To continue at state primary or move to private primary?

[dammidarlin]

Hi everyone,

So, my son has started reception at a local primary school and I am considering moving him to a fee paying school in Year 1. It's only been a couple of weeks but it doesn't seem he is doing much apart from playing all day from the feedback he gives me and his contact book is returned with no notes each day.

Have you had any experiences with this? The reason behind my moving him is to ensure he is fully challenged and prepared for further education and give him the best head start.

Would be grateful for your thoughts!
TIA
Dee

Reception is (should be) play based, with phonics, maths, and other subjects included.

What do you mean by a contact book? I wouldnt expect daily notes. We get a comment once a week when DS reads to an adult, and maybe a note once a term (but probably less) if something else needs to be said.

4 is too young for some to do formal learning. Let him be a child.

Was the contact book issued to you by his reception teacher?
Does he have SEN?
I doubt a class teacher has time to write a screed in 20 odd books daily.

@PeonyTime

Reception is (should be) play based, with phonics, maths, and other subjects included.

What do you mean by a contact book? I wouldnt expect daily notes. We get a comment once a week when DS reads to an adult, and maybe a note once a term (but probably less) if something else needs to be said.

4 is too young for some to do formal learning. Let him be a child.

Thank you for this! My son is my only/first child so I am going through school thing for the first time, wasn't really sure what to expect at reception level, so your reply is reassuring

Yeah we were given a contact book by the teacher, but he doesn't have SEN. Ok will see how things go, thank you for your comments, appreciate it!

If he’s happy and everything seems fine then leave him where he is.
Reception should be all about play

It's only been a couple of weeks but it doesn't seem he is doing much apart from playing all day

Playing = learning. The idea is to learn through play because at that age it is the best way to learn - so I’m not sure it would even be different at a few paying school. That is what reception should be, some of these children have literally just turned four. I’d be concerned if they were doing otherwise.

@Rosesareyellow

It's only been a couple of weeks but it doesn't seem he is doing much apart from playing all day

Playing = learning. The idea is to learn through play because at that age it is the best way to learn - so I’m not sure it would even be different at a few paying school. That is what reception should be, some of these children have literally just turned four. I’d be concerned if they were doing otherwise.

Thank you @Rosesareyellow! I appreciate your comments and it has reassured me greatly as a mum to an only child, wasn't sure what to expect at this point :s thank you

I’ve done private and now state reception with my kids. No discernible difference in terms of content being taught (it’s all national curriculum).

I’d wait. If he’s happy, no reason to move him as yet.

It’s a bit early to decide after only two or three weeks. Give it a couple of terms to get over the settling in stage and to gather more information.

But don’t rule anything out either. There are some badly led state primaries which aren’t doing a great job, and if you’ve been unlucky and landed up in one of these, then don’t grin and bear it - move to either a better primary or a pre-prep.

Reception teacher in a prep school here.

Any decent Reception class would be spending most of their day, especially at this point in the academic year, 'playing'. Be assured that your child definitely is learning.

As for the contact book, I always say to my parents "no news is good news". You will not get a daily update. We don't have time for that.
What I'm trying to say is if you think it would be any different in a prep school, you'll be mistaken. If your son's happy then stick with it.

My dd's school sent parents this at the end of the first week (she is also in reception).

What is it tonight with the reception parents? I commented on the other thread that having experienced reception both in state and private schools, the only tangible difference is the class sizes and the lunch. It's way too soon to be thinking about moving a child because state reception is not meeting your expectations.

Oh blimey OP please let him have a childhood before you start ‘preparing him for further education’. The best reception class I have ever seen was at a state school - relaxed, fun, creative, outdoorsy, full of happy children. Get the happy right and the rest follows.

Reception is play based so that’s normal and as it should be.

At this stage the teacher is assessing each child’s starting point and reviewing the basics. If your child is advanced they should provide additional challenge but all through play.

I wouldn’t worry. A highly academically selective prep will be ahead of the national curriculum but that’s not what most kids need and might not even be appropriate for your son.

There should be a lot of play based learning in reception. Also feedback from a 4YO isn’t something to take too seriously because they aren’t exactly the most reliable narrators and do tend to tell you only about their favourite bits of the day like who they played with or the desert at lunch. It sounds like he’s enjoying it which is fantastic. It’s way too soon to be considering a move IMO. Oh and our private pre-prep doesn’t even have a contact book.