Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Advice needed -Posted in wwyd but need some more feedback :)

34 replies

stoppinchingthedummy · 18/05/2011 22:36

Hi all i need some advice please and would be greatful for any opinions

Ok so my ds is almost 5 and in reception. He goes to a school which is not his first language school because i would like him to be billigual.

Ok so they have had some issues with the head teacher and have had acting heads since he started,because it isnt his first language i have been in very close contact with his school to ensure he is progressing and it is not hindering his education at all ..We meet at the end of every half term for about 15 mins. He has been identified to have some concentration issues but this could be down to the language and also he has not been the best sleeper.

Ok so we had time off at easter and had a HUGE breakthrough with sleeping and when he returned to school his behaviour was superb. He has not been coming home with a reading book at all since starting and only started with letters after feb half term. He eventually got a reading book the week we went back after easter because i asked his teacher for one.

Ok so teacher has now gone off sick and we have had 3 teachers already this week in his class and its only wednesday...No one knows whether he can have the next book yet,or whether he is progressing or not he is in a class of 40 children and im worried he is going to be "left" as 90% of them are fluent in the language of the school!!!

I know i am fussing but he only has 8 weeks left of reception and these weeks pass so fast he might then begin year one not reading properly and then become frustrated (or i will)

I have an appointment at another school tomorrow and need some questions to ask ...it is still not his first language but it is a much smaller school so he might then be given more time from the teacher.

Any advice or help with questions ill be greatful (Im going out for a bit now so wont be able to read or reply for a while.)

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 18/05/2011 22:39

Oh and im not going out anymore but will be off to bed shortly ...Probably stewing on it all night Hmm

OP posts:
rogersmellyonthetelly · 18/05/2011 22:40

smaller class size will definately be a big help. 40 kids in a class is just ridiculous! he will benefit no end from more hands on time with a teacher

horriblemotheragain · 18/05/2011 22:41

hmmm... do you speak this language at home? 40 children in a class seems a lot - I would be tempted by the smaller school.

PopQuiz · 18/05/2011 22:42

He's in a class of 40 children? Are you in the UK?

squeakytoy · 18/05/2011 22:43

Can the teachers speak your sons first language?

Vallhala · 18/05/2011 22:43

It would help to know why the school is not that of DS's first language. Is he a mixed race or non UK lad in a standard English school? Or in, say, a Lycee in England or similar? I presume he's not an English child in a school which just happens to have a high percentage of ethnic children whose first language is not English?

Sorry to be dense.

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 18/05/2011 22:46

Wow! 40 children in reception is a lot.

How is he getting on apart from the reading book issue? Is the class teacher likely to be off for a long time? I really wouldn't worry about these issues too much. He will read well, in his own time.

However, I would not be happy with 40 in a class. For this reason, I would be inclined to find a smaller school.

gallicgirl · 18/05/2011 22:51

It's only three days...I bet the school are still sorting out what's happening with cover for the sick teacher. Perhaps see what the situation is next week before worrying unduly. Can you maybe repeat some of the work with him at home in order to reinforce what your DS has learned?

As for class size, does the teacher have assistants? If the classes were taught in your DS's first language I wouldn't be too concerned about this, although it's not ideal. A good teacher can manage a class that large. However, given that your child needs extra support, maybe it's worth checking if the smaller school can provide that.

Do you and your partner speak different languages? Perhaps you can clarify this situation for us. I know from the experience of a friend that it can take a year or more to truly settle into the language but young children cope remarkably well and I'm sure he'll do fine with a bit of extra support. Would extra language lessons in the second language be appropriate?

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 18/05/2011 23:23

I don't agree that a good teacher can handle a class that large. I'm a good teacher, and I know I couldn't. Especially that young.

blackeyedsusan · 18/05/2011 23:30

smaller class sizes are better... another teacher who has taught classes of 8 to 33 98 was only for a week or two before new children trickled in every other week...

blackeyedsusan · 18/05/2011 23:30

(8 .. bloody shift key

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 19/05/2011 13:58

Sorry i was a bit vague wasnt i ...I live in the uk ..We live in wales... We are white british not mixed race ,our first language is english and he is in a welsh medium school ,i do not speak welsh but want my dc to.

I went to look around the school and it seemed lovely however my heart is saying ride out the school for now at least until a head is put into place and maybe the school will excel ..My head says move him and give him a better chance.

Im so stressed out with it all and still dont have an answer. thank you for your replies.

OP posts:
Poogles · 19/05/2011 14:20

We looked at putting DS into a Welsh medium school (we're both English speakers only) but a friend said that she had been sent to a Welsh medium school at first but then had been changed to an English one as it became apparent that her Mum & Dad could not help with reading, homework etc.

If you are considering moving his school, have a think abouot whether you might need to move him again once homework etc starts.

