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Original poster

Confused by call from school

236 replies

scorpiogirly · 02/09/2025 15:28

So my daughter who is 7 just went back today in year 3.

I get a call half an hour before I'm due to collect her to ask me if it is okay if the teacher who helps out takes my dd in the mornings in a group of about 10 to do maths. Apparently not that she's going to be taught anything different, just taught slower. What the hell does this mean? It's her first day back and they have never said anything like this before and she has always seemed fine with maths.

They also always tend to have mixed classes. When I questioned it, apparently it is nothing to do with ability. But strangely, they have split two year 3 classes and 2 year 4 classes and mixed them together. Whats the point of that?

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 02/09/2025 15:42

It might not be ability. My son is clever but has slow processing speed. I asked that he be put in a lower set at secondary as he understood the concepts better when taught at a lower pace but they wouldn't.

arcticpandas · 02/09/2025 15:41

I find their reasoning really confusing. I know they have these type of setups for students that are struggling, but she said it had nothing to do with ability? Ask for more information.

Stowawaysue · 02/09/2025 15:39

Arrivist · 02/09/2025 15:37

Make sure she’s with a proper teacher.

Not necessary and unlikely

She has been taught by the teacher

This is to make sure that the children that seemed to be struggling to keep up at the pace, have definitely understood the task

Ella31 · 02/09/2025 15:38

ShesTheAlbatross · 02/09/2025 15:34

This would only irritate me because they told you it wasn’t anything to do with ability. It obviously is. I mean, what other reason would they have to take a small group out to go through things more slowly? They’ve identified she needs support and are providing it, that’s a good thing. But don’t lie to parents that it’s not about ability, it’s very infantilising.

Ability doesn't always factor in here. Often external factors can be at play or the child's pace has changed. I teach some students who absolutely have the ability but really have to work harder to achieve it than others and smaller settings allow that.

I agree though the op should have been told. That's the strange part.

Arrivist · 02/09/2025 15:37

Make sure she’s with a proper teacher.

Ella31 · 02/09/2025 15:35

I teach in Ireland and in my school we have resource classes and withdrawl classes where students who need that extra help in the core subjects, English and Maths will get a chance with a smaller more intimate setting. Parents kill for those spaces here so I wouldn't be raging over this or fighting it if there's a chance your daughter could benefit from it. It actually breaks my heart that we cant accommodate everyone to be honest.

ShesTheAlbatross · 02/09/2025 15:34

This would only irritate me because they told you it wasn’t anything to do with ability. It obviously is. I mean, what other reason would they have to take a small group out to go through things more slowly? They’ve identified she needs support and are providing it, that’s a good thing. But don’t lie to parents that it’s not about ability, it’s very infantilising.

Stowawaysue · 02/09/2025 15:32

How did you respond?

Stowawaysue · 02/09/2025 15:30

It’s very clear

Your daughter and 9 others who are a touch slower at maths than the other kids are being taken aside to ensure that the maths is properly being embedded in before moving on to the next topic.

Basically it’s a good thing and they’re being pro active

ComfortFoodCafe · 02/09/2025 15:30

It tends to mean shes not keeping up with the rest of the class, and so they take the kids out who are struggling & go at a slower pace/teach easier things than the rest. Its nothing to worry about!

Zippidydoodah · 02/09/2025 15:30

If they think she would benefit from an intervention class to help her catch up/plug some gaps or whatever, then I would only consider that a good thing.

is she in a primary, or did she go from infants to juniors?