Key Stage 1 Literacy Levels

[PamBk]

My maiden message......
My son has recently bought home his end of key stage 1 levels, (he's just finished Y2). I understand level 2 is expected/average. He got a 2a for numeracy, 2b for writing and a 2c for reading. Its the reading i'm concerned about. At both of his parents evenings there was never mention of concerns with reading, he reads for us regularly and has got positive comments in his school reading log. We worked extra hard on his writing, being a left handed boy he seems neither to enjoy it or be particularly tidy (like his dad) and it was always writing the teacher focused on. When he went up from Y1 he was in the second to top reading group, they have changed the reading scheme so you don't seem to go through sequentially a level of books and then move on to the next making it hard for us to understand. Am i being an over anxious mum compounded by the fact i'm a secondary teacher? School seems quite defensive if you question them about things but i'm thinking i ought to ask for the evidence used to make these judgements. Or should i stop worrying and see how he goes in Y3? Thoughts please........

I would be asking what it is that he finds difficult, certainly - I think that's perfectly acceptable. How can you help at home if you don't know his next steps? Asking for 'the evidence used to make these judgements' could sound arsey, however.

Out of 7 assessment focuses (foci? , only one concentrates on fluency, though - perhaps your ds finds some of the comprehension aspects more tricky?

Do you think so, evidence and judgements are quite normal in secondary schools? When i had previously asked how they reached end of key stage levels i was told it was continual assessment so i am assuming there will be some log of data. Being a teacher i know how difficult it is to "sub level" a child and personally don't think you can do so accurately, but thats at KS3 and not in Literacy, i feel rather lacking in understanding of the the primary curriculum and its levels of attainment. I will however try not to sound too arsey, i think its just that i cut to the chase knowing that everyones time is limited and he only gets one shot at doing well at school.

There's a difference in how you ask, I guess - a wealth of evidence is collected to ensure sound judgements in Y2. So evidence and judgements are entirely normal, as are conversations regarding what your child can do, finds difficult and how you can help. It would be fine for a teacher to be asked to explain how the judgements are arrived at, o even to look at some key pieces of evidence, but demanding to see for yourself all the evidence used to arrive at these judgements could sound arsey. I am sure you know the wrong/right way to ask without anyone telling you from experience!

As a parent, I would also 'cut to the chase', and if your child was in my class I would expect to be asked about his attainment. I also think you should have had an indication way before now if your ds is struggling in reading, however, and this would concern me.