bright four year old.

[crkm]

hi i just joined today as was hoping for some reassurance and guidance about my son. he has just started reception but has a reading age of 7.5 already (he has been reading for a year). he could recognise all his numbers up to 1000 before he was 3, and can add and subtract in his head. his new teachers seem very good, but with a class of thirty 4 year olds i am concerned that my son will be left to his own devices and get bored/fed up. am i right to be concerned or is it early days? would appreciate any comments.

I wouldn't worry. There is so much more to school than learning to read. I doubt he will be bored, esp not in reception.

Reception is about more than just adademic subjects, and he will have plenty of other things to occupy him.

Once the teachers have had a chance to assess the ability of all the children in the class they will put them into groups accordingly, and he will be given work which suits him. But there is always so much going on in a Reception class - he won't be bored.

thanks for that. i have to say he does love being at school and joins in a lot more than he ever did at nursery. says he is a big boy now!!

Sounds like he is doing brilliantly, well done.
My dd is in year three and has always been top of her class. It's not a bad place to be I reckon
She loves school and i have no concerns about her being bored, despite no specific g and t stuff going on.

There was a very similar thread on this a few days ago...probably all the new children starting reception...don't have time to dig it out now, but you could search under the g&t thread.

I understand your concern but Reception is about learning the ways of the school, making friends, learning social skills, learning a routine, doing PE, handling oneself in the playground, becoming more independent etc.
That said, my 2y6m child has just been assessed (by a teacher friend) as having a reading age/comprehension age of an 8.5yr old with the decoding skills of a 10 year old! We are a little shocked by this. Our first clue was when she read the word 'Afghanistan' out of the newspaper last week! I want her to enjoy reception (in 2.5yrs time) though I do think she'll find the repetition of 'letter of the week' a little boring. Thankfully she loves to play, paint, run etc so school should be fun for her.
Speak to his teacher if his behaviour starts to go down hill and he talks of being bored. She should extend him with his reading and maths.

What I meant to say (I cant seem to edit my message) is that the reading and maths are a tiny part of the day, though I can see that he will be bored with learning how to count to ten and 'lets find things beginning with S' lessons. As the curriculum becomes more specific (Year 1 upwards) and with an hour of maths and literacy a day he may well need additional activities to keep him occupied. I hope that his school will be able to help out here.
All the best to him, he sounds like a very bright little boy who will probably learn for himself and through his play.

thanks. actually i am hoping that reception will improve his social skills too.he doesn't acknowledge people - not even his closest friends - unless he is in the classroom environment. it can be a little embarrassing and its not just because he is shy!! kids eh?

crkm - my dd was similar and was not bored in reception at all

• she just loved all the playing she did and it is actually exhausting for them to work out social behaviour eg making friends dealing with other personalities etc which is just as important as academic studies imo.

He sounds well above average but the teachers will be able to work out whether he needs additional work or attention.