School reports results came as a surprise

Bufftailed · 18/07/2025 23:17

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:14

AIBU to be upset the teacher didn't provide enough feedback at parents meeting, around Easter time, and now the report for DC, who just finished YR1, mentions 'working towards expected' in all areas? We were not aware of this!

We did ask her specifically to let us know if there was areas dc needed more support back in April, and she said dc needs to work in the presentation of his work (which is true). But she only mentioned that! She said maths and reading was fine.... in the phonics test dc got 36/40 words, which I think it's very good. DC reads long sentences and has a good understanding of what dc has just read...

I understand dc's concentration is not great, and we also asked the teacher since the beggining of yr1 if she thinks dc's concentration is as expected for a 5/6 years old, and she didn't really noticed anything. DH thinks she doesn't pay much attention on him because he is very well behaved and she's too busy dealing with not so well behaved kids.... I am starting to think he is right.

How can she have not flagged this to us, when we asked in April? She removed the chance of us giving him extra support at home....

Sorry editing as can see year 1. Not great communication but still plenty of time to sort. Has term ended? So frustrating if something you want go discuss. Are they still in on Monday, if so call to discuss? If not get a meeting early next term and keep things going over summer with some light touch activities

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:21

Bufftailed · 18/07/2025 23:17

Sorry editing as can see year 1. Not great communication but still plenty of time to sort. Has term ended? So frustrating if something you want go discuss. Are they still in on Monday, if so call to discuss? If not get a meeting early next term and keep things going over summer with some light touch activities

Edited

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Dc just finished yr1

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Dweetfidilove · 18/07/2025 23:23

How is your son's effort in the homework and reading he does at home? Is it at a wildly different level to what the teacher has reported?

If he easily loses concentration, is he keeping up with what's required of him?

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:33

Dweetfidilove · 18/07/2025 23:23

How is your son's effort in the homework and reading he does at home? Is it at a wildly different level to what the teacher has reported?

If he easily loses concentration, is he keeping up with what's required of him?

He reads really well and understands what he read. He loves books!

In the past we had to tell the teacher the books he was bringing home were too easy and not challenging him. She seemed surprised. We insisted to send a level up home, which she did.... since then he has gone up 2 more levels in reading. If we haven't pointed it to her, she would have not noticed his improvement.

His homework he does quite well as well.... most of the time he tries to do independently, but sometimes he needs some help.

His concentration is easily affected by things around him. His brain is always very active and busy and can take quite a while to settle. The teacher said she didn't notice this.... so it really looks like she didn't pay much attention to him.

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Original poster

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:36

Bufftailed · 18/07/2025 23:17

Sorry editing as can see year 1. Not great communication but still plenty of time to sort. Has term ended? So frustrating if something you want go discuss. Are they still in on Monday, if so call to discuss? If not get a meeting early next term and keep things going over summer with some light touch activities

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Thanks. There's a drop in session next week, which I want to attend to ask about his report. I'm really shocked to see working towards in all areas :(

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ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 18/07/2025 23:39

You are being unreasonable for saying the teacher has removed the chance for you to give him extra support at home. You’ve always had the chance to do that, she hasn’t stopped you. I wouldn’t stress over working towards at this age. They all develop in different areas at different rates. If his reading is good then that’s the most important thing taken care of. A sizeable minority of children make it to secondary school without being able to read properly and it is a massive barrier to all other learning.

Silvertulips · 18/07/2025 23:44

You can focus on lots of word play games, maths language, etc at home.

They teacher is marked against the highest achievers and lowest ability - middles get missed.

AND it depends on the co-hour some classes have more high achievers the lower some kids get .

JifNtGif · 18/07/2025 23:45

Does your daughter have learning disabilities?

Bufftailed · 18/07/2025 23:46

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:36

Thanks. There's a drop in session next week, which I want to attend to ask about his report. I'm really shocked to see working towards in all areas :(

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Oh good - you can understand more then and get a plan. You could mention you are surprised this only came up now and has his progress dipped. Try not to panic!!

Jojimoji · 18/07/2025 23:46

What exactly has the teacher " removed" ?
Did she stop by your house and forbid you to read with him and help with his homework ?

Seriously, I wouldn't stress about school performance in year 1. You can see he's reading, you think he's doing ok, so I'm sure he is. " Working towards expected" doesn't mean anything now and it won't mean anything in five years time.

