Preschool report

[Ihaveathreenager]

I just got ds's report. He is 43 months and is in the 30-50 category for everything except speaking, understanding, forming relationships and self confidence and self awareness. He is in 40-60 for these.

Some things they say he doesn't show at nursery I know he can do. His keyworker did say that he was nearly in the 40-60 for numeracy and literacy and there wasn't much left in the 30-50 bracket to tick. But I know he can do those things as he's done them at home fot ages. He only goes 8 hours a week so appreciate they don't have much time with him.

Is 30-50 months ok for a 43 month old? It seems like the lower end if average?

its a guide really i think anyway he IS between 30-50 months and also 40-60 months so for an average child at 43 months there is going to be cross over IYSWIM??

is their space for comments?? their is on our pre-school reports and we just tend to put dd1 has started to do x y and z at home so that they are aware...i wouldn't worry tbh, speak to key worker though if you are worried see what they say

Yes I wrote that there were some things he could do at home that they haven't seen.
It probably doesn't matter much as long as he isn't miles behind. It's just I'd expect him to be coming more into the 40-60 category.

remember he is only 3 months into that 20 month section!! im sure he will be fine as long as no majour concerns etc - look at what he needs to improve and work on it?

Goodness, I have no idea how many months my daughter is. She will be four in april. I don't know what a child is supposed to be to do in literacy at the age of three.

What sort of things do you expect your child to be able to do? DD knows most of her letter sounds, but can't read. She is very enthusasic about the idea of reading and will sit "reading" to her teddies a story that has no relation to what is in the book.

Quality of speech is more important in nursery than being able to read or write.

True. And I know they can only tick off what they see. She had only got him recognising 1-10 but he's capable of much more than this for example.
Would have felt better if more were in 40-60 but never mind!

Yes ds knows letter sounds and some letter names but can't blend them to read yet. Nearly there. He "reads" to himself but it is only because he has memorised the text.
He is beginning to write some letters aside from the ones in his name. He recognises 1-20 and touch counts up to 8. Can find one more or one less up to 10.

The EYFS is not a 'tick list' and should not be used as such :(

That was how the keyworker described it? She said they tick off skills as they see them?

No, Development matters isn't a tick list, but it is there as a guide to make a best fit judgement, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with ticking off some if the skills you see a child demonstrate.

30-50 is fine. Was there any indication of where in 30-50? Was he judged as being emerging into that age band, developing in it or secure? That makes a big difference - I'd expect him to be at least developing, but of course it differs from child to child as the age bands are only a guideline.

They said he was secure and had elements of 40-60 but still had a couple of things they hadn't seen him doing in the younger age bracket.
Are they expected to be 40-60 securely on starting reception?

No, in our local authority the advice is that they are expected to be secure at 30-50 and emerging into 40-60 at the start of Reception.

OP- the nursery can only assess him on things they have evidence of (they have observed the action/behaviour in a variety of contexts- assuring them that the child has consolidated the learning.)

If they only see him for 8 hours a week, and they feel that he is progressing 'as expected' (which a 43 month old in the 30-50 age band is) that is fantastic. Obviously there will be things he can do at home that he might not show at nursery yet. They can only assess how he is with them. Feel confident that you know he those capabilities, and continue to build his personal & social confidence so that he eventually shares them in nursery.

cate16- you are absolutely right, it was never intended to be a checklist & I am horrified that it is actually being used as one, but in recent years OFSTED has started requesting "evidence of measureable impact & outcomes." They want to see results for 'cohorts' of children. They want us to compare one group of children to previous years & talk about they were different, and how our practice impacted on those results. Unfortunately this has resulted in this awful system of ticking boxes & fitting children into little boxes. It is horrible- but if parents hate it as much as we do they should complain to OFSTED or their Government/council- as nursery staff have been left with little choice.

Thank you, that is reassuring. I was worried that if he had to be 40-60 in everything in seven months time at start of reception and that seemed a lot. He has four 40-60 but they are more in the social side not the academic side. Although I guess he will be 51 months by September so maybe it would be expected that he would be working within 40-60. They're quite big age gaps I suppose, twenty months is a wide category.
I agree he is 30-50 for reading and writing but think he might be a bit more for numeracy and shape and space. Anyway I guess they reassess them all in reception anyway.

Sorry, 50 months by September. My adding skills are also in the 30-50 month category!

They usually reassess every term, making notes on those children who might need extra help, referrals, special attention or consideration in planning. I really wouldn't worry too much about this particular assessment. Especially if he is as expected (in nursery) and above expectations at home. Just relax, keep doing what you are doing & have fun!

The "To track or not to track progress" argument is raging in my LA, We are being told not to track by early years but to track by the SEN team.

My question is : How are we supposed to complete the 2 yr assessments if we havent tracked because we have to record the developmental stage eg 22-36 mnths!

OP, it sounds like your Ds is doing fine, he is just where he should be at his age, stepping over into 40-60 in some areas but solid in 30-50