Not to send ds to extra reading before school

[Psipsina]

We've been 'selected' apparently for ds to attend a special reading club before school three times a week, before school. He will be reading to some older children (he is 7).

The club starts at 8.30. We normally struggle to get to school for the usual time (8.40-45) with a short car journey and a car/clothing/breakfast resistant toddler.

Apart from this ds2 is a brilliant reader and well ahead of the stage he 'ought' to be on (apparently). He can read pretty much anything fluently and understand most of it too.

I'm not boasting but I just feel slightly cross that they are suggesting it is really important he attends special extra reading sessions, which would be difficult for me, and now I feel bad that I'm not 'supporting his needs'. Or that I shall be seen as not supporting them.

If we lived within walking distance it wouldn't be so bad but it is a 40 minute walk each way and trying to get everyone out on time is a nightmare.

AIBU to say no, thank you?

I didn't suggest you were late. I just don't understand why you can't get up earlier and get him there for 8.30.

I have 3 DC to get ready on my own; 2 have SEN behaviour issues and we have to drive a mile and half to school. They all go to different schools as well. I still manage to drop them all off with plenty of time to spare for the last one to arrive in the playground 15 mins before the classroom doors open.

Y3. He is 8 in June.

Worra - it seems so difficult. Like keeping a food diary or something, mine would be like 'got up...pringles...three digestive biscuits, cup of tea...bite of apple...half a sandwich, cake, more cake,

it would just confuse everyone. We are a household of bits and pieces. Nothing is regulated except who ate all the chocolate.

No offence intended but your child's education should be a priority. Thousands of single parents get several children to school and could manage 15 minutes earlier. Would it be slightly harder? Yes. Would it benefit your child? Yes, since you don't seem to read with him 5 days out of 7.

Why don't you ask the school why they have put him forward for this?
It could be they don't feel he's reading enough at home.
It could be he doesn't read as well as you think. He could be underachieving.
It could be he's been identified as G&T.
I find your response to this a bit odd. Surely the school just want your child to succeed.

Before you say no, ring and ask what it's for and how they think he'll benefit.

Well, it won't be the reading SATS then if he's Y3.
Ask them.

Op - I include all dds (y1) reading in her book - whether it's reading to her sister, reading to herself, it all counts. I do t time it specifically, just tick the box for 'does she read every day?' Even though I only actually listen to her about twice per week.

They are doing it because they think he doesn't read at home. Remember the books you read over the weekend and write them in his reading diary over 3 week nights instead. If I was you I would have crossed out the TA comment and written 'Reading lots, Recording zero', or something. The reading diary isn't a legal record, if you are confident that he is genuinely reading enough at home and want the school off your back then make it up.

Do you get free school meals (or have you in the past?).

But yes, it sounds like they think he doesn't have much opportunity to read to anyone at home. Or possibly his comprehension is lower than his reading level.

Cece I appreciate you have a lot to accomplish and you seem to manage it well. I didn't say it would be impossible, just that it would be a hassle to do this three times a week (in fact if it were every day it might be easier)

If something is compulsory then I can manage fine and I hate to be late, and we are often too early for things especially once we have found our feet and got a good routine going.

But this seems to be an optional extra which I'm not convinced is really worth the aggro. I have to prioritise the things we have to do.

Also it is logistically difficult, because sometimes the toddler will go to sleep on the way or refuse to be dressed and have a massive tantrum, so I have to find a safe place to drop off ds2 so he can walk in on his own sometimes. Taking him in ten-fifteen minutes early will mean I have to go with him, however difficult ds3 is being.

I've seen several wailing toddlers dressed in their PJs, coat and wellies this term.You are not alone!

Of course they think he doesn't read at home if you don't fill in his reading record, op . Not all kids who appear to read "brilliantly" are as up to speed on comprehension as they might be.
He might well need the extra help.

Sorry but YABU

Firstly, most (all?) schools expect children to read with an adult at home, it is very useful to them, especially at that age, to read out loud and discuss the content or any words they don't know. Are you not doing it? I think that'll be why they've invited him, to fill what they perceive as a shortcoming at home - a lack of 121 reading time with and adult.

Secondly, I also don't understand why you can't get there 15mins earlier. You just set the alarm 15 mins earlier and do everything 15 mins earlier. Some schools start at 830, everyone manages it, it's just when your day starts.

Psipsina I think this is probably school proving they are using pupil premium money. Think that's why keturah asked about fsm. school gets extra money for any child who has or had fsm in past 6 years.

YABU.

#1 - 830 is not that early at all. DS dropped off for 730 and DD for 8am. I don't accept any excuses in the morning. We have to be there on time. DD wouldn't put her shoes on this morning so I threw her over my shoulder and put her shoes in my coat pockets. It isn't acceptable to be late. I got some funny looks but hey ho I am sure their kids are little angels and never answer back (yeah right). I am not perfect and don't pretend to be but the teachers shouldn't have to put up with kids rocking up to class late.