Encourage a love of reading and learning.
Support and trust his teachers
There's no more to it than that.

TheCurious0range · 18/07/2025 23:49

You say he has gone up two levels where is he on the reading scheme? DS got GD for reading but he has finished read write inc completely and he's just finishing y1, he's reading chapter books at home to us but also just for pleasure. He's working towards with handwriting which you can see so that's the area we practice most. Which parts of his homework does he find the biggest challenge? I really wouldn't worry about working towards at this age. I would be doing things at home regularly so you have a good idea of his progress. Also the children aren't benchmarked against each other. The school should publish end of year one expectations, have a look at those and see what you think.

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:59

Jojimoji · 18/07/2025 23:46

What exactly has the teacher " removed" ?
Did she stop by your house and forbid you to read with him and help with his homework ?

Seriously, I wouldn't stress about school performance in year 1. You can see he's reading, you think he's doing ok, so I'm sure he is. " Working towards expected" doesn't mean anything now and it won't mean anything in five years time.

Encourage a love of reading and learning.
Support and trust his teachers
There's no more to it than that.

We always read at home daily, and always support with home work. As we were aware that he need to work on the presentation of his work, we also worked on it by doing writing activities at home. If we were aware that maths or any other area needed more help, we'd have helped in those areas more too.

We also support the teachers and school , and definitely pass those values to our boys...after all, I'm somebody who has worked in education....

I just simply feel that if we were told he needed help in al areas, we would have spread of focus across all areas...

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Original poster

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:07

TheCurious0range · 18/07/2025 23:49

You say he has gone up two levels where is he on the reading scheme? DS got GD for reading but he has finished read write inc completely and he's just finishing y1, he's reading chapter books at home to us but also just for pleasure. He's working towards with handwriting which you can see so that's the area we practice most. Which parts of his homework does he find the biggest challenge? I really wouldn't worry about working towards at this age. I would be doing things at home regularly so you have a good idea of his progress. Also the children aren't benchmarked against each other. The school should publish end of year one expectations, have a look at those and see what you think.

Thank you for this. I juat think in reading ds is certainly working at expected level. I don't think he would be GD but he can read long sentences without sounding out words, for example. He reads complex words and he also understands what he has just read.

I'm just really surprised with this as the teacher didn't point out any particular area where he needed some more help , a part from working on the presentation of his work...

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TheCurious0range · 19/07/2025 00:11

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:07

Thank you for this. I juat think in reading ds is certainly working at expected level. I don't think he would be GD but he can read long sentences without sounding out words, for example. He reads complex words and he also understands what he has just read.

I'm just really surprised with this as the teacher didn't point out any particular area where he needed some more help , a part from working on the presentation of his work...

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I think that's the bad bit it hasn't been clearly communicated. My DNs school is like that everything was fine until my niece got to y 3 and then they said she was 2 years behind in some areas. DS' school have us in for curriculum meetings, literacy and phonics briefings etc multiple times a year so it's really clear what the expectations are. Not sure if you'll get a chance to meet the new teacher before the end of the year but if you do it's worth raising that you'd like to do everything you can to support and would appreciate regular updates.

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:16

JifNtGif · 18/07/2025 23:45

Does your daughter have learning disabilities?

No, no learning difficulties.

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Original poster

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:22

TheCurious0range · 19/07/2025 00:11

I think that's the bad bit it hasn't been clearly communicated. My DNs school is like that everything was fine until my niece got to y 3 and then they said she was 2 years behind in some areas. DS' school have us in for curriculum meetings, literacy and phonics briefings etc multiple times a year so it's really clear what the expectations are. Not sure if you'll get a chance to meet the new teacher before the end of the year but if you do it's worth raising that you'd like to do everything you can to support and would appreciate regular updates.

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Thank you. I will certainly try to talk with the new teacher asap and make sure I'm well informed. I'm exactly scared that the same will happen here, as it happened with your DN.

The school is quite lovely, the head teacher is great, but communication about learning/expected learning can certainly improve.

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TheCurious0range · 19/07/2025 00:24

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:22

Thank you. I will certainly try to talk with the new teacher asap and make sure I'm well informed. I'm exactly scared that the same will happen here, as it happened with your DN.

The school is quite lovely, the head teacher is great, but communication about learning/expected learning can certainly improve.

