Why won't school give me DS's NC levels?

[JackandJillwentupthehill]

Hi there. My ds is yr 5, and because he is statemented (in mainstream school), I have to choose secondary school this year. I went on several open evenings and spoke to the SENCO at a couple. One of them asked me what levels he was at, and as I didn't know exactly, I asked his teacher at parents' evening just before half term. The teacher (who is an NQT) said to arrange an appointment as he didn't have them there on the night. I subsequently went in and he showed me a reading test ds had done and gave me his reading age and said he would dig out the levels from last year and the most recent ones from tests just being marked this year. However, today when I saw him, he said the head teacher had said he wasn't allowed to provide me with this information. Is this true, because that seems very odd to me? I only want ds's info, nothing about anyone else, or even averages for his class or anything. The SENCO at the secondary must have thought it reasonable to have this info as a parent. Are schools only obliged to provide parents with NC levels at the end of yr 2 and yr 6?

I thought these had to be made available to every parent? Are they not on last terms school report?

No, they just said 'working towards the expected level for his age group'.

Are schools only obliged to provide parents with NC levels at the end of yr 2 and yr 6?

Yes. Though many schools will tell you at other times, too.

I don't see any reason for schools not sharing that info with parents. At my children's primary school there is tracked on a data monitoring software package and parents are shown at every meeting where their child is compared to expected levels and what progress they have made since the previous term. I would arrange a meeting with the HT to discuss it, as you quite rightly say it is vital info for you to have in your discussions with potential secondary schools.

I'd kick up a stink personally. They shouldn't be withholding information about your own child. It's a completely reasonable request.

At our school we get the NC levels at the end-of-year report from Year 1 onwards.

So, I can't insist they tell me at this stage in yr5 then? I can't really understand why they wouldn't when asked. Is it worth speaking to head to ask why?

Oh, cross posted! thanks for the info. Will speak to head tomorrow!

working towards the expected level for his age group presumably means a bit below where he should be.

End of Y4 he should be a 3b, so I suspect he is a level 2a or 3c.

Do you believe he's a 'bit below' where he should be? Or a lot below? This is the crucial information you need.

I suspect the SENCO at the secondary school doesn't care in detail, they just want to know if he's likely to get a L2, 3, or 4 at the end of Y6.

School don't have to tell you. I would make an appt with the SENCO, explain you're choosing a secondary school, and need to know roughly where he is, or what he's predicted to get.

But telling the secondary schools 'a bit below where he should be' does tell them what they need to know.

TBH I would really have a problem with a school not wanting to share that information with a parent. There is no good reason not to, that I can think of.

just write a letter to the school allowing them to information-share with the new senco. they can discuss amongst themselves.

his statement should detail what support he needs though, and i'm guessing you took along the most recent annual review and any recent professional reports, so the new senco should have all the info they need to judge support requirements? i do find it helpful for the child concerned to accompany me to a new setting to look around, then the new school can see for themselves they haven't got two heads etc... a picture paints a thousand words, and all that.

indigo - he is statemented (physical and visual issues) and in the bottom groups for everything (but not at the bottom of the group apparently), but I'm not sure if that equates to 'just below' or 'significantly below'? I am always told they are pleased with his progress and that he works/tries really hard.

boy, are you being fobbed off :(

You need to know whether he's 'just below' or 'significantly below'

They will always say they are pleased with his progress. If you don't know his NC levels it's a meaningless platitude :(

You need to make a right fuss now, and find out whether he's a bit below or a lot below. It matters!

madwoman - I haven't got to that stage yet. Was just 'doing the rounds' of the open evenings and took the chance to speak to Sencos where possible. I do plan to revisit a couple of schools with ds, so will make sure I take annual reviews etc with me then. And of course they will see how lovely he actually is in person then!

OK, will definitely have a word with head tomorrow!!

How very odd, ever child at the school I work at, knows their current levels (assessed every 6 weeks by either Teacher Assessment or a Test alternately) AND the level they are expected to be at the end of the year or Key Stage.

This applies to ALL children, regardless of their ability and if they have a Statement or not. Parents are appraised of the current level every Parents Evening, and if they want to know for any other reason at another time, we tell them straight away.

Very strange. The school will definitely know what level he is working at, and I am very surprised they aren't making this information available to you.

I have had exactly the same experience, except that school claimed not to assess what NC levels the children were working at other than when they did the formal assessment at the end of yr 2 and yr 6.

We didn't push it further as right now it feels like dd is making some progress and we have got some intervention from the school, but I was also very unimpressed.

"Your pupils and students have rights to see their personal information. They can make a subject access request to see the personal information you hold about them. They ? and their parents ? also have the right to see their educational records. "

They can't keep your son's educational record a secret from you. It is possible that they don't have his current level to give you, but they can't just say they won't tell you. Put it in terms of a Freedom of Information request if necessary!

www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/sector_guides/education.aspx

Thank you Noblegiraffe and Custard. Very useful info! Didn't manage to speak to head yet, but did speak to teacher again who is telling head to expect me!

Presumably if he is in year 5 you will have an annual review soon where the transition is discussed and the statment ammended/ updated in time for his move to year 7.

Don't the levels have to be reported as part of the annual review process for his statement?