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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

kip mcgrath programmes...

38 replies

mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 19:09

how good is it for 6year olds?? I am aware every child is different. It looks impressive and we have an assessment in sat. Does your child go there, how have they found it?

Thanks in advance
x

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Reallytired · 20/01/2009 19:50

My son goes to kip Mcgrath. It is a mixture of computer activities and written work. He is in a group of five children with two qualified teachers.

He groans when I take him, but he is always happy and proud of his work when I pick him up. I think its been good for his confidence and certainly improved his hand writing and presentation.

At school they learn to write in different genre, where at Kip McGrath they have just worked getting him to use finger spaces, full stops and capital letters. They have also worked on improving his spelling.

I think a lot depends on where your child's strength and weaknesses lie. I imagine that Kip McGrath would be useful for difficulties with maths and writing, but less good for improving reading.

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mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 20:18

He needs maths writing and reading...but i agree with you and i think with confidence everything else falls into place. How old is your son?

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Reallytired · 20/01/2009 20:30

My has recently turned seven. His birthday is new years eve. He is good at reading, his maths is average but struggles with handwriting.

I believe that Kip McGrath uses analytic phonics to teach reading where as most state schools use synthetic phonics. Click on mixed methods on this website to see what I mean.

www.dyslexics.org.uk/

My reservation about Kip McGrath teaching reading is that their method might conflict with the school. However I think you would have to ask who ever runs your Kip McGrath centre.

At Kip McGrath he does a bit of everything although he mainly concentrates on writing. He does do some maths as well and he knows his number bonds and multiplication tables up to 5 now.

Is your son in year 1 or year 2?

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mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 21:41

My son is in yr one, recently turned 6. He reads well but strruggles with his blending at time and lacks confidence when reading although he eventually gets it correct. His writing is pretty good actually, they are taught joint writing at school and when he concentrates he does pretty well. However i think his maths is slightly below average. He can count up to 100 but his number formation is slightly messed up. I think he might benefit from the programmes. I guess i will just wait and see.

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seeker · 20/01/2009 21:44

Why do people do this? WHAT IS SCHOOL FOR?????

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mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 21:48

lol. Schools unfortunately dont do enough! If only they did. And remember not every kid copes at the same pace. And therefore dont get a fair advantage. What can i say thats why other programmes are available. I find schools either focus on the bright kids and leave out the not so bright ones...or focus too much energy on the kids who struggle to 'get it' and therefore the balance just isnt enough.

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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 20/01/2009 21:55

My DD goes to Kip Mcgrath. She started nearly a year ago just after her 7th birthday for maths.

She does it because her teacher said she was worried about how much she was struggling with maths. DD had a strop when I got books and tried to help her at home. The teacher couldn't help her at school as had 2 ery "challenging" boys in the class who spent the whole day running round the classroom in circles screaming and swearing. DD is dyslexic and struggles to concentrate when its chaos around her and her teacher couldn't keep control.

She's really blossomed in Kip McGrath, she's caught up and its given her confidence. Most importantly she loves going, infact the only reason she's still going is 'cos she begs to go!

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melisssa · 20/01/2009 22:01

My son is 6. He has been at Kip Mcgrath for 6 months.

We chose to send him because his class size is so big. To be honest we would have sent him private - his school is not great - but couldnt afford it. so this was the next best thing.

I was apprehensive at first - but now cannot say enough good things abot kip. she gives me constant feedback on his progress. he really enjoys it - it is a mixture of 1 to 1 teaching and computer programs.
i must say he has come on leap and bounds - it is a noticable difference.

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mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 22:07

thats really good to hear. Thanks. I wouldnt think twice about programmes like this if i didnt strongly feel that i never them. Im considering it also due to his teachers concerns about his progress.

Im a good mum but a lousy teacher, i get cross and its not fun. So i rather leave the experts to do what i cant do. And i can top it up. lol

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MillyR · 20/01/2009 22:07

I was wondering about this for my son. I want him to go to a tutor to work on his descriptive writing, but having read this thread, now I'm not so sure. I'm not sure how a computer exercise could help with this. He's 10; I wanted him to start with a tutor after the SATs, to get ready for secondary school. I don't know of any tutors locally, other than the KM type, but maybe I can find an alternative.

