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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Reception prize day

43 replies

Ixia · 23/07/2010 20:10

What do you make of Reception children being included in prize day? Some of DD's class have been given books, for good work, most improved reading etc at a proper prize giving ceremony for R, Y1 and Y2. DD is absolutley gutted (floods of tears at home time) about it and doesn't really understand why she didn't get a book as she's been good and worked hard. TBH it really spoilt her last day in reception, which is a shame as she has loved it up until now.

Am I being over protective? My Mum has said that kids have to learn there are others better than them. But I feel this is too harsh at 5 (in fact some of the class are still 4), I've worked hard to improve her confidence and this feels like a kick in the teeth.

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PixieOnaLeaf · 23/07/2010 20:17

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gibba8 · 23/07/2010 20:23

I agree with you Ixia-I am sure every single child will of done something good and positive over the year and all deserve to be rewarded. I do not know how they can pick and choose certain children.

My DD aged 5 was really upset that every child with no abscence during the year went out for a special treat with the head teacher. These children also got gift vouchers,medals and certificates for having no days off-nothing like rubbing it in to those children who were off with a genuine illness like my DD who was off for one day only with a severe infection!

I know children have to learn that life is not always fair bit it seems very harsh to me too!!

LostArt · 23/07/2010 20:23

Your poor DD.

I'm against prize ceremonies because in a class of 30, surely at least 20 will have tried really hard during the year, but get no recognition.

But maybe I'm biased because I never receive an end of year prize for anything either! [still bitter after all of these years emoticon]

coventgarden · 23/07/2010 20:24

for your dd.

my son was the only one in his class to get a certificate and book for having 100% attendance in his reception class.

julybutterfly · 23/07/2010 20:56

I agree with you! DS was one of 3 children in his reception class not to get a certificate all year. Certificates were given for 'good behaviour' 'learning all your letters' 'reading a new word' etc.

DS could already read and write when he started and was left to coast so didn't improve as much as others, he was always well behaved so never stood out as trying hard to behave one week....it's a stupid idea!

Yes they need to learn but not at such a young age where it can completely crush their enthusiasm and confidence

KickButtowski · 23/07/2010 21:13

I have just had a prize giving for whole school (only 80 kids) and there was not one single prize for academic achievement. Was mostly for sport and attendance plus one infant and one junior picked out for general good behaviour and trying hard all year etc.

I thought it was bullshit.

Why not pick out one child in each class who has improved the most each year? ( that way the ones who will never be top of the class can still be recognised for their efforts)

Also why not recognise the ones who are doing well academically, including the little ones? Some kids are really bright and work hard and I think that should be applauded.

Actually, it is the attendance ones that piss me off. My dd has SN and has regular hospital appts so it really gets my goat when other kids are clapped for trying their best and making sure they always come in. Kids can't help being disabled or sick and the 100% attendance thing implies that anything less is skiving.

dilemma456 · 23/07/2010 22:11

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roadkillbunny · 23/07/2010 22:45

I would have been really upset for dd if they had done prizes/treats for attendance in Reception, she ended up with only 90% attendance but that was because she had to have surgery in Novermber resulting in 2 and a half weeks off and they had to have 12 afternoons and one morning off for speech therapy due to the crappy system that does not allow reception children to access the speech therapist that comes to the school. Other then those she has not missed a single day. Our school did give one child in each class a prize though but in a way that didn't upset anyone, they picked a child in each class that has something huge to over come that year, the reception winner was a girl from sweeden who arrived in september new to the village, knowing nobody and speaking no English, I know my dd was really pleased that this girl won. There are ways and means to give prizes without belittleing the effort all the children have put in.

CarGirl · 23/07/2010 22:48

I wouldn't be happy.

My dd has spent much of her reception year learning to correct her speech due to hearing problems, so at the age 4 she's worked very very hard but wouldn't get recognised for that at all.

Why, how is that reasonable for 4 & 5 year olds?

Hulababy · 23/07/2010 22:50

At DD's school all year groups are included in the Prize day at the end of they year. There are approx 4-5 prizes per class.

It has never been an issue. They all know that only some will get a prize andthat most won't, but it might be their turn next year - or even during the year in other assemblies.

I don't think it is too harsh personally.

Hulababy · 23/07/2010 22:54

At the start our DD's pize day the headteacher always talks to all the girls, tells them all how hard they have worked and how proud she is of all of them. She also reiterates that at Prize Day she can only give some of tem an award this year, but she knows each and every one has done really well.

Seriously, it has always been fine - DD is now in Y3. Sometimes she has had a prize, often no. Same as everyone else.

