Parent's evening Reception....I am really confused now

[emy72]

My DD is a bubbly, enthusiastic 5 yr old, loves school, learning, reading, writing, it's all very fresh and exciting for her, which I think it's great. She also has lots of friends etc
Well I went to parent's evening expecting a relaxed chat but was put in front of targets - basically we ended up talking about all the things my dd can't do and left feeling really deflated and upset. Here are some examples:

• she can't recgnise numbers in their teens or add/subtract in teens (ie 12+5) I protested that she can count to 100 but she said that's not what she meant, ie the above.
• she gets a bit confused/forgets her "th-sh -ch" sounds -
• needs to work on the ng gh th etc (can't remember all of them now!)
• needs to be able to translate the more complex phonics into writing etc

DD is on ORT 2 books and knows I'd say hundreds of words as she knows all the words that have been coming home, including days of the week, etc and there was no mention/acknowledgement of this. She also talked about her not getting on with a couple of girls although in general she says she is a lovely girl and gets on with everyone and has lots of friends. She also mentioned that she thought she was on target for achieving level 4 something by the end of reception, which is what's expected. I am confused as I thought my DD was doing well and was happy but now left feeling she isn't doing quite so well and should be doing better. Not quite sure we have the time to do more than we are tbh either as I think it's important she enjoys her time at home with her brothers/sister and she is v tired at the end of the day. Arrrrggg can someone please decipher all the above for me?

Thanks for getting this far xxxx

Is it a young inexperienced teacher who thought this was how you deal with parents?

DS1 is in Scottish P2, same as English Y1 and I have to prize targets out of his teachers.

I would say subtradting in teens is Y1 work anyway. THe focus for maths in YR is numbers to ten.

Obviously your DD is doing well in school. I would possbily speak to the teacher about how negative you felt it was. Or if you don't feel you can speak to her, speak to the Head.

From where I am (my DD's in reception too) it looks like your DD is doing great.
The targets thing are the things that they are now looking at her working towards
But somehow your teacher has put it over to you in a really negative way, in saying that these are all things your DD can't do.
It sounds like the teacher's communicated badly, not that you've got anything to worry about re your DD.

oh thanks that has reassured me quite a bit.
It just came across like she was struggling. I was overwhelmed by guilt trips all night about how we are not doing enough with DD and how we should have been more on the ball (

Stop worrying!
Your daughter is clearly doing very well at school.

I am a reception teacher and your dd's teacher sounds like she is giving you her "next steps". All children should get individual targets - which they, obviously, have not yet achieved.
Even the highest achieving 4 year old in the country should have new targets.

Ideally your dd's teacher should have gushed about her current achievements first and then explained her targets, but ho hum - nothing to worry about at all - feel proud!

thanks again for the words of reassurance - I guess it must be easy for a teacher to assume you know the score - but from someone who knows nothing about education etc it came across like I had something to really worry about. I guess if she'd explained more clearly that my DD was doing well and I had nothing to worry about, but here were her next steps I would have been a much happier mummy! x

Just back from reception parents evening ho hum, no targets mentioned as such just that the teacher has no concerns about her apart from her speech which she has an IEP for and that was flagged up by us before she started school IYSWIM.

DD has a fab teacher (3rd dc through the school), your dd is achieving so much more than mine tbh.

DS is also 5 ans in reception. His parents day also had no mention of targets per se, but rather goals to work towards and the average of what the curriculum expects and where he is.

From what you have said your DD is doing really well and I wouldn't worry. It sounds like the teacher is far too target orientated to me.

My DS sounds like he is only ever so slightly behind your DD and he was given very high praise and it was hinted at that he is near the top of the class, and his teachers are great.

I feel for you for having a negative experience at parents evening. It's such a shame when someone makes you question your child's abilities

As a Primary school teacher I totally agree with Glinda...sounds like your child is doing VERY well!! Well done to youfor spending so much time with helping her with all her school work.
Have a look at

nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/84551?uc=force_uj

There is a downloadable attatchment on here which shows you what children should be aiming to achieve by the end of the reception year. On average, a child achieves 6 of the scale points. There are only a few children who achieve all of them! And there are NO scale points which require a child in the reception year to be able to solve addition and subtraction calculations - just to show an understanding of the concept of addition and calcualtion. If your child can add and take away already then she is steps ahead of where she needs to be...you should be feeling like a very proud and happy Mummy at the moment!!
Hope that helps a little bit...
Jenny

Reminds me of my DD's Reception parents' consultation. It was a list of all the things she couldn't do, without a mention of what a completely happy, smiley, friendly, gorgeous little thing she is. The teacher even said DD's mouse skills weren't as good as they 'should' be (to which I replied that I thought 4-y-os should be playing in the garden, not on the computer).

Y1 parents' consultation was the polar opposite experience!

Don't panic see the Early years foundation stage profile targets and DS is doing very well. Children do not need to know any of this in yr R and are only expected to reach a level 2 by the end of infants and a level 4 by the end of juniors!!!! Sounds a bit extreme to me as children in yr r are meant to still be in child led learning and I bet she isn't asking for these sums!!!