Question for those with DC in independent primary /prep re supplementing teaching

[jasperc163]

A fairly simple question I hope - Do you feel that you need to supplement your children's education ie teach elements of numeracy or phonics (aside from supervising homework) that your DC has maybe not yet fully understood when it was covered in school? Or is this just a state primary issue?

Homework aside, I want to spend time having fun with DD Yr1 or teaching her non curriculum subjects - like sparking her interest in the world and travelling. Instead, when I go to a parents eve I come out with a mental list of things that she doesn't fully 'get' that I need to work on - particular phonics, money or punctuation for instance. Last week I was told she was strugging to count backwards in 10's from say 32 to 22 etc. I spent 10 mins with her, sorted. But i do resent the feeling that I should be doing this. She has good reading and comprehension for her age (white, ORT 10-11) because she loves to read, but is more 'on target/meeting expectations' as they like to put it, for everything else done at school.

Local prep school has always been on the radar for us but not sure if I am incorrect to assume that I wouldn't need to supplement the basics in this way ie it would be their responsibility to focus on consistency in work and making sure she has understood something before moving on?

Thank you

No. Of course not.

If I had to supplement her teaching I would have done serious questions about what the he'll I was paying for.
We do stuff at home if she wants to/is interested etc. For example they had a maths challenge thing going at school with a website link and she asks to do that at home sometimes.

But dd had an entrance interview at 4. And ds has had one at every school change. I doubt they would have been accepted if they had been struggling in any areas. But other prep schools won't care as they are not academic. So it depends on the school.

I pay independently for both my children but firmly and absolutely believe their education is a partnership between home and school. I would never expect or want my children's learning to be solely based in school.

And so we do phonics, counting, times tables, general knowledge, spellings and grammar just in our day to day lives. It's nothing special or a chore particularly. But the difference is I have 100% confidence that the basics (and beyond) are covered in school more than adequately. We are just adding to that side of things and showing an interest. Learning should be fun afterall.

Thanks both. TwoPinkShoes - i am in no way saying i don't want to educate my children, but that i want to be able to spend more of the time we have on fun and educating in other areas, rather than basic numeracy and punctuation.

Research confirms that Children who do best in school are usually those who have their parents take an active interest in their school based learning. Nothing can beat that little 1:1 in math or English work that a parent can give.

I understand jasper and it is helped by the fact that what I do on the 'basic' numeracy and reading is in addition to what happens in school rather than actually doing it for the first time.

Look at the option and see what you think?

BTW, my eldest is 9 and has never, ever had homework at any of the independent schools she has attended. Now, that's a good thing! no infernal work sheets or 'projects'. But we are expected to help reinforce spellings and time tables and read/listen to our children every day. Homework comes much later...

Please don't get me wrong everyone - we read, do set spellings and practise piano every day, listen to Percy Parker Times table songs and do adhoc numeracy work 1-2x a week. I am not trying to absolve myself of responsibility for contributing to DDs education. I simply have this feeling that I need to plug alot of gaps in her core curriculum learning (that I pick up either from parents evening, or from comments she has made about something she found hard at school that day) that have not been reinforced by the teacher until she understands. Maybe this is to do with class size/resources and also because my daughter doesn't shout for attention, I don't know. But I was just wondering if this was a feeling that any parents in the independent sector shared, or if its more a state sector issue, or maybe just me!

I know exactly what you mean. My DS is at an academic, selective pre prep and while I do some stuff at home to reinforce school learning, my focus is that he has plenty of time to play, do fun things and run around in the fresh air. They are fantastic at teaching him all the phonics, Maths etc, and moving him on to the next level quickly, so I really don't worry about that side of things, and I'm very grateful that I don't feel I need to. He gets a lot of 1:1 attention at school as part of the normal timetable.

Probably vastly depends on school and I realise lots of people have marvellous local state schools, however we sent eldest child to private school and she did really well and we spent family time doing fun things, younger child is at state school (eldest moved onto grammer) as we cannot afford private now and though there shouldn't be a difference, by golly there is! We are having to do a lot more at home to keep him up to speed ..problems with larger classes, staffing issues, children needing extra attention etc etc that the private school didn't seem to have. If money was no object we'd be back to private like a shot.

I understand you!!! I have no experience of state ed, my DS's are at prep and if they are in a class that they are finding tricky and the concept isn't grasped they go for a little trip to Mr X's classroom (SN teacher who is paid to be 'there') so that it is overcome. Nothing is left to chance. We are informed at the end of the day. I suppose that is a resource that the horrific fees pay. Out of three kids and collectively over 10 years at the school - we've used it once. I suppose that's testament to their brilliant teaching in class! But I'm glad it's there - not something that you get in state I imagine ...

I deliberately chose my DC's prep school precisely because I would be encouraged/expected to be involved.
But the school made this clear from the off so no suprises.

That said, I suppose I'd have been peed off if I thought I were having to do most of it alone.

Thanks everyone - the feeling I get is that you do not feel that you have to top up the teaching (getting involved is not the same thing imo). Much appreciated.

I don't do any. If ds can't do his homework because he doesnt understand it I do a note to his teacher and I expect her to deal with it.

Ditto MollieO

My dd is only in Reception in a gdst school but I don't feel I need to teach her the basics. I supervise her homework because I am nosy I like to see what she's been doing. I am very happy to support her but that's where my involvement ends.

If I felt that my DS1s education needed to be supplemented for the basics of numeracy and literacy despite me paying £15000 a year, it would be a clear signal that I was wasting my money! I have always supported the school (listened to him read, make sure homework is completed), but that is the most I have done with him. I have been very satisfied with the school - they have extended him in the areas where he is ahead (reading, writing, maths, music) and supported him in his weaknesses (handwriting, general presentation of his work) without any input from me and whilst being in a non-selective and non-set environment. This allows time away from school to be truly free-time (they have prep at school and he completes 90% of his homework then).

My other son will have to have his education supplemented as he is attending a school in another language, so I will have to ensure that his English literacy and maths are up to speed to switch him into the English system later on in Primary.

I sit with DS (aged 7) while he does his homework, and if he gets an answer wrong, or doesn't know what to do then we discuss it. I think that 1-1 time is important in consolidating the learning they do in the classroom. It takes max 10-15 minutes, and it allows me to explore why he's finding something challenging, and we can discuss different strategies. If he really couldn't understand something I would speak to his teacher.

I did this when he was in a state school, and I do it now he's in an independent school. As he gets older I won't sit with him, but I will be available during homework time. I'll do the same for DD.

I educate my children privately PRECISELY so I don't have to top up! Or drive them to endless clubs! They are there until 5.45 every day and everything is done there. When they come home they chill. I read to them and very occasionally they have holiday homework (always optional).

I educate my children privately PRECISELY so I don't have to top up! Or drive them to endless clubs! They are there until 5.45 every day and everything is done there. When they come home they chill. I read to them and very occasionally they have holiday homework (always optional).