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smartiejake · 20/01/2009 22:07

Absolutely fab is all I can say. My DD (although a bit older) loves her Kip session and is doing really well.

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Reallytired · 20/01/2009 22:14

We can't afford a house in the catchment area of a good state school or the cost of private education. My son in a large class in a very rough school. There are a huge number of children with SEN and school does not have the resources to give them what they all need.

Like melisssa I would love to send him private, but financally its impossible.

My son is on the special needs register because his hand writing is poor, but he was being taken out in a group of 12 children for help with his handwriting. This was frankly getting him no where.

I don't care about SAT results. I just want him to gain the basics he needs for life. I think the other posters have similar moviations.

Sending him to Kip McGrath means that he gets the attention he needs. He is in a group of five children with two qualifed teachers. I also think its helps not being constrained by the national curriuclum.

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mumnotarobot · 20/01/2009 22:21

Thanks all. I think im truly convinced.

Reallytired i love what you said about not caring about SATs. I mirror that sentiment.

For me it is providing the best for my child for him to have confidence in a society where they push those who are willing and brand those who arent.

I just hope i can see the results that you guys have seen through the Kip Mcgrath programmes.

Thanks x

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seeker · 20/01/2009 22:35

Have you all really truly talked properly to your children's teachers about what's available and what they need? I am so sad that teachers and schools are so unresponsive to your concerns. And I am concerned about a child being on the special needs register because of poor handwriting - that can't be right, surely?

Tell me this isn't typical? It certainly doesn't reflect my experience in a very very average enormous state primary.

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MillyR · 20/01/2009 22:52

Seeker, people on MN are always going on about how parents are responsible for their children's education and should ensure that they do educational stuff in addition to what the school does. Some parents don't want to do this at home, so they get a tutor.

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Reallytired · 20/01/2009 23:18

"And I am concerned about a child being on the special needs register because of poor handwriting - that can't be right, surely?"

Why? Learning to form letters and write legibly is a moderately important skill even the age of computers. His teacher tells me his handwriting is dire and choose to put him on an IEP, but the school's help is limited.

Its not so much that a teacher is unresponsive to concerns, its the fact that there are 30 children the the class and so many hours in the day. My son's class only has a part time LSA and more challenging children take up her time.

My son is the sort of child who gets forgotten. He is really well behaved and middle ablity. He causes no one any problems so gets ignored.

A qualified teacher can often get better results than an unqualifed amatuer parent. I have the money, so why not?

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seeker · 21/01/2009 07:00

But an IEP is not the same as being on the special needs register - an IEP is entirely appropriate for a child who needs a bit of individual help in a particular aspect of learning. Being put on the special needs register for handwriting issues still strikes me as being a bit extreme!

I just worry that all these expensive programmes are playing on parent's understandable concerns and are often not necessary.

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StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 21/01/2009 07:32

Seerker, when my DD was diagnosed as dyslexic it took me 3 months to manage to get a meeting with the SENCO. DD's class teacher said she didn't want to do anything extra for DD as it would "stress her out and learning should be fun at this age".

I disagreed with this as I thought if DD was struggling then she wouldn't be having fun. She wasn't, she was crying every evening.

So we started Kip McGrath.

I've given up battling with the school. I wrote to the governors, the LEA and copied the school in and threatnened to remove her - that was the only way I got the SENCO meeting.

The SENCO said they'd put her on class action in the new school year, so that would have been last Sept. Do you know, they've done bugger all. They haven't started the class action at all. I've given up battling with the school but they are worse than useless.

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JollyPirate · 21/01/2009 07:37

Reallytired - that website you've linked to is excellent - have just bookmarked it. Thank you.

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JollyPirate · 21/01/2009 07:42

My son has had alot of problems with learning to read - he is in Year 1 and it's now coming along slowly. He's still on age 4-5 books but that's fine as he is now recognising and reading in a way he wasn't doing before.

