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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm genuinely not sure whether to raise this with DSs teacher

26 replies

Beelands · 29/03/2017 22:40

Apologies for missing apostrophe in the title, my iPad wouldn't let me select it.

DS is 5, in reception. No member of staff has listened to him read in class since December. Parent helpers have listened to him a couple of times but not for af least 8 weeks. We read with him every day and I would say he is on roughly the right level (I'm not trained with this, it's just my guess.

Also they get a home learning thing journal home every holiday, with a bit of homework to do. I don't think they need home work per se, but nevertheless they are set it and he does do it. It's never been commented on or marked in any way. So we just get the journal back each holiday and it's as if no one is looking at it.

I feel a bit uneasy about both things but I genuinely don't know what is a reasonable expectation for reception. Should I raise these issues or are they not important?

OP posts:
Imchangingmyname · 29/03/2017 22:48

If they aren't reading with him, how would they know which level he should be on ?

Chocolatecake12 · 29/03/2017 22:50

Do you have a parents evening coming up?
In a lot of schools they are around Easter time.
It could be that they listen to the children read in small groups and not separately.
Keep an eye on it. As long as you are reading with him at home then you are keeping him on track.

ThePiglet59 · 29/03/2017 22:50

He's only five. Does he need to be marked and assessed?

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 29/03/2017 22:50

IME homework in YR is more of an if-you-want-to token gesture. It is rarely looked at, and while children may be praised for doing it, there is no criticism for not doing it.

Reading OTOH is a different matter entirely. In all the schools I r been involved with a teacher or TA would be hearing him read at least every couple of weeks, generally alternating between them, with a parent helper also hearing him. IME the staff hear the children read in groups (Guided Reading), and the parent helper hears them read individually.

kierenthecommunity · 29/03/2017 22:52

I only know that someone has read with my reception boy when there's someone elses writing in his reading book. and I don't recall ny feedback to his homework either.

Never occured to me to worry tbh, he's only in reception

Astro55 · 29/03/2017 22:53

No teacher had time to here the whole class read every week -

They will be doing phonics - including tricky words and strings and class reading - as well as volunteers listening to children read - but most likely the ones who don't get listened to at home

Homework can not be 'marked' as it can't be proven the child did it by themselves - and it's there to keep the parents in the loop and usually for a child to gain more practise and understanding

ScarletSienna · 29/03/2017 22:54

I would raise it-not to be heard at all is quite unusual so I'd ask to find out how often he is read with.

Thepiglet-what's your point? He will be being assessed for EYFS profile and is set work to do so it is a reasonable AIBU!

milliemolliemou · 29/03/2017 22:56

Raise the issue and just ask for feedback for both you and DC. Your DC doesn't need marks but encouragement and you're doing that - just make sure it chimes with the school and if it doesn't ask why.

catkind · 29/03/2017 22:57

DD is heard 1:1 very seldom, but there's lots of reading and writing in their normal daily tasks. I think some of them do group reading too - could it be something like that? So they're not hearing him reading his home reading book but they are in fact hearing him reading? I get the impression our school tend to concentrate the 1:1 reading on the weaker ones.

Osolea · 29/03/2017 23:05

You could ask about how the reading levels are assessed as you're concerned, but as you think your ds is being given books that are the right level, you probably don't need to worry.

It's likely that the teacher and ta regularly hear him read in a group situation so don't record it in the diary every time, and schools can just use the reading diaries so that they know how much reading the child is doing out of school, rather than it being for the parents information.

ReasonsToBeModeratelyHappy · 29/03/2017 23:28

Homework can not be 'marked' as it can't be proven the child did it by themselves
What a strange comment - the school would not really expect a 4/5 yo to work completely independently! Parental involvement would be the norm with homework.

And you can't PROVE that any homework, at any age was done without help - its not different from that point of view when they are 6, or 11, 16.

Marking would not need to be a mark such as 'A' at this age, but the child should be able to see that their efforts are being looked at by their teacher, and be praised for their efforts with homework. I think you are right to be a little uneasy, and its not 'just reception', if they feel their efforts aren't looked at, and no one hear them read at school, it doesn't give a very positive start to their education.

