like cod

[cod]

arf at this section

parp parp parp
where the " my kid is thick " section

thanks marina:)

it's the British way isn't it?

anyone who does too well, too often 'needs taking down a peg' 'let someone else have a chance' blah blah

Moomin don't you think that mission statements and an ethos that encourages "it's cool to achieve" is more use than any amount of g and t provision that just seems to result in identifying the kids to bully. (with the proviso that I can still see the point of applying it in sink schools and getting the kids together from all the sinlk schools, but that's tackling a social issue as well).

We've chosen ds2's school because we thought that they encouraged individual achievement - whatever level that may be at.

Who does the identifying of G&T children?

Because I know from my own experience that teachers aren't always very bright - I got put into extra English classes when I was in junior school, fgs

this is ds school ethos

yes, jimjams, i absolutely agree. but the thing is that schools have been told to develop g&t policies and develop provision for g&t pupils. It's a govt initiative and so long as it's there, as teachers - and parents -, we are obliged to address it.

Yes, ALL pupils need to be treated as individuals and good schools will try their very best to do this, with varying degrees of success. But i think that's a problem here - I see g&t boards as (largely) a forum for learning about this strategy and what it means to pupils and parents; other people are seeing it as a label not necessarily associated with the govt definition. I think maybe a mix of the two would be useful, but it's difficult to determine what the content is if the topic is named after the govt initiative. lines are getting blurred.

don't know if i'm making my point very well - sorry!

Oh I know schools have to, but like many govt initiatives it just hasn't been thought through at all. DS1's school has to follow the national currciculum, and I am always very impressed with how they get round it. RE a couple of weeks ago involved a sensory story, sand, leaves, stones and water. Genius I thought.

I don't think people are posting on g and t to find out about the strategy really are they - and that could be done on education anyway.,

wih my names wasnt on this
its most distracting

jimjams, we have reached a cross roads re DS education, atm he is being educated part time by the LEA in form of 2 tutors that come to our house and the rest me and DH do.
They have turned DS down for a statement-their reason?
"We note that he works at high abilitiy and his acheivements are above the level expected for his age"
So, because he works at a high level they dont see him as SN despite his social and communication difficulties, we are taking them to tribunal and this thursday we have a meeting with all the professionals involved with DS.

Surely, the point is enough people have requested this topic that MN has created it. These people can now talk on here about whatever they want related to G&T - and if they want to brag about their kids that's up to them, though I don't see any evidence that they do - where is the harm? No one is forced to read it. All parents have valid concerns about their children and here is a wonderful place to talk about them anonymously. No one should be sneered at for what they want to say, though a reasoned argument in disagreement is fine.

oh dear, they really don't get it do they jenk. Good luck at tribual. Do you think a statement would help? I just found that a statement does nothing to alter the attitude of teachers etc, and that's such a huge hurdle. Not that I'm sayinging don't go tro tribubal/for a statement- that's essential, I just mean really look at the provision because that's more important than a piece of paper that no-one reads or really understands iyswim.

zip - sounds like a wonderful school.

Hi,

Jenk, i have just reported both of Rhubarbs posts to MN towers to have them deleted. Whilst i know that Rhubarb was being over exuberant I think that in the context of which they were posted they were way past the mark.

I apologise for not bothering to do it sooner.

cod is distracted cos this has her name on it..she did start it!

Is it really Gifted AND Talented? I thought they were two different things. So the top 10% in academic achievement across the board are identified, and those with a particular aptitude in one academic subject (eg Maths). They are the "gifted" if you like. And then there are the children who show a particular talent in any area: art, music, sport etc. They should also be on the G&T register, and given the same level of support. I worry that by concentrating on the brightest ones, and calling them "gifted AND talented", the non-academic talents get sidelined.

Is the intention of the mocking meant to offend the parents who have the G+T kids (btw labelled by the school not by ourselves)
The school happily tags this label on, then leaves you too it basically, of course you'd normally turn to your friends to discuss but as their kids were not labelled as such they trest you like muck and call you pretentious.
So you turn to your anonymous online community, where so many mothers hang out, some of whom have almost identical experiences to yourself.
Oh you think, finally I can chat about this with someone without being called a name.
The reason I found MN was not searching for reassurance about my (better that all your kids put together and multiplied) ds.

I actually found mn when searching for coping with the death of a young child, as my baby dd had been given a very frightening diagnosis that could have been terminal.
Thankfully the SN board and other mners got me trhough that and many other problems I have had, with my sex life, the best foundation, ttc, the best shoes, the best tampons, how not to eat grpaes before paying for them and not to rely on legal advice given on here.
So I figured, you know about my sex life, my desire for a breast reduction, so I'm having a little trouble with my ds at school. Naturally I'd turn to mn to discuss it
I had a fab discussion with constructive criticism some time ago about the G+T label. Where does the need to take the piss come from exactly. You don't believe kids with above average ability deserve extra schooling? That perhaps they're worth a little extra time and effort, same as the children who experience difficulties?
The reciprocal attitude of yours would be, well your kids are thick as pigshit, why waste the education money on them?
This si the first time in 3 years that I think mumsnet is not the place it was.
Because hearing this bantered around feels like you're mocking me and my child and quite frankly, I can go the school gates for that attitude.

I hope my post didn't give the impression that I was mocking. I do think that bright children need appropriate schooling, of course they do. I don't think it's an issue of whether they're worth MORE time and effort than other children. I think they are worth teaching properly, to achieve the best they can. Similarly I think that children with a talent in another area should be given the opportunity and support to make the most of their ability.
I just think the "G&T" tag is pretty meaningless in real terms at the moment. It is not clearly defined, and it is not closely enough linked to what happens everyday in the classroom.

"You don't believe kids with above average ability deserve extra schooling? That perhaps they're worth a little extra time and effort, same as the children who experience difficulties?"

Actually I don't believe they're worth extra schooling tbh. I think the deserve appropriate schooling. DS1 doesn't receive extra schooling since moving to special school (and he received a lot less in mainstream despite a full 1:1 statement- every time I drove past he was in the playground alone with his LSA staring at him). Appropriate schooling doesn't mean extra. I don't see why schooling a "normal" g and t child should cost any more than schooling a "plodder". Plodders should be given the chance to stretch themselevs as well. Setting/streaming where appropriate would help as would introducing the IB etc.

Yes, amen to that Jimjams. Exactly my thoughts.

The LEA's legal responsibility to all children btw is to provide an "appropriate" education, not the best. It's why we daren't move. DS1's current school suits him down to the ground, if we moved another school may still be appropriate but not as good and there would be nothing we could do about that, we'd have to acept it.

I hope ds2 and ds3 will get an appropriate education as well, and I hope they will be streamed and setted, whichever set they are in, but I don't expect any more than that.

Cool posts Frogs and SueW.

Piffle, don't take any of it personally, some of us know where you're coming from.

As I posted on one of the other threads, my main objection to the G&T scheme is that it is divisive. And this unlovely thread just proves, if further proof were needed, how divisive it is. Very sad. (This is not sour grapes, both my DSs who are at school have been put in the G&T bracket - by school, not at my instigation).

so as you all cans ee tis NOT sour grapes
youd love to think ti is but it isnt.

a dn cn i jsut say dino is blonde

weirdly i found an old yr 9 school report for myself yesterday. My husband found it v amusing, most subjects I was average but I gave goood oral

little minds