A few months ago I posted about his reading difficulties here and moondog recommended a website/reading programme called "Headsprout". It's an American site but it's excellent. I paid for 40 downloads (worked out at about £50 as far as I recall) and DS has worked on these. It has improved his reading skills no end although DS loses concentration very quickly (real concentration and distraction probs) but he's better and I feel happier that he's beginning to "get it" as far as reading goes - handwriting is a whole other issue and his fine motor skills are still poor.

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bigTillyMint · 21/01/2009 07:48

Seeker, unfortunately not all schools have the money (or choose to use their money), or the expertise to help children individually in theis way. Plus, there are a million reasons why class teachers are not always able to support individuals as appropriately as they should.

Perhaps these parents are worrying unnecessarily, but the main thing is that the children are improving in terms of skills and confidence.

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melisssa · 21/01/2009 10:21

seeker - I know what you are saying and all of this crossed my mind too.

Thing is, with such a big class often children like my son can be overlooked. He isnt one for asking for help and he is in a class with a number of children with behavioural difficulties. So often a lot of resources go there. I dont blame the school - it is just the way it is.

The school as a whole are exceptable, but I want to aid ds as much as possible. If I didnt have the money for Kip - I wouldnt send him. But I do - and it is great for him to have that one to one contact.

Selfishly as well it is good for me. At ds school you have 2 parents evenings to discuss your childs progress. The teacher doesnt have enough time for regular up dates - unless there is a problem. With Kip at the end of each session - every week - she updates me and gives me tips on how to help ds.

For instance he struggles with handwriting - I brought it up with the school - but they would not give any extra resources to it. It was left for me to do. I am just not that patient.
Within two sessions his kip teacher told me what he was doing wrong in his letter formation and how to help him improve. within a month his writing has improved 100%. Before it was ilegable - but now it is good - even neat!
Because she has the time to sit just with him - and I get that feedback.

As a side issue I had the satisfaction that in a recent ofsted report the school were critised for not helping enough with boys handwriting!

Also he likes his little Kip Mcgrath class - and it has also helped his IT schools. When they make achievements they get certificates and she rewards ds with little gifts.

sorry to ramble!

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mumstheone · 21/01/2009 12:14

My son started last week after much deliberating. I ama teacher but find it difficult to teach him so I thought it would be best to go to a professional. I thought about a tutor coming to my house, but there are too many distractions at home and there aren't many good tutors around. I also thought about Kumon but that is too time consuming - I find it difficult enough helping him the 2 homework worksheets he gets from school every week.

So Kip McGrath was the natural choice and most importantly - he loves it and can't wait for the next lesson.

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smartiejake · 21/01/2009 16:23

mumsthone- I too am an experienced primary teacher but my dd responds so much better to the Kip tutor and the programme materials she uses are not like anything that is available elsewhere. She just gets grumpy with me when I try to teach her and distracted by the other things that happen at home.

She has been at Kip for four months and her maths national curriculum levels have increased by two thirds (usual progress for 1 year)

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Reallytired · 21/01/2009 19:47

My son is definately on the special needs register, although he is on the lowest level of school action.

He did see an occupational theraphist about his handwriting at the end of reception as he had virtually no pen control. His fine motor skills were on the 3rd percentile for his age as he had orthopedic problems. The occupational theraphist gave the school a set of exercises and his fine motor skills improved to being on the 10 percentile and he was discharged from the OT.

Understandably (and quite fairly) the school now wants to concentrate its resources on other children.

A lot of children are on the special needs register. Its nothing to be ashamed of, it can be for a range of reasons. It is possible to be on the special needs register without having any academic problems.

My son also has a mild hearing loss, although his hearing is considerally better than it was. I know he sometimes mishears the teacher. He doesn't get any extra help, but his teacher is just aware.

I am not unhappy with the schools provision for SEN. I am just realistic what they can provide.

Anyway Seeker, I am glad if you have no worries about your children's academic progress. I'm pleased that they don't need anything like Kip McGrath.