Teacher told dd4 that she won’t be able to go into year 1 if she can’t read..

[WaitroseAldi]

Dd is 5 in July, so she’s one of the youngest in her class. On top of this she has a speech therapy as she struggles with pronouncing some sounds.

She’s doing absolutely amazing though and loves school. She’s been so excited to move to year 1 as they have been on about it at school.

I thought she was quite good at reading. We read every night before bed. But she came home last night and said the teacher had told her if she can’t read she won’t be able to go into year 1, which has obviously really upset her.

We are going to keep practicing even more now but I feel awful for her :(

I suspect the teacher did say it, but as a joke (my teacher told me she wanted to murder me when I was 4, which yes with hindsight was not meant seriously - I’d accidentally knocked over a paint pot and she was annoyed - but at the time really upset me).

I’d clarify with the teacher, and explain your DD was really upset.

That's ridiculous, the DC have missed chunks of the year.
Speak to the teacher to clarify.
I don't know if a teacher would knock a DC confidence like that? If she did I'd be very cross.

I work in a different year group and we are doing lots of encouragement based on being ready for the next year. It may be a comment like that which has been misinterpreted by your dd.

I would say my DD didn't read fluently until late yr 2 maybe even early y3. She was assessed going into yr 7 with a reading age of 17. They learn at their own rate usually and all get there eventually

That definitely needs clarifying with the teacher so that she can reassure your DD.

I wouldn't worry too much about it but I'd definitely ask the teacher about what was actually said.
My 4 year old is 5 next week and cannot read at all and he is moving up to year 1 in September.
He was premature so wasn't due till late July but also has speech and language delays and learning difficulties. He tries his best and everyone is happy with that.
To give you an idea of what He is like, a target for him is to be able to turn a page on his own

YANBU, that’s a horrible thing to say to a child at any age, let alone in reception. It’s also not true!

Please ask the teacher if they said that, and if so, to explain themselves - was it the teacher? Was it a TA? If they did do it and won’t apologise then complain to the Head. Comments like that are awful for a child’s self esteem.

I know an Oxford professor who couldn't read until he was 8. Honestly kids don't need to be reading at 5, early years and KS1 curriculum are too focused on literacy.

It’s highly likely this is something like your daughter wasn’t keen to do her reading and the teacher said “cmon now, if you can’t read you can’t move up to year one” meaning it as an incentive.

Also hope it's not true. More likely I would imagine that the teacher said something like "You're making really good progress. Wouldn't it be great if you were reading before you go into Year 1?"

Do clarify, it sounds very unusual. Unfortunately there are many kids who cannot read in Y1. (and even later).

If you are in the UK, I don't believe any child is ever left behind, they always go to the next year - ready or not. You don't repeat years here.

I imagine it was something like ' we all need to work super hard with our reading so we're ready to go into year one' and your DD misunderstood.

Whilst I'm sure there are some horrible teachers out there (thankfully few), it's nearly impossible to keep a child back a year. So even if they were unkind, I can't see them using it as a threat, as they risk making themselves look stupid when they can't carry it out.

I used to take what the kids came out with, with a pinch of salt, for many years.
Always double check anything which doesnt sound quite right.

Was it the teacher who said this? Or one of the assistants? Or did DD misunderstand?
The purpose of Reception is to introduce children to school and to enjoy the enrichment of learning. Suggesting that there is some kind of timescale she is not matching to a 4 year old is undermining. If this happened I would seriously be considering other schools - it suggests the teachers are under some pressure to meet unrealistic targets.

My DD could barely read when she moved up to year 1, her birthday is in May and like your DD she is the youngest in her year.
As PP's have said clarify with the school what was said.

My ds couldn't read at the beginning of year 1 although he knew the sounds he couldn't blend them together at all. He is now nearly end of year 1 and doing great bht I recall speaking with his teacher at th beginning and she said not to worry some can't do this even by the end of year 1. My advice would be to keep encouraging and praising your dd on her progress and it will come. Try not to worry as easy as that sounds, I wish I hadn't wasted time worrying about this now 9 months on.

You can't repeat years in English/Welsh schools unless it's really extreme circumstances. So if the teacher said this then they are talking nonsense.

Not repeating years, is this a newish thing then? I'm 30 and 3 kids in my year group repeated reception, ie got kept behind.

But OP just speak to your DDs teacher. I'm sure it was just misunderstood

Is she at private school? I’ve only heard of children being kept back a year in private schools, I didn’t think state schools could do this.

At my DC’s school they seem to prefer to hold back the summer born children at the end of reception. I would say in her yr 1 class there are 3 that were held back at the end of reception. So on average 3 per class.
Could your DC’s school have a similar policy?

I would just let the teacher know what DD said and that it's worried her. I imagine DD got the wrong end of the stick (perhaps the teacher said 'reading is going to be very important in year 1' and DD misunderstood). The teacher will probably reassure her she's doing well and she'll definitely be going to year 1!

Just keep reading with DD for fun. Remember, millions of children don't even start school until 6 or 7, and they pretty much all get there in the end.

You need to find out what was actually said. It could've been as follows:
Teacher: "WaitroseAldi's DD, could you read this sentence for me?"
WaitroseAldi's DD: "No, I don't want to. I don't like reading"
Teacher (knowing that WaitroseAldi's DD is excited for Y1): Well, you'll need to do lots of reading in Y1.

@Acupofcamus

Is she at private school? I’ve only heard of children being kept back a year in private schools, I didn’t think state schools could do this.

When I was in reception a kid in my year was kept back in reception when the rest of us moved onto Y1, in a state school. Obviously this was a while ago though.

My DD didn’t read until the end of year 2, plus she was one of the oldest in her class.
End of year 3 she became fluent and she reads books that are age appropriate, including aloud for others, with good flow and expression.
It’s so scary at the time, but just show her how fun books are, enjoy them and take it at her pace. You’ll forget this time once it’s passed.