Does every state school have a G&T programme?

lljkk · 2007-12-28T21:37:06+00:00

That's it, really. I've not heard anyone at DC school mention anything about the very idea. Do some schools not have a G&T register at all?

Heated · 28/12/2007 21:41

If it's a state school, then most have a G&T register (ofsted would query why they didn't) but what they choose to do with the info varies considerably.

Original poster

lljkk · 28/12/2007 21:59

There's nothing in the Ofsted report (for our school) about G&T, either. Do they call it something else, sometimes?

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foxinsocks · 28/12/2007 22:01

it's not always mentioned.

I'd never heard of it at our school till one of the teachers said something about it in a passing conversation.

Wallace · 28/12/2007 22:04

I don't know. I have never heard my children's school mention G&T eventhough ds1 goes up to the next class for literacy

Original poster

lljkk · 28/12/2007 22:18

I can only think of one child at DC school who for sure I imagine would be on a G&T register (very advanced reading age). I don't have the impression that the school does anything at all extra for her... Is it actually worthwhile to get labeled G&T, what would the school be doing differently, I wonder?

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foxinsocks · 28/12/2007 22:23

I'm pretty sure that advanced reading age alone doesn't makes them G&T.

Are you talking about primary school?

Original poster

lljkk · 28/12/2007 22:38

Yes, I was thinking primary, only have experience of primary, or is g&t mostly in secondary schools?
Maybe I never hear about it because nobody in our hick town qualifies, lol.
Guess I'll just ask one of the TAs at our school.

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Heated · 28/12/2007 22:41

Not always called G&T but schools do have to show how they are meeting the needs of the most able which means identifying and then stretching pupils, so in our Ofsted they are referred to simply as 'the most able pupils'. Have come across G&T listed under SEN before.

cat64 · 28/12/2007 22:48

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Heated · 28/12/2007 22:48

As an English teacher (secondary) having an advanced reading age on its own doesn't make a pupil G&T, but a G&T pupil might be expected to have an advanced reading age iyswim.

Advanced reading comprehension (written or verbal), oral ability or skills in written composition beyond their years, are usually G&T indicators.

roisin · 28/12/2007 23:09

Our primary school does have a G&T list, and does have a designated member of staff who is G&T co-ordinator. But I've not heard it "talked about" as such - certainly not in the playground that sort of thing.

Similarly if your child is identified as likely to benefit from Extra Literacy Support or Reading Recovery programme, you will find out a lot about the many things that are going on in a school to meet the needs of such children. But if it doesn't affect/concern you, you're unlikely to hear very much about it.

Original poster

lljkk · 28/12/2007 23:19

Reading Recovery sounds like a programme to help slower readers, is it?
The child who I was thinking of most likely to be G+T, her mother was told when the girl was about 1/2 way thru Y2, that the school goes to end of Y6 didn't have any books left suitable for her reading level (the girl was too advanced, already; a few months earlier I used to listen to reading as a parent volunteer and this girl amazed me with her reading level compared to nearly all other classmates). School told her mother to take the child to the library, instead for reading material -- the mother was incensed that the school seemed to be washing their hands of the child's needs; doesn't sound like "extra literacy support", does it?

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nooka · 28/12/2007 23:34

Extra Literacy Support and Reading Recovery are both schemes for poor readers. Our school does not I think have G&T either, but ds has extra support for his behaviour, but not for his dyslexia, and I found out a while back that he had enhanced maths (a weekly session with Yr6 children) although this was completely in passing - same way as I only know he is gifted at science (apparently answered secondary level questions in a recent test) because his teacher told me about it when I was invited in to discuss referring him to an ed pych for his behaviour. I was quite similar to your friend's daughter - read out the school library at a similar age. I thought it was great to be able to read whatever I liked! I really don't think that I actually needed any support with literacy after that (oh and I don't think I was particularly gifted or talented - just a bookworm).

roisin · 29/12/2007 11:47

Yes - sorry if I caused confusion with ELS. The point I was trying to make is that many schools have all sorts of different programmes going on to meet the needs of all sorts of different children. But if it doesn't affect/concern you, you may not find out about it.