It may be that the school throws themselves into creative activities for little ones, and provides wonderful opportunities in other ways (which seems ok to me, if the kids do well by the end of primary), or they may not be bothering...you may have a feel for which it is?

Megatherium · 29/03/2017 23:42

I'm quite surprised people say that children aren't heard reading on a 1:1 basis generally. When my DC were in infant's school, admittedly several years ago, they were heard virtually every day - but generally with a lot of help from parent volunteers.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 29/03/2017 23:53

What reasonstobe... said.

My Dd is in Y2 and her homework is marked every week. Not in a "Level 6 - suitable for your Oxbridge application" way but in a "what a lovely set of describing words" kind of way. There is generally a big tick as well. Sometimes there is a little smiley face and when Dd has obviously worked really hard there may even be a sticker! Dd is very happy when she gets a sticker.

CheWasABitOfAHomophobe · 30/03/2017 01:08

You should raise it. Teacher's are usuually happy to address concerns. It's the 'I'd go nuclear' or 'demand to see the head at 9am on Monday morning' which surprise me on MN.

Calmly ask questions at an appropriate time (not pick up or drop off) or via email or communications book and you'll likely get answers.

How do you know that the teacher hasn't listened to him read? I find this odd.

Falafelings · 30/03/2017 06:43

Is he doing group reading? That tends to be the next stage.

Do you think the homework is helpful to your son? If not don't do it. They should be marking it.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/03/2017 07:05

The school now has a once a week slot for as many parents as possible to go in to hear the children read for children in YR/Y1, which is great. They didn't do this when dd was In those years. With the amount of paperwork now around, it will be hard for the teacher or TA's to listen to the children weekly. Not once since Christmas is a very long time and I would have a quick chat with the teacher after school one day or at the next parents evening to ask how often they listen to the children. In the past, when I thought dd needed more challenging books, I informed the teacher and they usually managed to hear her read within the next day or so to assess her themselves. When she was in Y2, the teacher just put her onto the next level if I asked. As long as you are working with your child, they will get there. Reading as often as your ds is willing is great.

sunnycloudyrainy · 30/03/2017 07:11

My DS(4) hasn't been read with at school for weeks, personally I believe it's because he is doing well with reading, as we read every day at home, so the teacher/TA concentrates on the children that are struggling. Not ideal but not unusual I'm guessing. A friend of mine who is a TA told me a while ago the children that clearly don't read at home get read with every day at school to help them keep up.

Original poster
Beelands · 30/03/2017 09:05

Thanks everyone.... I will raise it with the teacher after Easter.

OP posts:
2014newme · 30/03/2017 09:06

Definitely raise it. Not reading with him is not good enough

2014newme · 30/03/2017 09:12

Why would you leave it till after easter? That's just procrastination. There is an issue I would deal with it quickly today. Email teacher and ask fir a quick chat.
Nothing will gave changed after easter!

JennyOnAPlate · 30/03/2017 09:13

It's possible that he's being listened to and it's just not being recorded in his diary. He will be being listened to, even if it's through guided reading sessions rather than individually.

arethereanyleftatall · 30/03/2017 09:18

I expect he is. How would you know what if he wasn't? I have no idea how often my dc read to the teacher when they were 5 years old, I know they were happy at school though.

Original poster
Beelands · 30/03/2017 09:21

They break up today.... I'd rather raise it when's she's going to see him shortly after, so it doesn't get lost in amongst the other millions of things she has to do at the end of term.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beelands · 30/03/2017 09:23

They have a book with all the reading they do with teacher/TA/parent helper/us recorded in it. He could of course be doing something else that is reading related but he's definitely not having any 1-2-1 reading time with staff.

OP posts:
August1984 · 30/03/2017 09:47

My daughter is in reception and someone reads with her every day and signs her book and we are expected to do the same. Plus she gets "homework" every holiday and it gets stamped to say well done so YANBU. This is a pivotal time in them learning to read, surely.

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