To make a complaint to the school

[Eloise1205]

I feel this will be fairly long so bare with me! My son's school holds three "parent consultations" in a year, they are roughly 15 minutes and resemble speed dating in that unlike a traditional parents evening not much ground is covered.

I arrived to my parents consultation and the teacher began to tell me my child was not doing very well and severely behind in school. Examples given were his letter formations were struggling and his punctuation was "all over the place" (he is in year 2 for reference. His homework is handed in every week and always followed by well done, I can honestly say I'm clueless has to what level a 6 year old should be working at as I do not have friends with children and the school have never expressed concern with me. The teacher proceeded to pull out 5/6 other books and show me what an expected child's work looks like, this was then followed by him pointing at my sons work chuckling and making a remark of "this is ineligible". He then told me with consistent hard work my child can finish the academic year below average. I asked if I should get a tutor and was told that this was unnecessary as the school provided him all the help he needs. When asked about future plans there was nothing he could offer me but to tell me that an educational psychologist happened to be in that day and could he have permission to observe my child, I agreed.

I have been fuming all week that the school didn't deem it appropriate to contact me in regards to my sons progress prior to this. I am also shocked that they allocated me the same slot system when clearly there is a lot of intervention needed. I am confused as to why there is no plan in place to help my child. I also feel as if the teacher thinks my child is not going to get any better or improve.

My child isn't badly behaved and doesn't get told off often, he does however lack concentration in class (when I approached my son he said this was due to not understanding the task). Homework time has been getting increasingly difficult at home as he often gets frustrated at the tasks and starts crying.

What would you do in this situation? Would I be unreasonable to move his schools? Am I being sensitive?

[Allthewaves]

Just had this with my son, though he had iep for behavioural issues. Academically in yr 1 everything was fine, appeared average when tested. This year in yr 2 he's scored well below average and is now getting academic support. All I can assume is the works gotten harder and he's struggling academically.

If teachers are thinking ADD they often won't have ed psych observe until they are 6.

[Mishappening]

A different teacher can often make a huge difference to a child's learning and motivation - in either direction!

[Eloise1205]

The Y2 teacher has said it's his lack of concentration that is compelling him to refer to EP (but not said he suspects anything). Y1 he was expecting (average) across the board and above average in maths, Y1 teacher said he is a very good listener, enthusiastic and tries very hard. He also said, however, that he is sensitive and can take criticism badly as in it makes him give up the task.

I guess I just want some clarity or a plan from the school. It all felt very sudden and no clear direction or plan of action. I want to help my son as much as possible.

[TheHungryDonkey]

Dyslexia can really hold a child back and batter their self esteem. Make them feel stupid. Clearly you know it’s not just about reading but the condition can pervade other areas of life. Knowing this means a child can be supported and given the best possible start.

Of course education is not a race and they are young. But a blinkered approach will not help anyone and I strongly suspect your credentials if you cannot see that.

[Nanny0gg]

Wombat's post is spot on.

[WombatStewForTea]

What exactly is your problem with my post?! OP hasn't stated anything about him struggling previously. Therefore if he was coping in reception and Y1 then there is nothing to suggest he isn't ready. School have identified a problem so now they need to deal with it.
I'm not going to get into discussion about your qualifications.

[ppeatfruit]

Wombat He's 6 YEARS OLD NOT 16 ffs. Have you not heard about 'reading readiness'' That applies to writing too, he'll do it when he's READY.

I did child development at Uni did you?

[WombatStewForTea]

Did he finish Y1 at the expected level? Or was he working towards.

You should never be told something at a parent consultation that will come as a shock and upset you. I always meet with parents in advance of so that the actual parent consultation is more of a catch up.

The school should have a plan of action that they share with you about what they are putting into place to help your ds. Have they mentioned SEN?
You need to arrange to speak to the teacher again to go though everything. There is a large step up in Y2 and your ds might just be finding it hard.
It sounds like the teacher has picked up on handwriting being the main issue. The interim framework has changed this year meaning a teacher can make allowances for handwriting if the rest of the criteria for expected is met. Punctuation being all over the place does need addressing though but it's only November!

I do find the Ed psych comment very strange. An Ed Psych isn't called in for no reason. There needs to be a specific problem or a child who is really behind. We have a list of children we want to be seen in order of importance and they won't all be seen as we simply don't have the budget to do it. Unless your school has a massive budget it could indicate a bigger issue. You mentioned concentration but has this ever been mentioned before in Y1? It would be interesting to know what the Y1 teacher said about your ds.

[ppeatfruit]

But why is there a fuss being made about a 6 year old who is still learning? I was not comparing my dd to the others in her class , her teacher was. Dyslexia can't be picked up while the child is still maturing surely?

It;s better not to begin academic formality until after 6 (like they do in a lot of European countries , who are not 'behind').

All the system here does is create stress for some children, and fear of school.

[TheHungryDonkey]

‘High end’ dyslexia is just one issue out of many. Your child’s condition is not another’s. Shall we ignore everyone else’s because your child was OK? That would be ridiculous wouldn’t it.

[Thymeout]

Op's ds has had two years in school. I think it's quite likely that his first two teachers were giving him the benefit of the doubt and the time to mature. In Yr 1, however, the work becomes more structured and the child is expected to be able to concentrate for longer periods. It's reasonable at this point to investigate further and put extra help in place to stop him falling behind.

