I am gobsmacked

[Holymolymackerel]

I have volunteered in my daughter's year 1/2 class. (Its a joint class). Today was my first morning.

Firstly, I have no idea how teachers do it, so hats off to them. I only needed 3 hours in the classroom to see it's one of the hardest jobs.

My daughter is definitely average, I have always thought and teachers have confirmed, she is neither Einstein nor behind.

The amount of children that wasn't properly attired for February, don't realise to wipe their nose, wandered around the classroom, fiddle with hair etc. Not listening to instructions, fidgeting, yawning.

The quality of work was also poor. Think basic arithmetic, writing own name.

I was shocked.
Is this what's happening these days? Or did I get a bad day.

I think that's probably demonstrative of a typical year 1 class. My youngest didn't like infant school at all, she just wanted to play with toys and draw, she was pretty clueless socially as well. She is now 7 in junior school and loves history, loves reading, loves science, she has suddenly 'got it'. I don't think it's about austerity for children like her and I think it's a bit insulting to suggest there's something so severely wrong that it warrants 'panic'. I am not a Tory but I am sure some do have to send their children to state schools. Equally, I know children that went to private schools and their parents are probably Tories but they still weren't developmentally ready for school and the restrictions that come with it, just like my youngest child!

Years 1 and 2 are often mixed.
I think that is fairly typical of classrooms these days. My eldest was fine because she picked it all up fairly quickly and was good at self motivating. My middle one complete opposite and needed a lot of intervention but frankly with class sizes the way they are and funding levels so low, the onus really is on you as a parent to teach them to read, reinforce phonics, teach them maths etc I wish we had appreciated this - it was a tough lesson when I realised how much DD2 was struggling in the middle of Y1. For those who don’t hve engaged parents or whose parents work full time and don’t have the time (this was us) it is very hard IMO.

Also what you have to remember at that age is some of them will have Summer birthdays and some Autumn ones so there can be almost an entire year age difference but they will still be in the same year at school. At that age, 10-11 months can make a huge difference.