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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect a child to read with a grown up at least a couple of times in the first term of reception?

286 replies

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:17

DC is late aug birthday so only just four on starting school. Happy there and enjoying it etc, settled in fine.

They are never heard read by any adult. Teacher has acknowledged this.

Have found out this week some kids are reading with an adult one on one three or four times a week.

I know they have to focus on the ones who need a bit of help but come the fuck on, how does a little 4 year old feel if they never get that little bit of one on one time with a grown up and others get loads? Its not just about the reading - its about that bit of attention, the teacher or TA learning who they are and how they respond. Surely they can fit in my DC once or twice a term if they can find 3 or 4 times a week for other kids. Dc hates never getting picked to go and read. :(

OP posts:

Seeline · 01/12/2023 17:21

When my DCs were in primary I volunteered to go in once a week to listen to the children read. The school was very appreciative as there was not enough time for staff to listen to everyone. This was 15 years ago. I can't imagine things have improved.

BeefFloor · 01/12/2023 17:22

Yes this is poor.

at our school they are split into groups for reading. About 6 per group. about twice a week each group reads with the teacher/TA while the rest of the class do other things. Each child reads at least 1 page at each session. that same book then gets sent home and our child reads the whole book with us at home. They are just short books.

can you suggest something similar to your school? Maybe ask to speak to the deputy head for a meeting?

Original poster

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:23

I know there's not much time but if there's enough time for other children 3 and 4 times every week, why does my child deserve SO little of the teacher's attention? He is barely four years old.

OP posts:

MrsSchrute · 01/12/2023 17:24

Could you go in and listen to children read? Would free up time for your DS.

avocadotofu · 01/12/2023 17:25

That's really odd. At the school I teach at children are listened to at least weekly 1:1. DS5 started reception this year and he reads with an adult weekly. I wouldn't be happy with that set up and it would raise questions for me.

Original poster

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:25

No, i work.

The children being heard 3/4 times a week don't have a parent going in to hear readers.

Why are they worth so more attention than my DC

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 01/12/2023 17:27

Maybe he is on an earlier stage of phonics than the children that are going to read? They all start at different levels. It would be unfair to present them with even a page of book to read if they are only just at the recognising letters stage for example.

snackatack · 01/12/2023 17:27

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:23

I know there's not much time but if there's enough time for other children 3 and 4 times every week, why does my child deserve SO little of the teacher's attention? He is barely four years old.

I imagine 'time' is shared equally - and he is getting interaction in other areas.. perhaps reading is not the first focus, perhaps she views reading as not your child's priority.

To hear every child read a small book in reception can take a full day of teachers time.. to be honest, if you want your child to read fluently - you need to encourage it at home

BlueSoul · 01/12/2023 17:30

Absolutely. DS has done so daily since Reception, now in Y2. I would certainly expect at least some opportunities if not this often.

Boomboom22 · 01/12/2023 17:31

I don't think they can actually read at Reception. I have older ones who I remember vividly the pain of 45 mins a night to read 3 letter word per page. I have a 4 Yr old now and they send home books to read to them and are doing letter formation and recognition. I doubt many are ready to read books aloud yet tbh.

Original poster

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:31

Hes more able. The teacher has told me he is ahead in phonics.

I understand he won't get as much time as others for this reason.

However i hadnt realised just gow much teacher time others were getting until I heard a large group of parents praising the school for managing to hear them read so often and i was the only with a DC who is never heard read.

Its not about the readimg. Its about the fact that these kids are FOUR. They have emotional needs, its not fair for them never ever to have even a single turn having adult attention.

OP posts:

ohtowinthelottery · 01/12/2023 17:32

I volunteered to listen to infant classes read for many years (long after my DC had left Primary School)
I had a class tick list. The struggling readers' were identified in a different colour and I listened to them every time I went in. The others I used to make sure I heard them on a rota as there wasn't enough time to do all 30 children every week. The tick list was used by the volunteers and the TA so I could see if someone else had heard individual children read on another day. Everyone got a turn.

Dolphinnoises · 01/12/2023 17:34

This isn’t about attention, it’s about reading.

WhatNoUsername · 01/12/2023 17:34

I think it's important the school focus attention where it's needed most. If your child is reading at a level appropriate to their age they don't need the extra time. Schools are underfunded and resourced and have to direct the resources and time efficiently. There's no point spending the time on your child just for "feelz"!!

It's much more important that your child is getting one on one attention from you at home. They don't need it from a teacher for no specific reason. I did one-on-one reading with my child everyday. He didn't it in school as well as he was reading well. He had LOADS of other challenges though and there was barely the time to support those adequately, along with the multiple other needs that children who are struggling have.

bellac11 · 01/12/2023 17:34

He does have adult teacher attention though, during the day?

And you do read with him, him to you and you to him at home obviously?

I used to do reading as a voluntary thing, at a school near where I worked. I had the luxury of lunch breaks then.

TeddyBeans · 01/12/2023 17:36

It depends on the school. My son didn't start having guided reading sessions until after Christmas at the earliest. They're focussing on learning the sounds before then so some schools don't start with words until the phonics knowledge is sound

Popfan · 01/12/2023 17:39

I'm a deputy head at an infant school. That is definitely very poor practice. There are a lot of pressures in school but hearing children read is a priority. They will all be having a daily phonic lesson, however the application of phonics in context is equally important. Parent helpers are great but children should be listened to and taught by the teacher... the expert. Some children who are struggling will be heard more often and have extra teaching but all children should be read with by the teacher weekly or at the very least fortnightly. It doesn't matter how capable they are.

Puppupandaway · 01/12/2023 17:39

Could those children be pupil premium? When I was a reading volunteer in a reception class, I had a class list to work through and always had to start with the ones highlighted. Sometimes I wouldn't get through to the other children, but always made sure those highlighted were listened to. The teacher will be under pressure to ensure children who get pupil premium show progress.

Also, just because he isn't being listened to read doesn't mean he does no reading in class or is not being given attention. Is he happy to go to school every day, does he come out chatting about his learning? If so, I wouldn't worry.

Sirzy · 01/12/2023 17:39

You do realise the adults in the class will be providing attention in a whole host of way much more complex than reading don’t you?

SausageinaBun · 01/12/2023 17:44

We had this one year when my DD had a job share set of teachers. It turns out that each thought that the other was responsible for listening to her read.

I do find that my DDs have been listened to less frequently than other children, I assume it's because they listen to more able readers less frequently. But not at all wouldn't be ok with me.

JanewaysBun · 01/12/2023 17:44

My DS' school did do individual but alao did very small group sessions where there was a 1-1 element. Does your DS have that? But yes this is why many parents chose private

Original poster

Benibidibici · 01/12/2023 17:50

Fine clearly lots of people disagree. Imho there should never be such an imbalanced split of attention. Id understand if my DC was heard twice and term and others twice a week. But some children four times a week and others never?

Its fucking unfair on little children.

OP posts:

Anon9898 · 01/12/2023 17:51

I have two boys year 2 ( a free reader) and is heard read daily. The older one in year 4 (also a free reader) isn't heard read as much but he is very good at reading and reads a lot at home. I prefer the teacher spends time with those who need extra help

ichundich · 01/12/2023 17:53

So have you volunteered at your child's school to go in and read? Because most of the 1:1 reading is done by parent helpers. Also 1st term of Reception is very young to be 'reading' anyway. Maybe your child isn't advanced enough yet.

WhateverMate · 01/12/2023 17:57

How do you know how often the other kids get to read with the teacher/TA?

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