question on school reports

[Carmel206]

Is it usual for a year 1 school report to just have text boxes for English, Maths and General with some comments in there but nothing that indicates if my child is attaining the expected level or is falling behind ?
Other topics within the report e.g Science, Art, Music ect. are tabulated with a tick for above expected level, meets expected level or is working to expected level.

I am not sure if the school is just trying to be tactfull and my child is really having problems with the English and Maths subjects or if this is a usual format.

Any advice gratefully received.

I doubt they'd change the format just to avoid being negative about your child. Reports shouldn't contain surprises so if you haven't had any previous issues it is unlikely they will raise them now. There are no official assessments at Yr 1 to report so they may wait for end of KS1(Year2). Can you speak to teacher to be reassured ?

Thanks - I will ask her. I kept seeing discussions about Levels with 1 and 2 etc and was expecting something like that so I was a bit suprised when I say it.

My DS's report was similar only with text for Science as well (perhaps as he is older) and he is getting very good results so I don't think it is meant to be a tactful way of saying anything.

If you have concerns then do talk to the teacher, if you don't feel comfortable asking directly then ask his or her advice as to whether there is anything you could be working on over the holiday.

DD's report (yr 3) is like this (for all subjects), and its very unhelpful, IMO. Essentially just lists of things that she is now able to do, with no indication of how this relates to the expected level.

I did specifically ask the teacher how her writing was progressing relative to the expected level, and didn't get an answer - only that it has improved, which we already knew. I think it must be her policy, but I have to say that I found last years' teachers approach more useful.

Last year we were told specifically that dd's writing was rather below the expected level, and that she considered this a problem for various reasons (ie after allowing for the fact that children at this age progress at very different rates), and also told a bit about the way that she was being helped to improve, so that we knew how to support her for homework etc.

Which is a round about way of saying that it is probably the preferred approach of your dc's English & Maths teacher rather than anything else!

Carmel - my DS's report sounds just like yours. There was a v.brief summary on the first page by the teacher saying the Year 1s had a great year, what my son particularl enjoyed etc but otherwise very general.

Thanks everyone - I have just been through the course work that has come home today and am feeling a bit worried - is is usual for a 5/6 yr old to transpose almost all S, P, B , D, 2, 3 etc? The written work is almost illegible - so I am assuming this is well below the expected level but wonder why this wasn't raised as a concern.
I will try to raise it tomorrow.