wasn't such an academic school, and maybe pre-entry the parents/nursery cared less about academic things? So as irvineoneohone said, the not ahead at the start are catching up, or overtaking. KS1 is almost all about acquiring skills.

One kid in DD's class, could read on entry (more than one could I'm sure, but one in particular and it's just an anecdote) as others, younger and with prior reading caught up and overtook, his confidence really took a hit, which apparently demotivated him from learning, and caused more problems.

You say he's low in literacy but reading well - what does he read for pleasure, any fiction at all? Can you encourage, exposure to lots of literature will help all of that.

Outside of academic areas, how's his progress, is he fit, sociable etc.?

[hoping2016]

Hello,

Ds reads for pleasure....variety of books...monthly national geographic being his favourite! I do feel literacy needs boost as it is no where near as good as his reading

Outside of school swims plays piano and goes to beavers....a little shy at times bit otherwise fine. Happy most of the time

[user789653241]

At our school, it gets quite serious from yr3. homework become compulsory(both maths and English, written and online). So, most of kids do start working regularly at home.
This will rattle the children's level a bit. Children who were achieving because of push from parents may get taken over, because everybody starts doing regular work at home. Children who were naturally bright but lazy may get taken over, because late bloomers but enthusiastic ones do work harder in class and at home.

[catkind]

I think if he's able he'll probably float back up to the top. There may also be a degree of teacher caution - when DS moved school he was put in middle groups as teacher said she preferred to move them up rather than down. He's been back in top groups ever since that first term.

Reading levels at that stage mean nothing. Different schools use the books in different ways, push through the levels or don't or just let them choose from the library/classroom bookshelf. If he's reading for fun, I don't think you have too much to worry about.

Probably worth having a conversation with the teacher about what you're saying here though, find out where they perceive the gaps to be then you can support him at home. I don't think I'd bother with tutoring unless you really feel unable to support at home.

[hoping2016]

Thank you for all your replies

Miaow the cat - your situation sounds very similar to ours....the old school didn't have any focus on writing and he definitely has lost out as a result of this. He did approx 10 pieces of writing in yr2 ...new school had weekly extended writing in yr2.

I can see improvement in his writing I'm hoping this will continue....i think she is feeling the pressure too as she keeps saying i was in top groups in old school...now I'm not! Difficult to explain this is due to the cohort being of a different ability.

He is determined to not to drop down any further....so I guess that's good?

I'm extremely happy with the move on all fronts....just hope he ends up in the 'right' groups.

[hoping2016]

Miaow- did your dd1 start in Sept? And moved into top group after half term? Which yr is she ?

[user789653241]

Another thing I can think is, that teacher may be keeping him on lower table to have more close eye on him to check his ability because he is new to school?
My ds was not top table for writing in yr3 and yr4, despite he got GDS for end of year report. Teacher said she needed to keep an closer eye, since he is easily distracted and away with fairies a lot with writing, and very slow writer. Top table are expected to work independently most of the time.