A small concern about moving his scools for me might be that it disturbs his sleep. Was the sleep problem something he always had or did it start with school (i.e. the frustration of not understanding when in class?)

DS learns Welsh at school still but is learning it as a second langauge.

ginnybag · 19/05/2011 14:24

How 'able' is your son in his first language? Can he already read, and is now learning to in Welsh, or is he learning altogether?

Similarly, what about speech, written work etc. And how competent are you and your partner?

I'm asking because I think that whether you and your partner can provide effective support will determine your decision. If your son can already actually read well, then he may manage to learn Welsh just by being exposed to it. If, however, he's trying to learn to read altogether, then he's attempting to master a critical life skill in a language you don't speak. You won't be able to effectively work with the materials being brought home from the school, and the school aren't coping, which means he's getting no support.

Similarly, in a Welsh-medium school, the focus will first be on that language. Great for him being bilingual, but how competent are they at teaching English, and are you and your Partner going to be able to to make up the shortfall? I.E, could you teach him correct sentence structure and spelling, if needed?

Your aim is laudable - but foreign families are taught to teach their children to read, speak and write in their first language for a reason. (In complete contrast to the 'learn the bluddy language' jibes you hear slung around!) You cannot teach him in Welsh, only English. I don't think (but don't know - this is what you need to decide) you can back up the school's lessons in a different language effectively and it sounds like the school aren't up to the standard where that won't matter.

It's a lovely idea, but is it worth potentially putting your son behind academically for?

Poogles · 19/05/2011 14:31

Ginnybag - that was the point I was trying to put across, but you managed it much better! DS goes to an English medium school (reception) but will quite often say 'diolch' automatically when I hand him a glass of milk or something!

I have been learning bits and pieces from DS and intend to start Welsh classes in September so that our language skills can grow together. Have you thought about doing the same?

Are there any other parents ina similar situation to you at the school? Maybe have a chat and see how they are getting on.

MrSpoc · 19/05/2011 14:36

Sorry but i cant help but feel sorry for your son.

Why force him to learn this old language when there is no real need for it. Yes it would be good to learn as a second language put putting him into an over crowded class where everyone around him is speaking in riddles is so unfair. No wonder he has trouble sleeping. Has he made any friends?

WhipMeIndiana · 19/05/2011 14:38

can you join local library? ours have the full range of my daughter's school reading book series, so if she needs extra support can always borrow a few

TheseThingsAreGoodThings · 19/05/2011 14:39

Agree with MrSpoc

pingu2209 · 19/05/2011 14:39

Mmmmmm 40 in a class, that is a lot. Reception in my area is a max of 30, with a teacher AND a full time TA.

I know you want him to be bi-lingual but wouldn't he pick up the other language from other day to day living?

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 19/05/2011 14:52

Mrspoc -Old language?! We live in wales he should speak the language ,we could not get by living in spain without spanish ..france without french etc etc so why not in wales?!

He has lots of friends which is why i worry about moving him ...his trouble sleeping is nothing to do with school he has been a bad sleeper since he was born.

In answer to the question how well can we help him ..Im not academic but i can spell etc ,my maths is fairly good and we can encourage him. We can teach him to read but i have to know how the school put it across to avoid confusing him and yes the reason why i am rethinking is because as much as i would love him to be bi-lingual not at the cost of his education suffering.

Thank you for all your feedback im off to school to pick him up and have a little word with them.

OP posts:
Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 19/05/2011 14:53

Oh and 40 children with a teacher a two assistants but the classroom is not huge and they keep on taking big numbers the school is bursting!!

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 19/05/2011 15:18

stoppinchingthedummy - Welsh is a very old and dying language. Do you tell people who move to Cornwall to learn Cornish??? There is no need for this language in todays world. the only country that uses this is a small percentage of the Welsh. Learn French or Spanish at least then you can communicate to half if not most of the world. As it stands you are just being mean to your child to make yourself feel better because you have not learnt the language.

posterofagirl · 19/05/2011 15:23

MrSpoc - your ignorance about Welsh as a language is a little bit concerning, I would avoid flaunting it.

Also Welsh medium schools in Wales have by far the better results and generally better pastoral care due to a different approach to education in Wales.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 19/05/2011 15:31

Mr spoc i would like you to come to wales and tell them it is a dying language ..it is the exact opposite of dying and 99% of jobs here specify welsh as essential!!

I have just had lovely feedback from the teaching assistant and she was very positive about my ds i think i will be leaving him where he is and re evaluating once we have a new head and some stability which hopefully will be by september.

OP posts:
MrSpoc · 19/05/2011 15:32

posterofagirl - they may have better results, it does not mean that he non speaking welsh son will do. in fact he is going to hav e to work twice as hard to catch up.

And I am certainly not wrong about the Welsh Language. How many other countries use it?

Swipe left for the next trending thread