Does anyone flexi school because school isn't enough?

[RoboJesus]

How did it work for you? Was it hard to get the teachers onboard? Could you have your child sit out of yer exams in the school? I'm trying to look into whether doing it would be a realistic possibility or not

[Plimmy]

That makes no sense. None.

Can a child not be talented at maths?

[Zoflorabore]

Hmmm, wondering why my post from yesterday was deleted?

In the 5 years I've been on MN, this is the 3rd post I've had deleted. I'm on here most days. I'm not a nasty poster.

Hit a nerve did I?

[MyOtherProfile]

I was wondering what it could have said Zoflorabore

[ShackUp]

plimmy I'm an ex G&T coordinator; OP is correct, talent subjects are generally considered to be practical subjects, gifted subjects are the desk-based ones. So you aren't talented at maths, you're gifted, but you're talented at music, for example.

[MaisyPops]

But it's also worth remembering that lots of schools have moved away from saying gifted. Every school I've been in they speak of more able students. (At first I thought it was a silly shift. Now I see some parents like the OP obsess over their kid being gifted and think it means their child couldn't gain anything from education etc I can see why the shift was made).

Semantics aside, the OP has told us their child is gifted, hasn't said how they are or how they know and has made the statement that their child is so advanced they have nothing to gain from school other than socialising.

So it comes back to the OP, are you seriously claiming your pre school child is working at KS3/4 level in every subject in the curriculum?
And why do you feel that your child is so smart they couldn't possibly gain anything from teaching staff?

[JustRichmal]

Are you seriously saying you have a 4 year old who has worked out proofs for the sine and cosine rule, the proof for the circle theories and the proof formula for the internal angle of a polygon by themselves or have they been shown the proofs and now understand them?

[TwoGinScentedTears]

Hi op.
I've read a few threads you've been on and haven't posted before. I don't know if you're going to read this or how you'll respond to it, but I'll write it anyway.
Gifted and talented children are still just children. They need to be exposed to all the normal (babyish?) stuff that all kids are exposed to even if it seems ridiculous to you or them. It can't be all about learning and getting ahead. It's tempting but honestly, they still need a childhood. If they're as gifted as you say, that will never go away, they'll be clever, smart, capable, intellectual, ahead of the curve when they're adults too. But they only get one chance at being a kid. School is a great place to be a child. It's totally geared up for it. Foster their abilities at home if you must, let them be who they are but let them be a kid too.

Don't get too caught up in their abilities, because even if you neglected to cater for their education, they'll still be brilliantly clever: thats the nature of G&T. They won't stop being gifted if you don't read Chaucer together at 5.
Enjoy your child, play with your child, and relax. You're in danger of skipping too fast through their childhood and you cannot undo that.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

gifted subjects are the desk-based ones

So you're gifted in drawing, but talented at painting?

[ShackUp]

Erm no. I was gifted at languages but talented at music. I agree it's a false dichotomy but that's how it's categorised.

Parents seem to be obsessed with G&T, it's pointless in the real world.

[Plimmy]

ShackUp Thank you, I’m grateful.

Whatever the convention was, though, my opinion remains firmly that any gifted/talented distinction is absurd. ‘Gifted’ obviously means ‘in receipt of a gift’ which must have been consciously given otherwise it wouldn’t be a gift. Which is why it invokes ideas of being chosen. Which is ludicrous. And unpleasant.

I suspect that before the term was dropped (glad to hear that) it was used by people keen to ensure that academic ability was described in suitably awesome terms, but that skill at football or art were merely noted as talents.

Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree that G&T (and any re-branded version of it) is thoroughly pointless!

[user789653241]

I think on this board, people use term like gifted/talented in a different sense.
I think my ds is gifted in maths and art, he has natural ability and affinity to it.
I think he is talented in music because he is good at it, but he needs to work hard to be good at it. Gifted musician to me is the ones who can play like those 2 year old prodigy who can play anything without effort.
But I wouldn't say to other people in real life.

[haba]

Seriously robo, if you let your pre-schooler watch BBT you need parenting lessons.
Just because something is on television during the day doesn't mean it's suitable viewing for children- Jeremy Kyle etc al are on in the day

Just because one can does not always mean one should.
This applies to many things in life.
If even half of what you have stated is true, then without a doubt your child needs to attend school full time ASAP.

[PinkAvocado]

Good point about JK-daytime viewing but not appropriate (ever to anyone let alone children).

[MaisyPops]

Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree that G&T (and any re-branded version of it) is thoroughly pointless!
I agree, to a point. I think it is useful to know prior attainment and useful to be aware of who your 'more able students are, but think it's ludicrous to start making assumptions or plans based on them having a label.

I've taught students who i would have said were gifted at creative writing. They were amazing! One in particular had the most beautiful narrative voice and writing style and their work was absolutely well beyond their years in terms of maturity and sophistication. I didn't need to have a label or stick a label on them to see that and support them though.

Maybe this is me with my teacher head on but if I'm stretching and challenging and supporting all the students in my class then who honestly gives a shiny shit what label a child has?

If a child is totally excelling at X and needs pushing then they'll be pushed. If a child is great at topic X but a bit uncertain on Y, they get help. That applies to every child, regardless of ability.

[Plimmy]

Yes, I agree. And I imagine that every sensible poster here would. Talent should never be overlooked.

But the OP appears to think (and, in fairness, plenty of other deluded G&T posters too) that her child is so special that only the most exacting and individualised education will do.

Einstein and Mozart would have shone their lights on the world with or without special educational treatment.

And the likelihood of RoboJesus’s child being anything even within a country mile of a genius is so remote as to be immediately discountable.

[m0therofdragons]

Schools have a responsibility to challenge dc with work at their level. I'm really sad you feel this won't happen. My dd hasn't been assessed (find it weird a reception age dc would have been - what does it even achieve?) but is now entering year 6 at school. In year 2 she was at a reading age expected of a 14yo and her maths is way ahead of the class (not sure by how much but teacher sets her different work once she has demonstrated she understands the basics).
Mixed style schooling is so disjointed and imo not good for the dc's wellbeing and friendship groups, which in very able dc are often more important skills to learn.

[Hombre]

Haven't read the whole thread but what Maisy said is ringing true with me (three kids in the system, one of whom was first identified as gifted and has now been rebranded 😀 as interested and able). Anyway, so called able ds has always been very well catered for within school - in fact I am amazed at how individually targeted and focused classroom teaching is. Honestly can't fault it. Lots of extra curricular stuff available as well which has ramped up considerably since he started secondary - summer schools, residentials, clubs run by lecturers the lot. His mind is continuously buzzing with it all and it's wonderful to see.

Coincidentally the same ds also had a period of flexi schooling due to a chronic condition flaring and that was really hard on everyone. The school as ever were great but it took a lot of extra effort on both sides to make it work - we had to be in constant detailed communication which I don't think would have been sustainable for any longer than the six or so months that it lasted. The only reason it worked at all is because his teacher was brilliant and totally committed to his education - honestly, I still get a bit emotional now when I think of the leg work she put in - all the phone calls, notes, explanations etc - I definitely wouldn't expect anyone to do all of that just because I fancied a pick and mix approach to education.

I honestly don't think it's a goer OP and ime is absolutely unnecessary.