[ppeatfruit]

That;s not the case thehungry I speak as an EY teacher btw. dd2 flagged up as "writing less than the other bright girls in her class" at age 7, the teacher just bullied her so we removed her from the school and HE for a while. She was tested in her next school and was high end dyslexic , she was 9 then and caught up very well .

The child cannot do what their brain is not developed enough to do. Comparing them is a great mistake too. We all mature at different ages , As I said earlier.

[BarbarianMum]

I agree with Donkey. If the Ed Psyc finds nothing of concern they will happily say so. It doesn't hurt to have him assessed.

[Eloise1205]

I think it was the EP that shocked me as speaking to other parents at the school they have found it difficult for their own child to be observed/meet with the EP. When I pushed on why they believed that he needed an EP I was told it was a concentration issue but the behaviour described at school (daydreaming, loss of concentration, lack of enthusiasm) contradicts his behaviour at home. I had an inkling I was over reacting and probably sensitive to the teachers remarks, I won't complain to the school but will arrange a meeting and hopefully create a plan of action.

Really good to hear of other children in this situation picking up because I've been very worried about his situation.

[CrochetBelle]

All this early intervention stuff is bollocks. Why give kids help when they need it?

[TheHungryDonkey]

Year 4 is far too late to start questioning things If concerns are present now.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes Apple When he's ready to do so. He is still only 6 he'll get there without all this fuss and if he's still having problems when he's in yr 3 or 4 then get him checked out.

It;s like expecting a 6 month old to walk and wondering why he isn;t and taking him to a specialist, it's crazy.

[Oblomov17]

This has been poorly handled. Nothing said at parents evening should be a shock. If it is, then there’s a Bigger issue, and they should have called you in before.

But if they are talking EP then something serious is going on, they have concerns. Because each school only gets a certain EP allowance and a certain number of EP visits, and many parents who suspect SN are begging literally for an EP appointment, but refused and fobbed off. So, if they are suggesting it, take heed of that.

Send an email, so it’s in writing, Asking for an appointment with teacher and senco together. ASAP. Might be best not to go alone, so take Dh or your mum?

Hope you get somewhere after said appointment.

[Apple23]

What would you do in this situation?
Make an appointment to meet with the teacher and SENCo and discuss your questions and what your child has said about concentration. Ask about the Educational Psychology assessment, what is being put in place in the meantime? Also check whether the work you were shown was the standard expected at this point of the year or the end of the year?

If the issue is concentration and your child not understanding the task, then check hearing and eye-sight as he might be missing parts of what is said. Also, practise with him listening to and then repeating back and carrying out (different skills) more than one instruction; he might only be processing the first or last thing said and be filling in the gaps for himself.

Would I be unreasonable to move his schools?
Probably the worst thing you could do in terms of your child's learning at present. By the time he's settled into a new school and they've got a good handle on his needs, he'll have lost at least another half-term's learning. Are you going to move him again at that point?

If, having identified he needs some help at this stage (which does not mean he will be behind expected levels forever), no enough is being done to support him and this cannot be resolved, then that is the point you should consider moving him.

Am I being sensitive?
Yes, but not unreasonably. You've had a shock, now you need to move forward and work with the school, their job is the same as yours: to help your child achieve the best he can.

[TheHungryDonkey]

Dear Lord don’t over react about the ed psych. It’s really positive they’ve been asked to observe. It means the school are on the ball. Ed psychs aren’t wheeled in for no reason.

The teacher was very blunt at parents evening. But I’m the opposite. I prefer teaching staff to be utterly blunt about problems, not try to gloss over them with a shit sandwich.

Don’t complain too much, ask for a longer meeting with the Senco. Yes I think six is really young. But it’s also about year 2 that additional needs can be picked up.

[ppeatfruit]

The Ed Psych. for a 6 year old !!!!!! Its mad. He's still LEARNING nanny The Ed Psych. would be justifiably annoyed to be given a 6 yr old LEARNER !!!!!!!

[Nanny0gg]

I would be questioning why the Ed Psych, as appointments with them are rarer than hen's teeth.

So what is the teacher thinking is going on?

And what you were told at Parent's evening should never be a huge shock. You should have had some form of concern shown before.

[ppeatfruit]

The english education system is ridiculous now, it's putting off later developers. It's not fair on the 'average' and below average children. They will get there at their own speed when they are READY.

[ppeatfruit]

This is not a problem as such, it is developmental IME, many 6yr olds are still LEARNING to read and write fgs (we all develop at different ages) . In fact there are many European countries which don't START formal work till age 6 and after.

That Yr 2 teacher should be well aware of that.

[Helpmeltb]

I believe there's also a bit of a jump up in level in year 2. It's possible that he's not been as quick as some to make that change. There does seem to be more onus on the kids to listen better and concentrate more/for longer periods.

I had similar this year with dd1 going from yr5 to yr6. A lot of it down to her panicking in tests at the start of the year, being put in bottom set and becoming demotivated. Mentioning her worry about tests (she panics about the time limit so doesn't read things properly and makes silly mistakes) and the effect it's had, gave the teacher a bit of insight into dd and since then she's moved up a set and is now doing the extra challenge work.