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I can't fully blame the school my brother and I have very different attitudes to education! You sound like you're on it, I'm sure she'll be fine

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:24

Silvertulips · 18/07/2025 23:44

You can focus on lots of word play games, maths language, etc at home.

They teacher is marked against the highest achievers and lowest ability - middles get missed.

AND it depends on the co-hour some classes have more high achievers the lower some kids get .

It seems like my husband was right...he was a bit forgotten. :(

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Dweetfidilove · 19/07/2025 00:25

Mumisconfused · 18/07/2025 23:33

He reads really well and understands what he read. He loves books!

In the past we had to tell the teacher the books he was bringing home were too easy and not challenging him. She seemed surprised. We insisted to send a level up home, which she did.... since then he has gone up 2 more levels in reading. If we haven't pointed it to her, she would have not noticed his improvement.

His homework he does quite well as well.... most of the time he tries to do independently, but sometimes he needs some help.

His concentration is easily affected by things around him. His brain is always very active and busy and can take quite a while to settle. The teacher said she didn't notice this.... so it really looks like she didn't pay much attention to him.

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My friend had this exact problem with her son in Y1 and he was just bored stiff, so disengaged. She had a similar report and it was just that he was way ahead, the teacher paid him no mind, so he would just wander off into his own little world. By Y3 (when he had a better, more engaged and engaging teacher), they were hailing him as gifted and talented.

If school is not yet closed, have a word with her to find out where she thinks he's fallen back since the last meeting and what she suggests for bringing him up to expectation. It might be something, it may be nothing; but after a year of being his teacher, she should be able to help with this.

Good luck 👍🏾.

Original poster

Mumisconfused · 19/07/2025 00:34

Dweetfidilove · 19/07/2025 00:25

My friend had this exact problem with her son in Y1 and he was just bored stiff, so disengaged. She had a similar report and it was just that he was way ahead, the teacher paid him no mind, so he would just wander off into his own little world. By Y3 (when he had a better, more engaged and engaging teacher), they were hailing him as gifted and talented.

If school is not yet closed, have a word with her to find out where she thinks he's fallen back since the last meeting and what she suggests for bringing him up to expectation. It might be something, it may be nothing; but after a year of being his teacher, she should be able to help with this.

Good luck 👍🏾.

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Thank you so much! It's good to know of other people going through similar things. I really appreciate you sharing this story.

I will definitely go to the drop in session and hopefully have so feedback.

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edwinbear · 19/07/2025 00:38

Basically, you thought your child was a child prodigy and they’re not. It’s a huge bump down to earth when they start school, and you realise they are actually quite normal. Your DC is a normal kid, needs a bit of work in some areas, others are fine. Nothing special, nothing remarkable. Just one of 20 kids, doing just fine.

SkibidiSigma · 19/07/2025 00:47

Is he one of the younger ones in his year? My DS just finished yr2 with wts across the board, although it wasn't a surprise to us as had been communicated previously. He's the youngest in his year and at the beginning of the year he was at the bottom of working towards now he's at almost at 'expected'. Not every child is going to be massively academic, I just encourage and support him and point out he is very good at other things, sport in his case

edwinbear · 19/07/2025 01:05

In the past we had to tell the teacher the books he was bringing home were too easy and not challenging him. She seemed surprised. We insisted to send a level up home, which she did.... since then he has gone up 2 more levels in reading. If we haven't pointed it to her, she would have not noticed his improvement

Look, as a parent of teens you sound unhinged. This stuff is so completely unimportant in Y1. I’ve had one who could barely read in Y3, he had glue ear, was a young for year boy, but as a current Y11, is about to get straight 8’s/9’s in GCSE’s and taking History/Politics/Economics/Classics at A Level. My Y8 DD was at ‘greater depth’ or whatever it’s called when you’re really smart throughout junior school, but just had a really shit end of year report because she can’t be arsed. Pick your battles, read books, discuss them, But don’t get in a fight with your DC’s school over a report for 5 year olds.

User79853257976 · 19/07/2025 01:18

YANBU but could it be based on end of KS1 (end of y2) expectations? Definitely request some clarity.

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 19/07/2025 01:20

The issue is, a school report should never come as a surprise. It’s a culmination and summary of the year and parents should be fairly confident in what it contains due to previous communication .