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Nurseries

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Nursery 2 year check

13 replies

Lilsjack76 · 24/07/2017 07:54

Hi all, my son has been at a term time only pre school since Easter this year and attends for 3 hours in the morning 3 days a week, he is 2 yrs 3 months. He seems quite happy there and whenever we ask how he has been we have always been told he has been really good and settled in well.
He had his last day before the summer holiday on Wednesday when he bought home the 2 year check that the nursery carries out. It made for slightly shocking reading for us! They didn't highlight anything in the 2-3 yr category and most of the 12-18 category had been highlighted and they said he only knew and understood 20 words and just repeated words. They said he played independently, doesn't notice others around him and "he is on his own agenda". They advised to discuss this at his 2 year check at clinic.
This just didn't seem to sound like our boy at all! I called nursery to discuss as this was the first time they had raised these concerns and she said if we think there are other things he can do then to highlight the sheet but these are areas of concern for them.
Luckily we actually had his 2 year check the next day at clinic so discussed this with them.
We ended up being there 2 hours where we filled in the 2 year check and also carried out the social and emotional (ASQ13?) review (mainly to put our minds at rest!) and he came way below the cut off for referral.
After being socially engaging with them (as he usually is around people!) and talking using more than double the language that the nursery have said he can use, both the nursery nurse and HV at clinic said they have no concerns with his development.
I phoned the nursery and she seemed almost surprised. Are we not seeing something here?! I don't want to pull the wool over our own eyes so to speak if there is a problem but I haven't seen any of this anywhere else we go or at home. He is such a happy and sociable boy usually (obviously not at nursery though!) and can communicate his needs to us, asks for juice and to play with him etc. He still does repeat quite a lot of what we say to him but comes out with 3/4 word sentences on his own too.
Do you think maybe nursery just don't have the time to listen and assess him properly?
The clinic have said not to worry ourselves further as he is where he should be but now I find myself analysing every little thing he is doing!!
Sorry for the long and rambled post!! I guess my question is has anyone else experienced similar? My daughter who is now 6 didn't start nursery until after she was 3 so my son has started much earlier than her (she was at a different nursery too).

OP posts:
Coloursthatweremyjoy · 24/07/2017 08:26

I'm actually surprised that they sent it home without a discussion with you, especially if they had concerns. I've never completed the check without a sit down explanation with a parent even if the child was working at a higher level. That's terrible practice and I'm sorry they worried you.

In my experience a lot of children speak less at nursery than they do at home. It's noisy, they get nervous around lots of others at once, they are busy etc. I also often say I haven't seen a child do something and Mum or Dad will say "oh he does a lot of that at home" it's not unusual and it's a big reason why we work in partnership with parents.

When I do the two year old check I tell parents to remember that we mark conservatively. If a child isn't doing everything in a certain age range then the range above doesn't get highlighted even though he might be doing one of the things in there. I personally like to see a child do something several times before I tick it off (its not really a box ticking exercise but for want of a better phrase). I always think, they can fluke catching a ball once but several catches and they've got it. If they haven't seen it, they haven't seen it but the check is just a snap shot of where he is now, he might do lots of stuff next week or next month.

Not all nurseries are so harsh but we were actively encouraged to mark them down, remember that they have to show value added and he is only very little, he has until the end of his reception year to complete the EYFS.

As he is only two they should be focusing on the Prime Areas, so Personal, Social and Emotional development, Communication and Language and Physical development. Anything recorded in the other areas is a bonus at this stage. Remember that things like not being toilet trained can appear on the check as a dip but that when he gets it he will take a jump up on his next assessment. (Just an example).

But all of this should have been run through with you. It's possible they don't observe very well or that his key worker doesn't have the close relationship that is necessary to hear lots of language. Or that he just gets engrossed in the duplo and doesn't say much. It all takes time, longer than parents think and he really is at the very beginning of his journey. Give the nursery a copy of the assessment he had done and a report of your own so it goes on his records. Don't be worried they are surprised, they probably aren't going to admit they got it wrong.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 24/07/2017 08:28

Oh and I dont think I've ever met a two year old who was not "on their own agenda"...I wouldn't put that on a check...

Lilsjack76 · 24/07/2017 09:13

Thank you so much for your reply, I was hoping that someone who worked in a nursery may be able to give me their opinion! Clinic also mentioned it was quite poor practice of them just to have given this to us with no opportunity to discuss it with them. Also the assessment wasn't filled in by his key worker, it was done by another member of their staff.
I understand a little more now how they probably carried this out. I will be giving them a copy of the assessment and also will add our own comments to nurseries assessment.
I guess what I'm more upset about is all the worry they have caused us by not actually discussing this with us in person!

