Should I be worried?

[emy72]

My daughter has been going to pre-school nursery attached to the school we would like her to go to since September. It's ofsted outstanding and very nice, lots of activities laid out for them etc...we are happy with it overall, although I have to say that it's not been obvious what she's been learning so far.

She then went to spend half term at her grandparents and stayed there for 12 days. My mum thought it would be nice to buy her some books and my daughter picked one where you coloured in letters then copied them, etc...

So my mum did some of the book with her and then encouraged her a little further as she was that interested....well within that short space of time she has learnt to write all the letters of the alphabet plus her name.

Should I worry that at this pre-school then she hasn't learnt, in a whole half term anything like that? They told me that they would teach them letters etc "when they're ready" so I trusted them and thought that my daughter wasn't ready - well how wrong was I?

So if I can't trust them with this what else are they not doing? I just feel sad that she's spending all that time somewhere and not really learning that much and I wonder what you all thought I should do. Maybe I am overreacting................?

I think you are tbh. Chill

It's early days yet - I expect they will do more as the year progresses, but she will be learning all different kinds of things at this stage, most of which you won't see!

Please remember it's a pre-school nursery. My children did daily phonics for 5 mins and then learnt how to get paint on their jumpers, trousers and tights, how to get sand from the sand pit in their ears, how to make huge junk models. They started when they were about 3 1/2 years old. THe formalish teaching came in the term before they started reception so effectively they had a year of playing whilst learning subconsciously. They were encouaged to try to write their name, etc.
No I don't think you should be worried she's still very young.

I think it is a mistake to focus too much on the alphabet as if that was the only important learning she should be doing. Unless she is sitting in a corner staring into the middle distance at pre-school, chances are she is learning things that are at least as important as their letters.

Remember, in Scandinavia they don't start to teach them to read until they are 6 or 7. Before this, most children attend nurseries where the emphasis is on skills such as art, outdoor survival, baking, sewing, modelling. They help preparing their own meals, lay the table etc, all the while developing spatial and cognitive skills. ANd motor skills, of course. When they start formal school at age 6 or 7, they pick up reading extremely quickly because their cognitive skills are so well developed. This approach traditionally has better results than the British obsession with the three Rs (as if they could ever exist in isolation).

A friend of mine who was a teacher in London for many years often complained that his pupils were being made to read and write when they had nothing to read or write about; he thought they would be better prepared for reading if they developed other areas first.

No, you shouldn't be worried, it's a preschool. Your Mum has done it because grannies have infinite patience for their grandchildren - plus she will be able to tell all her friends now what a telented grand daughter she has

thanks for your replies, I feel reassured now. TBH I wasn't too bothered BEFORE she had learnt this with my mum, as I shared your views about other things being so important.

Just got a bit paranoid that I should be encouraging her more in that direction and the preschool should if she's shown such a big interest.

Not really bothered about my daughter being able to read and write before she starts school otherwise I suppose I would have taught her myself.... It was useful to read your comments, thanks again for your replies x

ps the comment about granny telling her friends about the granddaughter being talented made me chuckle no end lol xx