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Original poster

Should i have my son academically tested before he starts Reception?

47 replies

RBBMummy · 04/04/2018 22:52

I know he's ahead in a lot of academic areas and the additional needs team who were supposed to help him don't seem to want to do their jobs anymore. So now i'm considering having him tested independently to make going in to school easier. Or would it just be a waste of money?

OP posts:
pallisers · 04/04/2018 22:55

No. How on earth would it make going in to school easier?

Is he expressing reluctance to go to school? If so, I think you'd be better off focusing on other ways to deal with that than finding out if he is above below or average in ability in academic areas. School - and especially reception - is about more than academics.

FlexTimeCheekyFucker · 04/04/2018 22:56

No.

twinone · 04/04/2018 22:57

No, don't bother, nothing to gain.

Dragongirl10 · 04/04/2018 22:59

Waste of time at this age Op, just spend time reading with him, drawing, making things, lego etc....if he is super bright time will tell...

Or are you worried as he has additional needs? if so how would academic testing help?

ourkidmolly · 04/04/2018 23:00

Who would be doing this testing lark?

JuliaSevern · 04/04/2018 23:15

Do you mean the additional needs team at the primary school he will go to? Is the additional need that he is advanced?

QuantumPixies · 04/04/2018 23:16

What additional needs does he have?

Labradoodliedoodoo · 04/04/2018 23:19

Ilratyerbthen an academic test, go for an education psychologist

piercinggelo · 04/04/2018 23:19

Is this a thing?

Starlight2345 · 04/04/2018 23:23

Why do you want him testing . Schools do baseline tests for reception children

wonderstar1216 · 04/04/2018 23:24

Errr NO. What a waste of money! Your child will thrive in the right environment. Make that your priority

TheresSomebodyAtTheDoor · 04/04/2018 23:25

I've never heard of this, isn't academic testing done by teachers??

Callamia · 04/04/2018 23:26

I’m not clear why you have an additional needs team involved at this stage. Is an Ed Psych already involved? That would be the first point of advice. Whether an assessment is helpful depends very much on the child’s needs.

RavenWings · 04/04/2018 23:26

This is the same son with autism (can't quite remember if it's been diagnosed or is suspected), and you were asking about academics in reception recently.

I think much of that thread said to concentrate on social skills because that's the most important area for a kid heading into reception.

I wouldn't go getting him tested yet if it's just wanting to see how far ahead he is academically. If it's seeking an autism diagnosis, that's worth investigating.

3luckystars · 04/04/2018 23:27

How do you know he is ahead if he hasn’t started school yet?

Good luck anyway, I hope he does really well.

Original poster
RBBMummy · 04/04/2018 23:53

Dragongirl10 i can give them an exact list of his difficulties and issues but just a general list of strengths. Having someone who is specially trained to find that out asses him means they can be exact and sure of it.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 04/04/2018 23:56

No.

Original poster
RBBMummy · 04/04/2018 23:57

ourkidmolly the senior school near us turns in to a private tutoring school on the weekends. They have special needs specialists there who can do these these types of things

OP posts:
boobah23 · 04/04/2018 23:58

I'd say no. Receptions classes have a wide range of abilities. No need for special testing.

Original poster
RBBMummy · 04/04/2018 23:59

JuliaSevern no the pre ks1 additional needs team

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 05/04/2018 00:00

I don’t think it would matter if you gave the reception teacher an “exact” list of strengths. I wouldn’t bother putting your son through it.

Original poster
RBBMummy · 05/04/2018 00:00

QuantumPixies hes Autistic, is tongue tied, and is partially sighted

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 05/04/2018 00:02

No

haba · 05/04/2018 00:05

Are they going to snip his tie? Or will they leave it? Sorry- we had DS done at birth because DH still struggles with his.

Original poster
RBBMummy · 05/04/2018 00:17

haba it was cut twice when he was a baby but it grew back both times, the second time it got infected leaving it worse in the end due to scar tissue. They did say he could have an operation to remove it but its much more risk than its worth.

OP posts: