Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Feeling annoyed about school and need to rant!

363 replies

november90 · 06/10/2021 18:54

I'm sure most will read this and think I'm being unreasonable... maybe I am but I just need to vent!
My son is 4 and just started reception. Like most his age, suffered a lot due to the lockdowns etc and is having some difficulty adjusting to school. He is finding his uniform very difficult to wear as he doesn't feel comfy. It's mainly the pants. I put his issues with certain textures on his nursery transition form, i mentioned it on the pre school meeting, the home visit and also the phonics meeting 2 weeks ago. I just want assurance he's ok to wear his shorts which they have always told me he is. Anyway, dropped him off today and the teacher was really abrupt with me about wearing his pe shorts and not joggers... they way them to go into school wearing both at the same time. I felt so embarrassed and also annoyed.... why tell me one minute he's ok tk wear shorts but the next she wants the joggers and shorts?!
Also, the reading book annoys me. I made ds feel so proud about himself last week for doing a reading session everyday and he watched me fill the book out and when it got send home after being reviewed not so much a sticker or well done comment! Completely blank!
I've spoke to my family about this who say I'm expecting too much from school... but I just feel sad that we're like 6 weeks into school and o feel so distant from it all!
Anyone else have a new school child and feel the same? I know teachers are stressed and restricted due to Covid, but as a parent I'm finding it hard!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:45

@Hercisback

How do they know it’s happening though?

Writing in the diary doesn't mean that the reading is happening. It's only proof the diary has been written in.

Exactly!
Hercisback · 06/10/2021 21:46

if the reading record isn’t being used as a homework tool, and by that I mean, as a way for the kid to do targeted reading practice at home, why set it?

But the reading record is being used.

ImFree2doasiwant · 06/10/2021 21:46

@november90 I think you're getting a hard time here. I have 2 in primary now, 1 in reception, and have felt there has been a general lack of feedback. Dc2 is in Yr2. I havent ever met the teacher. There is no one on the door to meet the children, we just send them in and hope they stay in! No one to speak to at drop off - a friends child had a broken arm,no-one for her to tell what had happened. We have just started having comments back in the reading record.

That said, it is pretty standard and I know our school are under additional pressure with staffing issues. I have had a bit better feedback from dc2 teacher, as there were some settling in issues. Thankfully our school are pretty laid back about uniform and wouldn't bother about a child in joggers instead of trousers.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

4 year olds Families General education General parenting
TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 21:46

They haven’t ‘set it’. It’s a reading diary. You read with your child at home, and write in the diary. The teacher can look in the diary and see that the child has been read with at home. It’s fairly simple.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:46

@Hercisback

if the reading record isn’t being used as a homework tool, and by that I mean, as a way for the kid to do targeted reading practice at home, why set it?

But the reading record is being used.

How?
IlsaLund · 06/10/2021 21:46

The reading record is simply that - a record of whether the child has spent some time reading with an adult at home. The record isn't the homework - the reading task is.

If a parent is signing it without doing the reading more fool them.

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 21:46

I personally don’t know any parents who would bother faking a comment in a reading diary if they haven’t actually read with their child.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:47

@TheGrumpyGoat

They haven’t ‘set it’. It’s a reading diary. You read with your child at home, and write in the diary. The teacher can look in the diary and see that the child has been read with at home. It’s fairly simple.
But to what end though? What does the teacher use that information for?
IlsaLund · 06/10/2021 21:48

The information tells them if the child has had the opportunity to read at home.
If they have had that opportunity they should, in theory be making better progress than children who don't have that opportunity.

