Not sure what to say to this

[julybutterfly]

Before I start....although she is bright, I don't think DD is G&T but thought I'd get a better (more non-judgemental) reply here than in other topics!

DD has just turned 4. She's in a school attached nursery. She can read well already and nursery are sending home the school reading scheme books for her to read at home. This is fine, she enjoys it and is happy to do it so I'm happy!

However, yesterday the nursery teacher took me aside and said that she's noticed DD can also write. I agreed and said she's always writing at home - all be it mostly phonetically at the moment. She then went on to ask if I'd agree to DD going up to the reception class for 10-15 minutes on the days she's in nursery when they're doing some phonic work. She said that she's noticed DD writes some of her letters 'incorrectly' - they're right when she's written them but isn't writing them in the way they teach (eg for a 'b' she writes a backwards 'c' and then does the straight line leading from that) and that they want to nip this in the bud before she gets much older.

Now this is my problem. I do understand what they mean because they had trouble undoing some of DS' bad habits when he started reception class and I don't want DD to have the same trouble. But, she's just 4! Shouldn't she be playing in nursery while she's there? Or do you think 10-15 out of her day wont matter too much?

I've told them I'd have a think about it and let them know by the end of the week but I'm really not sure about it!

Can anyone advise?

I think this is one of the situations where it is good to follow the child's lead.

Try it and see.

If she enjoys her sessions in the older group, and overall is happy with the new status quo, then that's fine. If OTOH she is not happy or it affects her pleasure in writing or takes away her spontaneity, then it's not working and she should revert to staying with the younger group.

Some children love to learn, and that should be indulged.

I think I would say yes, but if she does not enjoy it or seems overwhelmed by it, then stop it asap.

BTW when my dd was 2.5y, she used to go into the oldest children's room at the nursery, sit at the table with pencil and paper, and wait politely. When asked what she was doing she would answer "I'm waiting for my lesson". The nursery indulged her and let her join in the lessons whenever she wanted.

The line between 'work' and 'play' is still very blurred at this age.

Id be delighted at this - they have noticed it and want to work with her and encourage it - cant see any drawbacks unless she is unhappy there - its only a few minutes a day anyway

Thanks everyone. I think I'll go with it and see what happens. I haven't mentioned it to DD yet but I'm sure she'll love to do it.

vegasmum that's what happened with DS. The old nursery teacher never wanted to do anything to help him so he did things his own way - which just confused him when he started reception. He's in year 1 now and I was told at parents' evening that he's the 'most able' in his year so guess things have settled down again lol. I'm just so glad the new nursery teacher is keep to help DD

I think its great that the teacher is offering this and shows it is a proactive school, dealing with the needs of the individual.

My DD could write before school, but it was always capital lessons and it was a major job when she started school to re-teach her to write using lower case. She went to a nursery who had shown her capital letters and this was not corrected.

Lots of children start main stream school at 4, so I wouldnt be too worried about this, and reception classes are still very much play related.