There are prizes for academic achievement, sporting, effort, and music in DD's year group IIRR.

And there are lots of other points in the year where sertificates are awarded for particulalr achievements.

Original poster

Ixia · 23/07/2010 23:00

cargirl My daughter is also having speech therapy to overcome speech problems. Her report even said how hard she'd worked to make herself understood better over the year.

They also have the classes split into 3 teams who compete for house points. The winning team got to have a non- uniform day and got to visit a neighbouring school to play games and watch a film. - gah. DD wasn't on the winning team, so we had that to deal with as well.

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CarGirl · 23/07/2010 23:07

I guess I'm just thankful that my dds go to a "pink & fluffy" school, very nurturing and teaches them how to learn and aren't about them not reading until they are in year 1 etc. Aren't worried if they don't do their homework in infants! Lots of praise for effort but still acknowledge achievement etc

julybutterfly · 23/07/2010 23:47

hulababy your prize days are obviously handled well!

Like I said DS is one of 3 in his reception class never to have received a certificate through the year. Each school is different and the ones who don't handle it well obviously need a rethinkg

hmc · 23/07/2010 23:52

I hate prize giving ceremonies - and that is despite ds being teacher's pet and generally getting the plaudits. Thing is - his sister - who is no less deserving never seems to get the recognition. I am afraid I don't have confidence in every member of the teaching staff to be even handed and fair

Original poster

Ixia · 24/07/2010 08:56

cargirl - the thing is DD's school has been fantastic, really nurturing and kind, letting children learn at their own pace (no sats here) - and no worries about attendance, children are told to take a day off if they look tired and we are encouraged not to send them in when they have colds etc. I guess that's why the prize and team thing has come as such a shock for DD.

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Belle03 · 24/07/2010 16:48

I think that's horrible. My reception class have a leaver's party (parents are invited)& they ALL get a certificate for an achievement -could be being kindest classmate, trying hard with phonics, being smiley every day, being brave coming into school (the one I've had to wrench from his mum! 99% of the time it is a boy!)I really hate the idea of only rewarding some of the class, they've all made huge progress during their Reception year

simpson · 24/07/2010 17:27

DS's reception class also all got a certificate for something and got to shake the head teachers hand so there was great excitement over that

TBH I think reception is too young for a "proper" prize day iyswim.

katiestar · 24/07/2010 17:36

Belle03-I kind of think that's worse than only giving a few a prize.Even a 5yo knows when they are being patronised!

BrigitBigKnickers · 24/07/2010 17:48

Not too sure about this for such young children but the everyone gets a prize mentality that seems to pervade everything with kids these days does get up my nose.

Our junior school has a football club run by somone brought in from outside the school staff.

They had an assmbly recently where every child who had attended the club at some point during the year (including 2 girls who had only been twice) were presented with a dirty great trophy.

mrz · 24/07/2010 18:03

I'm also anti giving a prize for anything and everything so no one is left out. It devalues the whole concept of a reward/prize as something special. I had a few children this year ask when it was their turn to be "writer of the week" or "maths champion" when clearly they weren't putting any effort into their work.

backtotalkaboutthis · 24/07/2010 18:15

Agree with Pixie. One day it will be your child's turn to get the prize and someone else will be upset. It's the way it is.

needtomoveon · 24/07/2010 18:21

I find the anti "prizes for all" a bit hard-nosed. For me Reception was all about my young DD (age and general temperament) learning how to behave in groups, follow instructions and appreciate that learning can be fun. She doesn't seem to be very academic so far and made very little progress with reading and writing but I couldn't give a stuff. She came out with a shiny medal (every kid got one, each for a different reason, some academic, some valuing more basic stuff like being brave enough to go to the toilet alone). Also, she ran up and hugged and thanked her teachers and TAs. That is a happy child who likes her school because she feels included and therefore wants to go back in September.

FWIW, I have no problem with more targeted prize giving as kids get older but I think 4/5 yo is too young to start singling them out. There are years ahead when kids can learn that there are successes and failures.

mrz · 24/07/2010 18:29

needtomoveon does she need a certificate or trophy to feel included? I would suggest not because she obviously knows the staff like with her just for who she is... a happy well balanced little girl. The idea of sitting down with a class list and trying to find a reason to give each child a prize is surely wrong how much better to tell a child how much you like their smile - when they are smiling or how proud you are of them for fastening their own coat - when the do it or how amazing they counted all the apples at snack time - when they did it instead of waiting for a pseudo ceremony once a year.

CarGirl · 24/07/2010 19:19

I just think it's too young, yes all being given certificates etc is fake. Certificates as and when deserved during the year, there doesn't have to been an occasion making it a big focus.

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