Independent assessment for primary aged dc

[playmobilmonkey]

Not sure if I’m posting this in the correct area. My dc is in an independent school which does not sit sats etc. I’m happy about this however she’s only recently started this school and this school are saying she behind whereas her previous school said she was ahead of her chronological age and it’s started to worry me that I have no idea what’s correct.
I don’t even know what behind it ahead if her age group represents.

What I do know is that if I give her anything the teacher asks us to complete at home my dd whips through the sheets alone no problem but we are told she refuses to do the work at school and needs a tremendous amount of support to get through each worksheet at the school.
I am seriously thinking about home Ed now but I would rather dc stayed at school as I work, obviously dc needs come first but it would be a big upheaval for our family.

Are there any external assessments I can arrange so that I can at least see for myself where dd stands even if it’s to say school just isn’t working for her and I need to rethink things. She’s just started year 2.

There are lots of books that are age appropriate books out there which would give you a clue.

You could ask for the school's curriculum plan and expectations of skills for her group.

Ultimately I'd be looking at why your daughter is refusing in school. Talk to her about it, this seems the fundamental problem and the root is probably not academic. The school is new so I wouldn't be making rash decisions that would mean upheaval just yet. See how the school do I'm supporting your child and getting to the bottom of what is really wrong.

Thanks @insanepizza I have a lot of the curriculum books at home and don’t see any issues. I often set her a task and leave her and she does it and I come back and it’s correct. I’ve said this to the teacher and they’ve just said they haven’t seen the evidence of this and dd is refusing to engage in even the easiest of tasks and therefore they are saying she’s behind.

It’s a bit frustrating. I’ve asked dd why and she’s saying because she’s already done the work last year but instead of just doing it she’s digging her heels in
eg she’s reading the same books as she’s already read at the last school, she said when she told the teacher this the teacher said well you best get on with it then. I want to trust the teacher is doing the right thing I suppose.

It doesnt sound like an ability issue, but more that your daughter is unhappy for some reasin and refusung to work.i dont think you need any assesments, you need to work out why she wont engage in lessons and sort that.

Thanks @NumberblockNo1 I will have to listen more. Not so easy getting anything out my dd after school!
Should I expect the teacher to notice my dd is unhappy? I have said to the teacher I think she’s unhappy and asked for suggestions as to how I can show dd is capable but maybe teacher also thinks is early days and I should wait.
Thanks .pfb obviously and me worrying.

Apologies I really cant type on my phone 😳.

What has the teacher said to you? Why did you move to this school and are you happy there - it doesnt sound like it if you're thinking of homeschooling? Im curious as to the bigger picture. If previous school thought she was progressing well I wodner what the problem was?

It could be any number of things with the new school - does she like the teacher? The other children? Has she made friends? Its sometimes tricky when changing schools as they havent done exactly the same work but the teacher should help a child slot in.

Or it maybe that the new school is old fashioned and just produces worksheets which she finds boring and she misses the stumulation of the old school!? There's just too much for us to know.

I don't think doing anything externally would help upu though, you know what she can do.

Thanks we moved for dh job but the school has a good reputation and I’m still yet to hear a bad word about it. The only problem was the previous school was more academic and this one is more laid back approach and tailored to each dc, perfect I thought but that would work if dd would actually do what they’re giving her. Instead apparently she’s sat there saying she can’t even add 1+1 and at home she’s busy adding up 100’s together. So I cannot understand how I show the school what she can do. Another day I asked why dd didn’t do the sheet the teacher gave her and she said she was going to but she was colouring in too slow (was a colour by number maths sheet that she decided that the whole sheet just needed to be coloured in red )

It’s not just academics either. She also has passed external exams in dance and when asked to dance for the school she said she couldn’t. She’s confident and not shy at all and I’ve seen nothing to think that’s the case.

Maybe she’s just not settling in well as it appears. I even asked her if she was unhappy and wanted to go back to her old school to see if this is the problem but dd has said she likes the new one (thank goodness as other one 3 hours away).

It is on her last schools reports what she did do but this school says they haven’t had any evidence so they have to take what they see. Which I do get but also I wanted to prove she can do it without sounding like some whiny pushy mum because I feel like she’s gone back two years in her schooling now and possibly enjoying not doing a lot. Ahhhhh thanks

I agree with everyone else. An assessment will tell you nothing which you don't already know: your child is capable of doing the work set by the school if the environment is right, but can't or won't do it at school.

It sounds like you want the school to work harder on understanding and helping your daughter. They want to simply wait in hopes that she will settle and be ready to perform on their terms, and don't see her reluctance as their problem.

I guess you either have to do it their way - wait, while trying yourself to figure out what the obstacle is and fix it from afar if it's fixable - or move her elsewhere. You've seen that she does well at home with you and equally you have seen her thrive in a different school.

She's doing well academically so if she isn't unhappy I guess there is no urgency about your decision.