Help after starting year 2

[purrrfect]

When children get put on the G & T register - is it something I should hear about at the beginning of a new school year. My son AM (7 this month) has just started year 2 and last year the teacher said he would go onto the register next year. I was told his level at that point was 3b for his reading but not sure what age a child would normally be at that level?

So far this year he has been given a book that he was reading in the first term of year 1 and there has not been any mention about the gifted and talented register. As this is the first full week back at school, maybe I am not giving the new teacher a chance but I would have thought his notes should have been passed on from last year.

I really don't want him to get bored as I had a huge problem in year R when he wasn't challenged enough

Hi I'm having exactly the same issue my son who has just started year 2 (7 next April) is way above where he should be in maths and English. Last year he was in a mixed class of years 1&2 and was soaring about the year 2's. He was also invited on a gifted and talented Maths workshop.

His first week back last week went really well, this week however he has come home very upset and said he hates school and doesn't want to go anymore ;0(. He is obviously bored and has been told of for getting distracted and shouting out in class. I too don't feel I can go rushing into school demanding when he is going to be tested but am worried that this is a special need and I don't want a wasted year.

Yes I know what you mean, during most of year R he was bored and kept telling me he knows everything already, the teacher tested him to discover he did know everything but could only help by giving him extra homework (not great as he didn't want to do school stuff at home at that point). Year 1 was great, the teacher kept up with his reading and he was much happier. Now during year 2 so far there has been no evidence of any help. AM is ok so far - he says he can read books at home but this is not enough.

I think that if my son has another bad day where he comes home upset, I shall make an appointment to go in and ask how he is being kept challenged and at what stage will he be tested for this special need. If he seems to be happy I'll wait until parents evening after half term, although I feel this is a bit too far away.

I think I will wait until next week and see what reading book he gets and take it from there - don't like causing problems as his teacher is new to the school but maybe he needs to realise my son needs to continue from the level he was at last year

Parents evening is a bit too far away as it is you that has to cope with an upset child. Also I would have thought if he is distracting the group the teacher would also be pleased to have the chance to sort it out to make her day easier!

Oh by the way can the schools carry out this testing that you mentioned about - what does it involve?

I don't know much about it other than they test them for the gifted and talented register in year 2. My son is also talented in a sport and the head teacher told me at the end of last year that she was considering putting him on the register for that. I'll keep you posted.

What do all the posters so far envisage this "Test" to be on/ not on an arbitrary list to be like?

And purrfect So, your son really does know EVERYTHING and has no more left to learn? At 4?

Sorry I don't understand your question. Year 2 children are in fact 7, not 4 and I think that purrfect was saying that her child knows all the reading/spellings and Maths that the rest of the class are being taught.

Time for a litle faith in the teachers. It's early in the term, year 2 does have more 'obvious' learning, teachers will want to understand the abilities of all the children as they will be thinking about KS1 goals.

There is no special test. The teachers come to a conclusion based on the child's performance over time and if the school runs a register a child may go on it. IME this doesn't then translate into any different/special treatment. Teachers differentiate for all levels.

Thanks everyone for all your input and yes my child in year R already knew what was being taught in the lesson at that time and did not know 'everything' - that would be impossible for any child.

Just one more question - does anyone understand the grading system used to assess the level of the children. For example, I know that by the end of year 1 most schools hope children to be up to level 1b. Does this mean that the levels correspond with the school year? Is it the same during keystage 2? I was told my boy was at level 3b for his reading when he was six, does this mean his reading level is similar to an eight year old?

If I can understand how the grading system works it may help me to understand more if I need to speak to the teacher.

So now I can identify G+T children, as they are the distracted ones that shout out in lessons. I'd thought that was just poor listening skills and bad behaviour.

I hope you all realise that 'G+T' applies to the top 10% in your child's school, and in the school down the road, they may not be G+T at all.

My son is extremely well behaved at school - during year R he was even frustrated by the children who misbehaved and didn't wan't to be friends with them. Now he makes up for it with his behaviour at home! Every child is different some switch off, others fight for attention and behave badly and others try their hardest not to break the rules.

Not every G & T child behaves badly!

Sorry, that was for maddylou not you purrfect.