to feel upset about this on dd's behalf and should I mention it at parents evening

[lisalisa]

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i would mention this but like you i tend to rush in feet first so i would have a good think about how you are going to aproach this and get it clear in you mind what you are going to say ,good luck.

Maybe you could encourage DD to write in pen at home. Could she complete her homework in pen so she can show the teacher she can work neatly in pen?

perhaps they forgot her, re the pen, my dd3 was accidently missed off the reading list, when i queried why she didnt seem to be reading, problem solved.
i spose re he maths, as you say teacher is strict, dont know what else to say about tht.. are you going to mention that?

Could you not approach it as a bit of a joke? Laugh about how DD is keen to have her pen and if the teacher thinks she might be up to standard now/soon?

The whole idea of having a "pen licence" seems pretty divisive to me. I can quite understand how your DD feels-not to mention the children with special needs in the class and how they must feel. Not a good way to encourage in my opinion.

I think this is a crap idea, and as you say, awful for children with special needs. My ds is dyspraxic and if they tried pulling this stunt in his class, I'd go ape. Not that I think in a million years they would. His teacher is very inclusive and the SENCO would be on to it, I'm sure.
Tell the teacher your dd is upset. Resist temptation to poke her in the eye and pull her hair!

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Oh I would definitely ask the teacher. Not in a confrontational way mind you. Just say you were wondering when she thought your dd may be ready for a pen as dd is looking forward to it.

I think it's a bloody stupid idea by the way, a pen licence, whatever next. Over here, when you go into primary 6 you are expected to write with a pen. No phasing in at all.

I would mention it face to face, though normally at our school the teacher asks if any probs at the beginning of the chat and thats when i bring up these things, not at the end. I too am a bit like a bull in a china shop and so if dd was a bit reluctant to ask teacher herself i would do a little prompt "Oh dd, did you want to say or shall i?" whilst in front of teacher, so they knew it was concerning both of us. Hope it goes ok xx

As long as you're polite, just mention it briskly at parents' evening - 'Oh, I see dd's writing has improved a lot lately. Will she be getting her pen licence this week?'

Maybe this will make her at least re-evaluate dd's writing. I'm sure teachers get stuck in a rut regarding their attitude to something as much as the rest of us.

If she's very doubtful, perhaps you could get her to show you dd's recent schoolwork, pointing out where she's too untidy to warrant a licence.

Dd3 (yr4) isn't using a pen yet, most are, and she is also in the top sets.

Tbh it doesn't worry her because she knows her presentation and handwriting leave a lot to be desired.

As it is bothering your dd I would mention it at parents evening.
This is the wishy-washy Hamster approach:
'Oh, dd's wondering about when she might be getting her pen-licence... you know what she's like ha ha.... anything we could help her with...??' You never know, it might just have been a mistake and if you go in blazing the teach might get defensive.

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I would be sooooooo annoyed!

I would have sent her in with a pen and written a note to the teacheer or had a word with them - so yes, definitely speak to the teacher about it!

Does the school have a particulay handwriting style? If so it may not be general neatness that qualifies for the 'licence', but correct formation, joining in the right place etc.

With the maths working out it is important that they do show them in full and on the same sheet, as they are used in assessment (by which I mean teacher assessments, not just SATs)

But this teachers approach does seem very tactless - the work should never have been sent home with another child's name on, and the 'pen licence' seems very over-formalised.

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How did parents' evening go?

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That's great!

What a lovely response from the teacher and how tactful too.

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