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Original poster

Reception school report

26 replies

Mulledwine92 · 19/12/2023 16:01

My DD is 4 (summer born) and had her autumn term report yesterday. Everything else says excellent but her maths and literacy are below expected. Feel like it’s something I’ve done wrong but I’ve always done phonics with her and read books with her and shapes and numbers so I don’t know where I’ve gone wrong but feel like I’ve failed her!!

OP posts:

Catza · 19/12/2023 16:11

Where I come from, we start school at 6/7. The only maths I think I could "do" at 4 years old is to count to 100.
I have two degrees and a professional job now. I also went to a grammar school specialising in maths and chemistry.
I am not sure what literacy and maths standards could be expected of such a wee child. I can't imagine you failed her at all. Please don't give it another thought.

missmollygreen · 19/12/2023 16:14

You havent failed her.
Use it as an idea of where might need a little more focus

TinselTitts · 19/12/2023 16:14

She has plenty of time to catch up. You must know this or you would've have mentioned she was Summer born.

She'll get there, just try not to catastrophize by saying you feel like you've 'failed' her. That's not going to help anyone.

DailyMailHater · 19/12/2023 16:14

My son got below expected on maths in his reception and year 1 reports 1 he is now at secondary and in top set for maths - please don’t worry / feel bad.

ask the teacher which skills she needs to work on and try and find a way of doing them at home that is fun / a game.

my son loved baking and never realised that by helping with reading the recipie and measuring and weighing the ingredients he was learning

takealettermsjones · 19/12/2023 16:14

She's four! She's only been at school for three months. She's got so much time to catch up. I wouldn't worry about this even for a second. I'd be happy at this point if they're going in every day and haven't lost any of their uniform. You're doing great.

SnapdragonToadflax · 19/12/2023 16:17

Are they basing it on where she should be now, or by the end of Reception?

Either way, it's in no way anything to worry about! She's still very little, plenty of time. Ask the teacher what is it she's missing and go from there. Or just leave it and she'll probably catch up by the next report!

PandaCory · 19/12/2023 16:28

She is still so little, I wouldn’t worry about it. Keep reading with her and give her the opportunity to practise her maths skills through play (my kids loved playing at being shopkeepers, waiters, etc, at that age).

MirrorBack · 19/12/2023 16:36

My son was recorded in reception as not meeting end of year goals in maths (and well… most things). When I asked I was told they were working on numbers 1-5. He was summer born and I think they were just in a mindset coupled with him not talking to them. He could actually multiply and divide well. Went on every year after to achieve well and do a GCSE maths early. I’m glad I just let it pass by

Daisies12 · 19/12/2023 16:38

it's reception. Let her enjoy learning and socialising and having fun.

Ohnonoohoh · 19/12/2023 16:40

Honestly, dont worry about it. She'll get there when she gets there

My DS has always been below expected. For everything. Even his report in July he was below in all subjects. Had his parents evening last week and hes exactly where he should be in absolutely everything now aside from his handwriting ( but he has dyspraxia ) and his teacher had recently done a test with the entire class ( 33 pupils ) and my DS was the best reader out of everyone.

I used to get upset and worry its because I hadnt helped him enough, I could of done more ect. But as it happens, he got it when he got it

Honestly, dont stress. And she is still very very young so has plenty of time to get where she needs to be

Ohnonoohoh · 19/12/2023 16:40

Sorry forgot to add DS has just turned 7

StillCreatingAName · 19/12/2023 16:49

Summer born dc here (late August) - just don’t worry about this first report at all. I can’t emphasise enough how irrelevant it becomes in a few years. Reception age ‘learning’ is new and different for all young children, irrespective of their birth month.
You could use it as evidence if you’d like her to repeat this year, but go on the advice of the teachers, not just the label of ‘summer born’.
I wasn’t able to delay dc start, I found within a few years you could hardly tell the difference (though a contributing factor was the school closures in 2020/21), but that’s my experience and it may not be something you want to wait for in the case of your dc.

Megifer · 19/12/2023 16:51

4????? 4 years of age???

Put that "report" in the paper recycling bin and forget about it.

Howdidtheydothat · 19/12/2023 16:53

OP, this is the first of many reports, and I can see why, as a first school report it may worry you. Likely nothing “wrong” they learn in fits and starts at that age. Just keep an eye out as the year goes on. You could also ask for a quick catchup with her teacher to ask if she has any specific concerns x

Mynewnameis · 19/12/2023 16:56

I'm pretty sure only England has these ridiculous expectations and reports (I live in a different UK nation)

43ontherocksporfavor · 19/12/2023 16:57

Does she count to 5 or 10 ? Does she recognise numbers? Can she add one more? Does she know any number bonds to 10?( 5+5, 1+9, 2+8 etc)

Mariposistaa · 19/12/2023 17:02

Failed her after one term in Reception? She’s hardly flunked all her GCSEs yet! Teachers have got to be honest. If they wrote ‘all is fine’ then your child would get further and further behind. By flagging the issue now, steps can be put in place to help her.
Nobody likes to hear their child is not excelling but now is not the time for sensitivity. Have a rest over Christmas and then get cracking.

43ontherocksporfavor · 19/12/2023 17:08

Do you count with her while going up the stairs or count out pieces of food etc Give her some slices of fruit and ask how many she wants then add one more and ask how many now.Every day maths is helpful at this age.

PastTheGin · 19/12/2023 17:09

It’s reception, your dd is very little. As long as you read to her, talk to her and play with her and don’t just plonk her in front of a screen she will be just fine!

Thequeenofwishfulthinking · 19/12/2023 17:10

if you want to know more about the expectations for these areas ask the teacher for some guidance. Have a look at the EYFS curriculum online.
Find out which phonics programme the school follows. By teaching her phonics prior to school this might clash with how they blend in class. We generally have to unpick a lot of phonics home teaching in Early years. Every programme is different. It is generally easier when we start with a clean slate.
The expectations for maths are set high. It encompasses not just standard shapes such as triangle, circle etc but more complicated shapes such as pentagon, hexagon and an awareness of 3D shapes.
The children also require knowledge of time, number bonds to 5 and be able to double, half and share numbers.

Sandysandwich · 19/12/2023 17:14

You have not failed her because she isn't excelling after four months in school. She's four and still learning how school works- the first report is just a baseline to see where a child starts off and its nothing to be worried about that she is on the liwer ejd- she is young and new and all childden are different, the ones at the end of the year will show her progress which is wht matters.

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/12/2023 17:14

I think the Expected level they refer to is what is Expected at the end of Reception so don't worry.

nearlyemptynes · 19/12/2023 17:28

My son was summer born, in year 1 he was in a phonics intervention because he didn't know his letter sounds. He has just graduated from Cambridge and is now studying for his masters.

Marchitectmummy · 19/12/2023 17:46

Plenty of time to pull her up to standard, speak to the school about where she is struggling and focus on that during holidays and 10 mins after school and she will get there.

Sugarsun · 19/12/2023 18:10

She’s 4.

As long as she’s happy and healthy, that’s all that matters.

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