Early years learning log/journey/book

[Opalfeet]

So I've just seen the book of my 3.5 year old. For some of the stuff he's 18-36 months according to their judgement, but to me he seems bang on target. He's been able to recognise and say the alphabet and numbers for some time now (he's 3.5). He's quite independent, he played on his own now for quite a while and sometimes closes his bedroom door on his little brother so he can't knock over his towers etc. He is really good at getting stuff and helping out, likes doing the shopping, tidying, taking his dirty plate out etc. Has good road sense, a good sense of humour, can lie etc. His language is reasonable, pronunciation, can count beyond rote learn. Sometimes he miscounts 10 instead of 11 etc. Just some examples of where he's at.

Sometimes he's 40 to 50 months too, but I feel concerned that he's 18 to 36 for quite a lot of things when I feel he got those milestones ages ago. Is he not progressing? Is there something wrong. I know I'm probs being silly, but could do with some opinions/experience of this

Meant pronunciation needs some work.

He is also very shy at nursery and I'm not sure whether this is affecting things

What are the things he is at 18 to 36 months for? Do yo think he can do the next stage of the same areas?

Could it be they've not updated it?

If he is shy then they can only assess him on how he is at nursery for them

But 36 months is 3 years and he’s 3.5. So he’s not really behind. It’s very normal for development to show at home first before it is displayed at nursery. Mine is 3.5 and definitely doesn’t know any of the alphabet! That wouldn’t be expected at this age. It sounds like he’s doing fine. He’s probably just a bit more shy at nursery.

Have you spoken to his key worker? My DS was 18-36 in social skills because he doesn't initiate play with other children at nursery, he joins in but it's the initiating they are looking for. I've seen him do it in the park though so I was a bit surprised.

I was also surprised he was in the 40-50 category for things like numeracy and literacy because he doesn't seem to know anything when I ask him but apparently is doing really well in nursery.

He's actually not in the 40 to 50 category for anything. They've labelled it 30 to 50 which seems a massive age range to me. They've got him pointing at cards etc and then say he identifies action words by pointing to the correct pictures, eg who is jumping? But if we read a book at home and I ask what they're doing he will tell me straight away or sometimes he does this unprompted. They've also said he uses gestures, sometimes with limited talk eg reaches towards a toy saying I have it. That seems quite simplistic for where he is at in my experience. I mean he says please can I have it and no mummy I don't want to share with my brother etc. He doesn't use gestures, he communicates pretty well. I'm probably fretting over nothing. I don't really want to speak to nursery and come across as that pushy mum as it probs is that he's a bit shy. But equally I'd like to give him the opportunity to start the pre school group in sept as I think he'd enjoy doing more letter and number based stuff

@Pissinthepottyplease yes I think he can do the next stage in some of them. He's not great at physical and some social elements because he's shy- so I'd expect those to be lower. He's 3.5 and can jumps on those bouncy pillow things now His gross motor skills are not amazing. Although my friend commented on how high he climbed up during summer softplay and said her little one who is three months older couldn't have got there. But he's not really a climber or very adventurous. He's a whizz in his balance bike and can ride his bike on stabilisers. So I'm prepared to accept that he is a little behind in some things. But he's as bright as a button in other things. He loves shapes, patterns, construction, alphabet, numbers etc and I guess I just don't want them to miss out on developing that. At the same time I realise we can do a lot at home and put and about too

@sherrystrull he has only been at nursery the last term, hence why he is shy. He spent from 2 years and 2 months to almost 3.5 I'm lockdown with his little brother and me and partner

I see. I think it's definitely more likely that he's not showing them what he can do. This is very common particularly with shy children. I would give him some more time to settle and hopefully in time he will feel more confident.

@insancerre @mindutopia yeah it probs is because he's shy. I'm just a bit concerned that nursery don't take that into account. They have never asked what his interests are, what he likes, what he does etc and I thought that was the done thing. At the same time I don't want to be that mum, I mean I realise nursery should be a time for play and fun etc

I’m an early years teacher and I think this is to be expected of children new to a setting in the current climate
If he is 22-36 on entry then he will make progress in to the 30-50 age band and then will be in 40-60 when he leaves to go to school
It’s not a race and there is nothing to be gained on assessing children in a higher band than they are working at

Of course it's not a race, but there's quite a few bits in communication where he is definitely higher than they've identified. I would also like him to start the pre school class in sept rather than march as I think he would benefit from that

@insancerre it just seems odd that he makes progress in the 30 to 50 when he's made that progress at home. At the moment he hasn't really learnt anything new at nursery, apart from singing and mixing with other kids. Which is still great to be fair.

That’s quite a lot of new though. So he’s probably only doing other things that he’s completely secure in.

Levels at nursery do not affect anything long term other than identifying with children might need intervention. Don’t worry about where he is, just let him have fun.

@MinesAPintOfTea yeah I think you're right, I need to be less uptight and let him have fun. I can teach him more number and letter based stuff at home anyhow as and when he shows interest

[quote Opalfeet]@MinesAPintOfTea yeah I think you're right, I need to be less uptight and let him have fun. I can teach him more number and letter based stuff at home anyhow as and when he shows interest[/quote]
Fwiw, ds did not know how to read at all when starting reception and by Christmas was a fluent reader and has stayed one of the best traders in the class since (now year 4)

Focus on fun, social skills and life skills. School will teach them the academic stuff.

@MinesAPintOfTea 👍

In the very kindest of way the nursery staff have experience of hundreds of children. You have the experience of one. Trust them.

Also it really doesn’t matter. There are some areas where there are big leaps to make to get to the next level. But it won’t make any long term difference except possibly identify areas where your child is ahead or needs extra support.
Things like knowing the alphabet don’t even feature. I’ve taught countless children to read but I’ve never taught the alphabet.
As said above they can only assess on what they see, not what happens at home.

@EastWestWhosBest I haven't taught the alphabet either. We have lots of books where alphabet features and an abacus. He's shown an interest in the alphabet and has recognised letters both lowercase and capitals since 2. He also shows an interest in spelling out words. I guess I'd just like that to be nurtured a bit