#2 - Your son's school are offering additional help and you don't want it? Are you kidding me?!? Regardless of his ability this an opportunity for him to learn something. The TA putting him down a few levels is a separate issue and I would be speaking with the teacher to ascertain what is going on. I take an additional help from school as a major bonus, grab it with both hands and ask if there is anything we need to do with the DC at home.

Molly I have checked his comp and it is great. He even puts the correct emphasis into sentences 9 times out of 10. He's fine. He reads quickly and very well.

I think it is probably the thing about him not reading enough at home that is bothering them.

The problem is, I have to prioritise and he isn't having trouble with reading. He has trouble with spelling and other stuff. I am more likely to help him with that than with something I know he has a handle on if that makes sense?

OP, I think you should thank the school and politely decline. I don't buy all this 'education comes first and you should get up earlier' stuff at all. It doesn't sound like your DS is going to be worse off for not doing the extra reading, and I don't see that disrupting your routine to enable him to attend is going to be worth it. OK, so it's only 15 minutes, but some families are just better at early mornings than others and I don't think you should allow yourself to be guilt-tripped on this. You're getting him to school on time, and that's a major undertaking. Given what you've said about his reading I don't see the need to make your mornings any harder.

The thing with pupil premium funding is that the schools are also asked to account for how effectively they are using it. So if this school have identified that pupils who qualify are overall not achieving as they should be in reading they are putting something in place to help those children. They then have to track what effect that has on their reading. I'm making a general point not saying that your child needs that support. Maybe talk to his teacher and understand it a bit before turning it down. It may only be for a term or so, your son may really enjoy it or you could try it first and see how it goes.

I don't fill DS's reading diary in religiously, I may write one entry to cover a couple of days, note if he reads a different book from home or reads for his brother and sister. I definitely don't time it.

Spelling can be greatly enhanced by regular reading. The school is not being unreasonable to offer additional provision as you are struggling to provide the expected level of input at home. Why would you be cross that they've picked this up and are presenting a solution?

YANBU OP and don't be made to feel bad about it

I would bet the school are having a push on reading (in all likelihood Ofsted-motived) and want to demonstrate both that they are Doing Something and the positive outcomes of that doing. That is not to say that the children taking part won't enjoy it or get some benefit from it, because I am sure they will.

What it will not be is an essential part of your DS's educational development. If it's reading to an older child this is something you could if you felt it necessary replicate at home, with ease. It is not worth the stress or disruption.

I would have a word about the perceived drop in reading levels as something entirely separate.

Also I find that any stressing about lack of reading diary filling in is easily covered by a blanket note explaining your child's reading habits.

I do the same with my dd op. She's miles ahead in reading, behind in maths, so I spend most of our time doing maths with her. But, if the school asks if I read with her often, I say yes. It's untrue, but I know I don't need to read any more with her.

Keep book in car. He reads it and you and toddler listen some times. Some days he reads to himself. You sign the record every day. Will keep school happy.

YANBU and I'm saying this as a primary teacher. But def record in his reading diary any reading he does in the week - this can include comments like 'DS read his book and we talked about what he'd read, he clearly understood it all' or 'DS was very tired tonight but tired really hard to read 2 pages' etc. It doesn't have to be loads, just something so it proves he does some reading in the week at home.

I could take the DS (5) to a before school reading club 2x a week. Loads of his friends go and it is encouraged for the younger children. I don't take him because he doesn't want to go and he's enough of a nightmare to get to school most days when I then need to go onto work without getting him there early for something he doesn't want to do. There's plenty of other opportunities for reading without trying to squeeze in something that is logistically a pain to do.

It is probably all to do with progress

The amount of progress is measured from when a child starts the year. He may be a very good reader, but if he hasn't made excellent progress since September, the school will be putting in additional support to enable him to make the expected amount of progress by the end of the year. Even exceptionally talented children have to improve each year.

So it doesn't matter if he is a good reader compared to others in his class, or his sibling/s, it's how well the school think he is doing for him.

The thing is OP it sounds like your DS is responding well to your relaxed attitude to his reading. He reads voluntarily, it is not a chore and he reads and understands well.

The school on the other hand wants paperwork, which shows they are 'engaging the parents', to show to Ofsted. You are engaged, your DS is thriving, but they will treat him as having a disengaged parent unless you fill in the reading diary. Wrong IMO, as parents are not employees but schools seem keen to spread the pain of paperwork

I'd start getting him to write done the pages he has read and you sign it. Yep, spreading the administrative burden again...but I can't see a way round this that is less onerous.