Mollymalone123 · 06/10/2021 21:48

On pe days it saves a lot of time and fuss if children are ready to go by having shirts in under joggers.With the colder weather coming you will need to find something warmer than shorts or your child will freeze.I’ve been looking after children wearing coats,hats and gloves on in class on the coldest days as covid rules meant we have to have doors or windows open all the time.
I realise how difficult it is with a child with sensory difficulties- maybe try and approach the teacher for another chat about your DS’s clothes

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:49

@IlsaLund

The information tells them if the child has had the opportunity to read at home. If they have had that opportunity they should, in theory be making better progress than children who don't have that opportunity.
So surely that’s enough reason not to do it? How do you then target the kids who aren’t being read to?
toocold54 · 06/10/2021 21:49

My question is; if the reading record isn’t being used as a homework tool, and by that I mean, as a way for the kid to do targeted reading practice at home, why set it?

It is being used - it’s being used to record the reading done at home, which is why it’s called a reading record.
I’m not sure why that’s so difficult to understand.

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 21:49

The ‘end’ is that the child is read with every day. The teacher looks in the diary and sees that the child is read with every day. If they’re not, they can ensure that the child is read with in school. Or they can prompt the parents to read with the child.
The ‘benefit’ to the child is the reading.

Birdkin · 06/10/2021 21:49

@Pumperthepumper

To know who’s reading at home, because if they’re not reading at home they’ll need extra support at school. It’s really that simple.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 21:49

@TheGrumpyGoat No I was merely playing devil's advocate, the parents just wouldn't bother.

The reading diary is an indicator of how much reading happens at home, which can identity pupils who may not have support at home. Teachers can also see the books students are reading at home and discuss with students.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:50

@toocold54

My question is; if the reading record isn’t being used as a homework tool, and by that I mean, as a way for the kid to do targeted reading practice at home, why set it?

It is being used - it’s being used to record the reading done at home, which is why it’s called a reading record.
I’m not sure why that’s so difficult to understand.

To what end though? I don’t understand why this is so hard to answer! What do you do with that information? Why make them fill out a diary?
Hulkynothunky · 06/10/2021 21:51

But to what end though? What does the teacher use that information for?

Isn't it a tool to encourage the parents to sit and do the reading with the child? There's really no need to 'mark it'. What would they even say? Well done for reading to your own child?

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:51

[quote Birdkin]@Pumperthepumper

To know who’s reading at home, because if they’re not reading at home they’ll need extra support at school. It’s really that simple.[/quote]
So why make them do it regularly? If you know the kids who are always read to, and the kids who are never read to, why do they all need a diary?

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 21:51

So surely that’s enough reason not to do it?

So we make every kid worse at reading because some parents don't read with their children?

IlsaLund · 06/10/2021 21:51

@Pumperthepumper so you'd choose to disadvantage your child by not reading?
Or 'trick' the teacher by not signing the diary?

Yes, we would target those not being read with at home, but I'm bemused by your take on this.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:52

@Hulkynothunky

But to what end though? What does the teacher use that information for?

Isn't it a tool to encourage the parents to sit and do the reading with the child? There's really no need to 'mark it'. What would they even say? Well done for reading to your own child?

Well no, it isn’t - because others have said kids aren’t being read to.

It could say ‘Simon needs to pay attention to -ou words’.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 21:52

As they get older it keeps a record of pages. It means you avoid the same book going home twice. It means you can see your child's reading progress.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:52

@Hercisback

So surely that’s enough reason not to do it?

So we make every kid worse at reading because some parents don't read with their children?

Why would not filling in a diary make them worse at reading?

Are you suggesting they wouldn’t read to the children without a diary?

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 21:53

[quote IlsaLund]@Pumperthepumper so you'd choose to disadvantage your child by not reading?
Or 'trick' the teacher by not signing the diary?

Yes, we would target those not being read with at home, but I'm bemused by your take on this.[/quote]
Why would filling in a diary make a parent more likely to read to their kid?

toocold54 · 06/10/2021 21:53

But to what end though? What does the teacher use that information for?

@Pumperthepumper
Honestly don’t worry about it.

If you’re struggling to grasp the concept of a reading record and it’s purpose then there’s no way you’d understand how the information is used.

I think maybe it’s something only parents would understand as they’ve seen them or you’re just really tired.