Reception School Report - Advice Needed Please

[lollyp2003]

Hi

I today received my daughters school report for her first year at school - i.e. reception class. For the most part it seemed ok, it was quite detailed and praised her good points and raised a couple of issues were she needs to improve a little (she is good and reading and writing, but not so good at number work - I knew this anyway).....

There was a final paragraph that mentions, amongst other things, that her teacher is happy with her progress and that she will be ready to move into Year 1 in Sept.

But, on the last page there are scores for effort and attainment for the past academic year - her attainment is in line with the national average - I'm ok with that and we can work on it - but her effort is 4 which equates to a poor effort.

I am fuming, do they mean to say that since she started school last Sept she hasn't bothered - if so, why havent they mentioned this me before...its not like I dont ask them regularly how she is getting on. To me poor effort suggests someone who is unwilling to learn or cant be bothered.

Has anyone else experienced such conflicting reports from their DC's schools.

Thanks ladies

Thanks for your reply. Yep, its definitely for effort as it says it in the box (I even had hubby check it out too in case I was being daft). It has a key next to it noting 1 for excellent, 2 for very good, 3 for good, 4 for poor and 5 for very poor.

I was also amazed by why they would be judging a 4 year old (actually she is 5 but reception cover 4 to 5 year olds so it would be the same if she was a few months younger too). Quite frankly, I think that all kids of that age do very well taking on all that information and learning to read and write and how wonderful it is that they do for the most past think it is fun.

I'm sending hubby down there first thing Monday morning (I'm current pregnant and cant trust my hormones not to turn me into a crazed fool) to find out what the heck this all means.

Will be furious if they are basically saying "could try harder" at 5 years old.

It all sounds very bizarre lollyp.
Doesn't sound right to grade effort at that age anyway, and if there were concerns that she was not engaged you would expect the teacher to mention it before now. There are so many factors that make a 4-5 yr old tick. I have a reception DS and they're all different. It all sounds a mad scheme, but don't take it personally. Hope you're not still upset by it.

Why wouldnt you grade effort?
It can also be a positive thing, for example if a child is less able but puts in loads of effort then it's nice to be acknowledged

It may just mean that she doesn't sit still & concentrate well, like a lot of 4 year olds and nothing to worry about really - more something she'll most likely grow out of.