To expect my reception age child to be doing at least a bit of 'work'?

[Hmmmmminteresting]

I may have this wrong as he is my first born. But dc is in reception, prior to this he was at nursery post lockdown till end of Aug.
I wouldnt say he is particularly clever, but he enjoyed learning. He was very good at phonics, numbers and rhyming. He could do basic adding and subtraction up to 30 eg. He could do 27 take away 4 etc. Since he has started school he does nothing, they just play.
Don't get me wrong I am all for them doing this and would much rather they play than sat all day 'working'. But they are literally doing nothing. He keeps telling me its boring. I feel like he has taken 5 steps back.
I asked his teacher briefly if he was correct and she said yes, it's a transition from nursery to year 1 so its focused on play and not school work. I didnt push further but I've come away feeling really deflated.

Aibu to expect them to teach them something?!

Home educate if you’re convinced you can do better. You can do worksheets to your hearts content.

It’s the first month of reception, children are far more likely this year to have not been away from their immediate family for six months. Reception curriculum is play based anyway but I imagine at the moment their main focus is on settling them in. Getting them used to not having undivided attention, to sharing with 29 other kids, learning school routines and a bit of independence.

Also accept that most children don’t remember much about what they’ve done at school all day, so take “nothing” with an extremely big pinch of salt

Please just let him settle in. School is more than reading and maths.

My DS was sent home with a book with no words the first week. We asked for books with words and he’s definitely being stretched by year 1. Give it time. He’s only 4.

My step son is in Year 2 now and tbh we're still waiting for the "work" to start. It's just not doing him any favours at all, he is extremely reluctant to do any work without constantly wandering off. It's a bit painful to watch.

@Bluewavescrashing

I could weep. Teachers are so devalued in this country. If you could see what the year R staff in my school do... They make a massive difference.

OP your ignorance of the point of the early years foundation stage shows that you need educating first and foremost before you can support your child through this stage if their education.

I am very sorry that you feel I am ignorant. Don't you think this is the reason I'm asking? I have never had school age dc. I work full time as a key worker and I have another dc in nursery. I have never stepped foot in the school and I've only met his teacher twice, both at the gates with a queue behind me. I was meant to have had a show around at the school in April, it was booked in for months for when me and dh were off work together. We knew we would send him there as it was the only school locally. I feel totally out of my depth, I hate not knowing how he is doing, how he is getting on etc. All I have to go by is what he tells me. It's very different to nursery and i do have an attitude where I like to know what's going on, thats just who I am. Him starting school during this pandemic has been hell on earth for me, he has been fine and transitioned fine. I have not.

My child going from nursery 3 days a week at nursery to reception was definitely not bored when I asked him about his day. Poor thing was worn out and he loved it.

They definitely do work and I remember teachers inviting parents to watch how they teach I went on a couple of occasions I think the kids learn a lot.

Books did have no words in only at the start it was not like that for the duration of reception OP.

Children this age learn so much through play.

He’s learning. Take a step back. Teach him extra at home if you must. Or don’t. He’s saying he’s bored for something to say, is he getting a reaction from you? There’s so much learning all day every day in Foundation Stage. Unless you are a teacher you have no idea as to the level of planning which goes in to the children thinking they are just playing. I’d be mightily annoyed if parents thought that their children didn’t have at least 3 inputs of lessons a day and unbelievable amounts of planning on my part against the Foundation Stage objectives. ‘Just’ playing indeed. Please accept this top tip from an old and experienced teacher. DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOUR CHILD TELLS YOU ABOUT SCHOOL. Listen by all means. But think carefully and never go in all guns blazing. There are two sides to every story and do you know what, a highly experienced and qualified ADULT, generally has a better grasp on the truth than a 4 year old.

"Home educate if you’re convinced you can do better. You can do worksheets to your hearts content."

Ffs

Play is how children of this age learn. Most European countries don't do ANY formal learning before 6 or 7 - so there is absolutely no need to be concerned that a 4 year old (!) isn't doing more.

I'm surprised he finds it boring - is it that he finds it tiring? Children get the two confused - being in a new environment with new children new rules and lots of adults guiding him through a busy day will be exhausting for most 4 year olds. My 4 year old used to fall asleep on the carpet in reception she found it so tiring.

