to think the expectations about children starting Reception are very low?

[mendimoo]

I look after my nephew a lot because his parents both work long hours (NHS.) Today he had a home visit from his teacher before he starts school next week. She bought some things with her as 'ice breakers' and, in her words, was 'absolutely amazed' by DN. She bought some five piece peg puzzles that my two year old has been able to do for months. DN showed her the 100 piece puzzle he'd completed that morning and she was gobsmacked. She asked some leading questions to see if he knew his colours and again was shocked that he did. Again, my DD can pick out colours and colour sort and she's two - DN has known his colours since around 18 months.

DN also demonstrated that he could read numbers 1-10 (he can read 1-20 but she didn't have the resources to stretch that far), read CVC words and use words like more, less, bigger, smaller, the same to compare objects and groups. She asked if he could recognise his name and was really shocked that he could read and write it.

I think reading the CVC words is a little ahead but don't most children know their colours and numbers by reception age? The teachers expectations seemed extremely low.

[Andbabymakesthree]

Broken

Yes I've been very conscious not to over structure their summer break. Her older (bossy, difficult) brother and her have come up with some good games. They've definitely learnt how to combat boredom but now she's desperately bored of him!!!

[SueTrinder]

Don't know about anyone else but that comment about children not knowing how too turn pages of a book has really upset me

I've got a family member who fosters and it's quite common. If a parent struggles to provide basic care for a child then they aren't going to be doing things like reading with them either.

Enthusiastic teacher face is pretty standard in primary teachers. DD1 is very bright and confident and enthusiastic and it's only been the very best of her teachers who focused on what she needs to work on (this same teacher wasn't very popular with some of the other parents because she said it like it was) which was great for us rather than hearing yet again how brilliant she is when we know she's not a child genius.

DD2 suffers from lack of confidence, her fantastic teacher last year has mainly worked on her confidence by being super enthusiastic and as a result DD2's performance has massively improved because she has the confidence to try things rather than being stifled by her fear of failure. Don't knock the enthusiastic teacher.

[rollonthesummer]

Haven't read the full thread, but this was just a visit-not a test!

The baseline assessment will be what the school will do in the next few weeks to assess their starting point.

[Sonotkylie]

I agree she was probably just overdoing the praise bit - like reception teachers do. However, some years ago I heard a programme with a head teacher interviewed and asked what they would like children to be able to do when they started school. His replies were: 1. To be toilet trained, 2. To know their own name, 3. To know how to sit down when asked. Yes, he taught in an inner city school in a troubled area, but that put it all in perspective for me. Your DN has already had more input than some children ever get. The teacher is pleased ... And also relieved!

[Marynary]

They don't do home visits in our area but I would have thought that they are more about making a child feel less nervous about starting school than anything else. Testing a child with more advanced stuff would defeat the object of the exercise.
My children could do the things your DN could do long before starting school and many other children in their reception class were the same (particularly the older children in the year) so I very much doubt that the teacher was genuinely amazed at your DN's abilities.

[throwingpebbles]

The teacher will have the full range of abilities in her class. I expect she brought very basic stuff with her so as not to panic children/parents who might be "behind"

Your boy sounds pretty average really judged by my son and his peers when they started school.

Also, some who might have been "behind" suddenly shot ahead later in the year.

They do such a wide range of activities in reception- creative/technology/construction/socialising etc , every child will find some things hard and other things easy.

i get the fears, I was bored out of my mind the first few years at primary school, but I think schools have improved and are (generally) better at stretching the brightest children and indeed making sure every child is given activities that suit them

[SuburbanRhonda]

Why don't people like the teacher coming into their homes?

The purpose is to get to know your child on their turf to help support them in school.

Who could object to that?

[Brokenbiscuit]

I don't get it either, Suburban. For me, it's a sign of the teachers going above and beyond their duty, and I wouldn't necessarily expect it, but it's certainly nothing to object to.

[jamdonut]

Home visits the norm in our area, for several years.It's an opportunity for parents/carers to ask questions, too.

[daisypond]

I've never heard of home visits. My 3 never had them - in London. They spent an introductory afternoon at the primary school in the term before they started, that's it. The nursery sent a report on what learning milestones they'd reached, but I suppose all nurseries do that, too.

[spanieleyes]

We had one child start who didn't know what a toilet was, when he wanted to "go" he would stand by the door and ask to be let outside, he was used to defecating in the garden! He had no idea of how to look at a book, how to use a knife and fork or indeed eat at the table as he was used to eating sitting on the floor. Expecting him to be able to read a book or count to twenty would have been like expecting him to fly to the moon!
Children start school at all levels and abilities , be pleased your nephew has had a good start in life as many children don't

[BolshierAryaStark]

Our school does the home visit & has done for a while, there is apparently a study that has shown children will be happier starting school if they have met the teacher/teaching assistant on their own turf beforehand. I think it's really good & don't get the issue with letting a teacher into your home.

