foundation stage

9 replies

alexsmum · 07/09/2004 23:06

Hoping there are some primary teachers about who could answer my question.ds is starting school next week, and I have been told they have baseline assessments in the first week.Being the pushy mum I am(!) I just wondered what the expectations were.Ds can write his own name, knows his alphabet and recognises letters and numbers.He knows the days of the week,can count etc.Is this enough?? What kind of things "should" he know???

OP posts:

poppyseed · 07/09/2004 23:11

I'm an ex-secondary teacher but more importantly mum to DD (5) who is now in year 1. Nobody could be as pushy as me and this sounds fantastic to me. DD did most of this last year and they probably did assess her on entry to the school, but nothing too much to worry about and not particularly formal either. I think that it was just noticed in the course of whatever work they were doing at the time, and a box ticked iyswim. Don't worry he'll be fine.

Original poster

alexsmum · 07/09/2004 23:15

oh thanks poppyseed.it's just one more thing to worry about,along with,will he make friends? what should he have for lunch? will he do as he's told etc. The teacher told us she assesses them and then they are taught in little groups according to ability but informally iyswim. I think he's bright,but don't know whether I'm kidding myself!!

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poppyseed · 07/09/2004 23:39

They all make friends, they all mess about with their lunch....DD needs quick food at lunch as she's trying to get out to play with her friends so quickly!! I have just peeled a kiwi fruit for her lunch tomorrow so that she doesn't have to wait and ask for help!! I seem to remember a thread on here recently about good lunchbox ideas...perhaps if you get 5 minutes (ha, ha) you could do a search....
Gotta go to bed now as I start the nagging early tomorrow . Good luck to little Alex for his first day - don't forget the photos!!

Original poster

alexsmum · 08/09/2004 11:00

bump

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Tessiebear · 08/09/2004 11:33

Alexsmum - Blueteddy is a classroom assistant in a reception class - she knows EVERYTHING about this - i will E-mail her and get her to post on this thread later ..

Tessiebear · 08/09/2004 11:38

Just E-mailed her

blueteddy · 08/09/2004 16:41

Yes, he will do fine!
I didn't think that they still baselined children in reception any more, our school stopped it the year b4 last.
Any way, baseline is just a guide 4 the teachers to see if the children are doing the kind of things that a 4 year old should.
They test to see how many sounds that they know, numbers, if they recognise their own name, can write name, put things into sets, retell a familiar story, focus on an activity 4 10 mins without adult intervention etc.
They get a baseline score at the end of it which you should be told at a parents meeting.
The process is repeated at the end of the year 2 see how much they have progressed.
I would not worry about it. Your son sounds fine.

tigerfairy · 08/09/2004 17:03

Alexsmum, Your ds sounds really bright!
I've just got this book from the library called "Help your child with the National Curriculum Tests" by Graeme Kent, as I have children age 4, 10, and 13 and the older ones are doing their sats in May. It tells you everything the schools expect from your 4/ 5 year old, and tests, assesments and how you can help them at home. (mainly reading/ letter formation) but is really informative. Might be worth you lending it from your local library.
Hope his first day goes well!

Doddle · 08/09/2004 18:37

they don't do the baseline assessment anymore, they have a foundation stage profile and the children progress along footsteps(?). I'm a teach juniors, but i have a ds in y1.

It sounds like your ds can do a lot of the things they should have covered by the end of reception. He'll be absolutely fine.

Last year my ds1 used to take 1 and 1/2 hours to eat his lunch(?), they were very patient!! He's speeded up now and has lots of friends.

Good luck

Flip