To think nurseries aren't qualified to do 'intelligence assessments' on 22 month old children?

[Cakethrow]

To cut a long story short, I have just spoken to a friend who is very excited because her DS has just been assessed by their nursery and they've said he achieved top marks, is above average in development and has 'above average intelligence/IQ'. (She read out the results to me over the phone)

I congratulated her as she was very chuffed and I didn't want to ruin it for her but I have 2 DC in nursery aged 3.5 and 22 months and neither of them has ever had such a test - never mind one claiming to be an 'intelligence' test.

Surely 23 months is too young to be talking about IQ and nursery staff aren't qualified to be testing it?!
Or am I just being mean and cynical?

No you're absolutely right, OP. This is bollocks!

Say what I really wanted to say you mean bowerbird!

Have had this in some nurseries and not in others. I think it's just ticking boxes based on minor tests or behaviour and getting a score. Dont think qualification is that relevant. Think it might be part of the ey thing.

It's not something I'd take seriously, but then I've always been sceptical about iq.

I guess it's just nice for your friend to hear. I doubt she would give it as much weight if they told her he was distinctly average.

You know that the nurseries just don't tell the parents of those with below average IQ right?

Ha ha fredfredgeorge - you might be right, my DC must be on that list!

I understand about the EY criteria and we've had the report about development etc in all areas but I'd never heard of them sitting an actual test and being told the results in terms of IQ and intelligence.

Not least because intelligence is a hotly contested concept and the thought of getting a bunch of under 2 year olds to sit down and do a test makes me laugh!
I thought only psychologists were able to do iQ tests.

How did the nursery think they were assessing IQ? How is it even possible when many 22 month-olds can barely talk?

I didn't ask for too much detail but I believe they were doing the usual developmental stuff - asking about shapes etc 'what's this?' 'What colour?' Etc.

Didn't come back with an IQ score, just told he had 'above average IQ' and 'above average intelligence'.

I wonder if the nursery were doing the 2 year check, that has been brought in with the new EYFS.
By law childminders and nurseries have to undertake an assessment against a range of criteria. It coincides with the HV 2 year check and aims to spot any issues and TI intervene early.

I'm pretty sure IQ doesn't feature in it though!

*to intervene it should say. (bloody iPhone!)

Well IQ is a load of bollocks generally anyway, so I don't think it makes that much difference who is administering them.

It's tragic that anyone would want to assess 22 month olds for IQ.

Surely it's a mistake and they don't mean IQ?!

When they do the eyfs assessments now it is easier to see what age range your child is working at in different areas, but the ranges are very wide.

That's hilarious, and I say this as an ex educational psychologist.

That's interesting marypoppinsbag - DS is due his 2 year check in February so I'll see what the nursery say. Don't think he's ready for any IQ test though (unless the answer is 'no' for everything!)

Well my DS couldn't speak at 2yrs so not quite sure how they would assess him!

Yanbu, cognitive assessment should be performed by clinical psychologists, not nursery staff.

My son recently had his EYFS 2 yr check and it was sent home littered with spelling and grammatical errors. It didn't strike me as a professional assessment of his IQ or any other abilities, just more pointless box ticking (actually box ticking would be better, less potential for errors) for OFSTED. Nursery staff are not qualified to assess these things - at the most they can be flagging up any children where they have developmental concerns to the relevant specialist.

IQ assessment at 2 is ridiculous.

In your position (friend giving top marks results over the phone) - YANBU
However if my DD scores top marks in IQ at 22mths I may change my mind

I have a friend like this - to hear her talk you'd think her DCs had written the complete works of Shakespeare. I get a bit when by comparison she implies my DC are behind but on the whole just let her get on with it. Every mother thinks her DCs are intelligent/special I know mine are you can't blame your friend for jumping on any bit of evidence that backs this up. Just smile and nod.