OP posts:
Lilsjack76 · 24/07/2017 09:15

Also to add the way the nursery is set up is that all the toys are laid out ready for them the moment they walk in so my son just makes a beeline for them from the outset!

OP posts:
Coloursthatweremyjoy · 24/07/2017 10:34

Glad I could help Lils. It's quite usual to have the room set up when they come in, it helps them settle at that age, from pre-school you might start to see them come in to a circle time or a table top focused activity, it helps to prepare for school.

I wonder why his key worker didn't do the assessment. I've never come across this before. Maybe she was Ill? It might explain a lot as another member of staff might not necessarily have the relationship needed or be so familiar with what he can do.

This isn't the only assessment so do try not to worry, it's a continual process but there will be other 'big' assessments on the way. It's not unusual for children to make quite big jumps in their development. I have also told lots of parents that children dont necessarily develop at the same rate in all areas. So you might see him come up in Physical Development but not so much in Communication then the reverse next month. They like to keep us on our toes.

Try and enjoy it all, it goes so fast and I'm sure you're doing all the right things.

Lilsjack76 · 24/07/2017 14:40

Thank you, and yes exactly, I will certainly try and enjoy it all, they aren't small for very long are they! I don't want to waste my time on worrying when I don't necessarily have anything to worry about!

OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 24/07/2017 14:51

When my ds started pre school there were several areas where he was behind- primarily his speech as he was speech delayed. His key worker filled in his assessment and we talked over it together. I think a few hours a few times a week isn't really enough to get a thorough view which is why she wanted to talk it over with me. I also wonder why his key worker didn't fill out the assessment. Ds has come on leaps and bounds since then but we still have little meetings to discuss his progress.

Lilsjack76 · 24/07/2017 17:13

Glad to hear your DS is doing so well now! I agree that a few hours a few times a week probably doesn't give them enough time to assess how a child is doing properly. I have no idea why his key worker didn't fill in the assessment, I know she was there so really don't know the reason behind it....I haven't even had the chance to speak to her, only the nursery manager over the phone.

OP posts:
HSMMaCM · 25/07/2017 08:53

Ask for a review meeting a couple of weeks into next term, so you can discuss progress with the key worker.

It maybe that one of their concerns can be addressed by some simple technique you use at home. Also your feedback on their assessment will help them plan for him.

I also make sure I have seen a child do something several times before being confident they have nailed that skill. If I had concerns about a child, I would never give out an assessment without raising them with the parent first. Maybe time just got away from them, but still not great practice.

Terrywillis998 · 23/11/2020 13:50

Hello - I do have children but they are aged 40 and 50; grandchildren aged 4 and 13. But I am an educator and still work in education. The DfE legislates BUT why in heavens name we are assessing children against age related norms between the ages of 2 and 3, is beyond my understanding. The Pre-school is just obeying the law; some probably better than others but there is often very little consensus between providers - some go for best fit (do they sometimes do it) some go for (do they do it all the time?) - just one anecdote - a child, in school where I was HT many years ago, was quiet and shy - somehow school did not bring out the potential when he was 4 - totally high achieving by the age of 11. If you have not judged or seen that there is something that does require attention with your child - don't worry.

mooncakes · 26/11/2020 20:29

@Terrywillis998

Hello - I do have children but they are aged 40 and 50; grandchildren aged 4 and 13. But I am an educator and still work in education. The DfE legislates BUT why in heavens name we are assessing children against age related norms between the ages of 2 and 3, is beyond my understanding. The Pre-school is just obeying the law; some probably better than others but there is often very little consensus between providers - some go for best fit (do they sometimes do it) some go for (do they do it all the time?) - just one anecdote - a child, in school where I was HT many years ago, was quiet and shy - somehow school did not bring out the potential when he was 4 - totally high achieving by the age of 11. If you have not judged or seen that there is something that does require attention with your child - don't worry.
We assess children aged 2, because early referral and intervention is really important.
Terrywillis998 · 26/11/2020 21:41

Observing children in order to identify a significant need is not the same as assessing all children against a set of norms at the age of 2/ 3. In addition, as a retired Head Teacher I know that you could not refer a child till they were in Reception.

mooncakes · 26/11/2020 21:45

@Terrywillis998

Observing children in order to identify a significant need is not the same as assessing all children against a set of norms at the age of 2/ 3. In addition, as a retired Head Teacher I know that you could not refer a child till they were in Reception.
Of course you can refer children before Reception Confused Lots of children have lots of support, intervention and EHCPs in place before Reception?

Children are observed and assessed throughout the foundation stage, the 2 year check is just a statutory report.

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