Dh is Chair of Governors, and we've both been very involved with the school for 6 years, but there are still many things that you don't find out about. Or activities our children participate in which are under the G&T umbrella - but "G&T" is not mentioned at the time.

Christywhisty · 29/12/2007 18:35

DD's (yr5) school has only just appointed a g&t coordinator. DD is being taken out for extra maths and was sent on a masterclass to a secondary school. There ofsted in October said they weren't stretching their higher level pupils enough in maths
DS started secondary in September and was told he was in g&t but not yet sure what that entails yet.

LIZS · 29/12/2007 18:48

The term G and T can be more precisely targetted ie dn is apparently G and T in art . It is nlt that unusual for a child to read techinically several years ahead ime. tbh while your friend's dd mauy have the reading skills of an 11 year old in being able to decipher those books the same level of comprehension and understanding the context of the subject matter may not yet be there. Therefore a breadth of material may be more useful than increasing the difficulty iyswim. Sounds as if the school lacks library resources to cater for her and other such children though.

seeker · 30/12/2007 00:22

Sorry - I find it very hard to accept that a primary school would not have books suitable for any child, no matter how advanced a reader. All primary schools have libraries, they have year 6s who need books to read - what did they think she needed, Tolstoy?! It's important to have a pinch of salt handy when people stary tkling about thier dc's accomplishments!

seeker · 30/12/2007 00:23

Sorry - I find it very hard to accept that a primary school would not have books suitable for any child, no matter how advanced a reader. All primary schools have libraries, they have year 6s who need books to read - what did they think she needed, Tolstoy?! It's important to have a pinch of salt handy when people stary tkling about thier dc's accomplishments!

Original poster

lljkk · 30/12/2007 11:00

Um, having read with the girl I mentioned early in Y2, I wouldn't be surprised if she had a reading age of 13 then only one other child in the class of 32 came close to her ability. And the book selection at the school really wasn't (isn't) that great they only built a library room 4 months ago, currently trying to organise a fundraising campaign to get books for it. This in a school of 300+ pupils. I get most reading books for 8yo DS from the town library, myself (reading age about 10-11, I suppose).

Our school hasn't been fully Ofsteded in over 4 years, maybe they are well behind current best practice in lots of ways.

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LIZS · 30/12/2007 11:12

That sounds a bit pitiful. As Seeker pointed out there will be eleven year olds reading much older, what do they offer them ? However personally I'd be wary of a 7 year old reading the likes of Jacqueline Wilson or Micheal Morpurgo (which could technically be deemed more appropriate to her readign age) since she wouldn't necessarily have the same level of maturity as expected.

Crunchie · 30/12/2007 11:24

Well Imy dh is a school governor and he has no idea about a G&T list at our school. And not boasting as I know dd2 would be on it. I have been told she is exceptional as in Y2 she has a reading age of 10 and she already does maths extension lessons (I prbed her teacher about these as they seem to 'fit' with a G&T list)

As far as books go, I try to keep them as 'age appropriate' as possible, just she reads them fast!! She got some Tiara club ones for xmas and reads them in 1/2 hr or less. If she wants books to 'strech' her I woul [refer they are non fiction, then I don't need to worry about level of 'maturity' as it is she is reading some great kids classics inc Peppermint Pig, Enid Blyton, Charlottes web etc

MrsSchadenfreude · 15/01/2008 15:55

Ours doesn't and has just been slated by Ofsted on not catering to the needs of the more able. DD1 (Yr 4) who was assessed as having a reading age of 15 at the end of Year 2 is learning about capital letters and full stops. Understandably she is very bored - class teacher seems to teach to the lowest ability and doesn't group them for different subjects like last year's teacher.

seeker · 15/01/2008 22:32

But why are year 4s learning about capital letters and full stops at all? My ds is in year 2 and that's what he's doing!

Can I ask who assessed your dd's reading age? Was it the school? If so, they should definitely be doing something to meet her needs. If it was an outside agency then maybe you need to discuss their findings with the school. Sorry if this is all obvious stuff you've done already!