To be honest, as someone who knows quite a lot about reception myself - I would say it's overly formal compared to most other countries. Really they should be out in forests, playing and building stuff and using their imagination..all their maths and language skills will come through playing like that.

You could teach him to read yourself - you don't need to stick with the school's level. Remember they are probably going a bit slower as children missed months of nursery and are getting used to being in a routine again.

OP. Trust the teachers. Again. They know how to encourage the best possible progress. If you're not sure how well your DC is progressing, request an appointment and ask. They will be able to tell you how your child is accessing the eyfs curriculum and whether they need any extra provision to make maximum possible progress. I feel this is unlikely from what you have put across here. Your child will thrive if you, the parent, trust the professionals and work with them, not against them.

And I totally understand OP how confusing it is as a parent to only be able to rely on your childs explanation of their day - I found that very hard in reception. I was the exact opposite of you - throughout the first three years my son was at school I was stressed all the time that he was being denied play opportunities and pushed too hard!

We all have different feelings about school and I agree it's so hard to know what is going on.

And actually as a parent you don't always have to trust teachers - teachers are usually great but they are dictated to by the cirriculum and I certainly do'nt 'trust' the UK government and the way primary is run in this country - I hate the idea that we can never question teachers.

He will be learning a lot more than you realise through 'playing'

Thanks all for the helpful comments.
The only comparison I have is my friend who's dd is getting 2 sounds a week to take home to practice (eg. Ch / th / etc) and a book a week along with a reading diary. We have had 1 book in almost a month with no diary and nothing else. As long as I know this is normal I will lay off.

@asofanearyou thats rubbish. I hope things improve soon for him

He will definitely be learning but as others have said it is mostly play based at that age. Come July you will be surprised how much he has come on and learnt in the school year.

My 9 year old still comes out of school and can't tell me when I ask what he's been learning about, he will just say played football etc. They don't realise they are learning which is, I suppose, a good thing.

I'm so glad my DC went to school 17 years ago.
They were not gifted but could each do basic arithmetic before starting school. Both knew letters and simple words, one could read a bit but not the other.
They did play based stuff at nursery but they started to learn in reception. Learning without pressure but they were being taught to read and write. One could read fluently by the end of the first term and the other took longer.

It's just the current trend to go at the pace of the slowest.

@Hmmmmminteresting sounds like my little boys school!! 🤣🙈 not suprisingly the early years unit wasn’t highly favoured by Ofsted despite the rest of the school doing well!

I’m surprised they’re not teaching phonics to be honest, they should be IMO.

The biggest transition for most children starting school is the adult child ratio. Continuous provision in year R looks very much like pre school or nursery set up, however with 1:15 versus 1:8,in a new environment no matter how child friendly, children will have to wait longer to speak to an adult, and this is exceptionally tiring for young children. As the term goes on, they become more independent and can manage their needs better themselves, ask for help when it's actually needed etc but this is where even the most 'advanced' child will notice a difference from their previous early years provision. And it's exhausting for them- this is normal.

@Wondergirl100 I dont think hes tired, he has it easy compared to the preschool he was in at nursery (in my head anyway, I may be wrong!).
He used to go to nursery 7.30 - 5pm. His school arent doing wraparound at the minute so me and dh have fudged our hours and he is literally there 9-3pm. I think its the opposite, he's taking ages to go to sleep now where as in August he was outline a light by 7pm.

Why don’t you ask the teacher for a book with basic words in and see how you get on. Mine did have books at that stage. It was a tiny class and they got a new book daily.

They did lots of play and even dressing up but they did do some academic work.

Are you in England OP?

Yes the curriculum is play based but they should be doing focus work on literacy and maths.

I've had 4 go through reception now and every time in the beginning Iv'e wondered wtf they do all day. But all 4 of them have finished reception being able to read, write and do basic sums so just give it some time.

I was a gifted child, and the teachers just set me more advanced reading etc. If he is really ahead they will pick up on it.

I have four kids in school. Most days, I ask them what they did that was fun and they say ‘nothing’, I ask them if they enjoyed it, and they say ‘no it was boring,’ I asked them who they played with and they say ‘nobody really.’ Kids are bullshitters. It normally means they can’t be arsed answering your questions.

When I ask their teachers, they reassure me they’re all doing very well and have plenty of friends.