[SarfEast1cated]

My god spaniel that's awful. What happened to the child, did he catch up?

[Witchend]

The thing is as well that this is baseline assessment. It's showing the bottom end not the top.

It reminds me of someone I knew at toddler group who put in a formal complaint about the attitude of the HV after the two year check.
The HV was going through the list of things they should be able to do. You know "can they climb stairs"
They got to the "Does he say 20 words". (which was back then the minimum before they referred for SALT)
And she lent forward confidently and stated.
"You know I think he must be a genius. He says 120!"
And the HV apparently gave her a disbelieving look.

(Same person also informed me a year later said child could read because whenever they passed the park he said "park" and obviously they were reading the sign)

To those of you were worrying your child will be bored. My dc could all read before starting school. Dd2 in particular was reading books at 2yo, and was on Famous Five at the start of reception. They could continue counting until you stopped them and do calculations, including multiplications for dd1.
They were rarely bored because they could always find things to do. Yes the work was easy, but there were plenty of other things to enjoy.
And, what's more, they haven't stayed massively ahead. Some of those who came in thinking a pencil was something to poke your neighbour with caught up and even overtook them.
At reception level it is very much about what you did at home with them and their interests.
Just the same as you wouldn't expect a child to be able to swim if they never went swimming.

The preschool mine went to (and about half the class) taught every child that went through to read and write their own name and to recognise and write numbers up to 10 and colours, and about a dozen basic words. Didn't mean that those children are better than the ones who didn't go to one who taught that. By the end of the first term you couldn't tell by what they could do which preschool they'd come from.

[m0therofdragons]

I was speaking to my reception teacher friend and she said she was really sad. A parent had been telling her how nursery wasn't stretching DS and he was so advanced. He was so ready for school as he was past playing now. He has grown out of all his toys as he's too clever for them. All children play. Adults like playing too. This dc is 4 and too old for toys?
Anyway I digress, reception is busy learning social skills and school routines. Bright kids do well. I've also seen a lot of advanced screening in reception be caught up by age 7/8. A reception teacher will have seen it all and be prepared to develop schemes for all dc capabilities. Dd used to go to upper school to choose her reading book. Schools have the resources!

[spanieleyes]

He did eventually, but only after being removed from his parent and being taken into care

[Stormyseasallround]

They'll have a set undifferentiated list, to avoid worrying parents whose children are at the lower end of the ability range. Yes lots of 2 year olds know their colours, and can recognise their own name, but that doesn't mean that all 4 year olds can.

I have 3 children: my older two, both girls, are academic over-achievers who have always been at the top of the class by a good margin. On entering Reception, I too would have looked at that list with smug pride that they were miles ahead of it. Child 3 is a boy with an August birthday: he starts school next week and is no closer to writing his own name than he was 3 years ago. He simply couldn't be less interested. I'd read that list for him and be reassured that he's not a complete dunce, and can at least do some of the 'right' things. (as it happens I'm not remotely concerned as I know he will catch up across the next couple of years and be completely fine, but if he'd been my first child I might have panicked a bit)

Had you been presented with a list that said he should be have completed the first three Harry Potter books unassisted and written his first symphony, you might have worried a bit, yet there are some kids who can do that at 5. The list is bullshit really, it's just designed for relax both parents and children. You're reading far too much into it.

[SuburbanRhonda]

A lot of people find it intrusive and that is their prerogative.

But why would anyone stand in the way of a measure designed to support your child to settle into school, on the basis if how they feel about it?

[SarfEast1cated]

spaniel words fail me. V pleased he got help.

[Glitterspy]

I'm not particularly private (am actually quite hospitable) but I'd be uncomfortable about a home visit from a teacher too, I thought this only happened in the most exceptional circumstances not as a run of the mill icebreaker (wtf why is that needed anyway) It sounds absolutely unnecessary and meddling to me. The hullabaloo about kids starting school these days is getting ridiculous. Teachers and kids relationship belongs in school, not at home testing what they can do before term has even started!!

[SleepFreeZone]

Thank god expectations are low as my son who starts reception next year is going to struggle otherwise 😁

[Stormyseasallround]

I also can't understand the reluctance to allow home visits. It's just possible that the highly trained professionals at your children's school have some pedagogical knowledge about the rationale for doing them that you're not privy to. Everyone's a bloody expert when it comes to education.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Glitter they aren't 'testing' the child.
It's about getting a feel for the child by seeing them in their own environment. And as posted upthread, it can have positive effects for the child.

It varies by area and school whether they do the home visits.

[SideOrderofChip]

cough stealth boast cough