Should I be concerned about DD's school?

[hillbilly]

DD is in Yr1 (state school) and I feel that there is a lack of communication between the school and parents. I would really like to know for example what the goals for the term are, what they are learning so that I can compliment this at home. I would also like to know her timetable, which I don't.

Friday's literacy homework was not given because they had "run out of paper" - WTF?????? Yes the teacher apologised but I thought it a bit poor.

I do know that another local school issues booklets with with the weekly and termly goals in it along with all relevant info about Yr1. They have a homework book rather than worksheets which makes sense to me.

There is a meeting tomorrow for parent's of Yr1 so before that I want to know other people's experiences.

Am I expecting too much?

Pixie I don't need to know what she's doing every minute of the day but I'd like to have a general idea of what she is doing.

Hillbilly...do you get a little book in which to communicate with your DD's teacher? We have one...whilst were not told specific goals, the teacchr will write notes about my DD's reading that day...or a project she is enjoying..and I am free to comment or ask brief questions.

it's perfect as long as it's not abused...teacher is more than happy for parents to add comments and observations and always responds. You can also add a note if your child is worried about something or has hada falling out with friends.

You could suggest a similar thing?

one more thing...because in year 1 and 2 the learning is so varied, a timetable is not ver practical as it changes all the time.

No Anenome we don't get that. We get a book that comes home with her weekly reading book in which we write a comment about it.

......and in this book then the teacher would write a comment too - eg: well done x, or good reading or some such thing. However I did find that towards the end of reception year the comments became more infrequent.

We had our books implemented by suggestion...people had a moanabout the lack of contact...and not feeling they could ask the teacher about things...if were you I would suggest/ask for a similar thing...because they're very handy if your child is having a hard time in some subject or socially..and they ALL have one or the other at some point.

We never had them in year one...just a reading book like you had...with similar comments.

Ask...it can't hurt...I think you have to be pushy...is your child in a state school or indpendant?

State school.

So in a way you actually are in better position to demand better communication...many independant schools are snotty if parents hassle too much...they just flop out the exam results and look at you as if to say "What can YOU suggest that will improve THAT?"

So if I were you, I would join the PTA and/or..speak to other parents to see if they share the same concerns...then either wait till parents evening or askteacher if she can spare a few minutes for a chat...see how they feel about some books like that.

at timetable for a 5yo.

What do you suppose it would say? And what use would it be?

Otherwise, well the meeting 2 weeks into term sounds like a good place to start for some info.

Clary...the OP may be a 1st time Mother who has never encountered primary education... and what is wrong with high expectations?

In my opinion the OP seems to have a high interest in her DD's education and that's a good thing.

Thanks Anenome - I am interested in her education. We live in central London where there are no shortage of primary schools however they all seem to have different ways of doing things. DD and her friends from before school are now divided between 4 schools so I am able to compare because of conversations us parents (who are all good friends) have had.

I also think that hillbilly has high expectations and there's certainly nothing wrong in that. Communication between home and the school is essential to ensure your child is happy and learning. I also have a real problem with my daughter's school because of lack of communication - in reception we weren't given any info at all (had to wait six weeks for a ten min discussion) so in the end I just arranged regular meetings with her teacher. Other schools in reception had two weekly reception newsletters, curriculum evenings (how they teach reading), mornings where you could come into your child's class to watch and much more. Year one is better already and it is good you are having a meeting. It is lovely to know what your child is doing during the day so you can discuss school with her and find out her interests etc. Parents need to feel involved and it is only right and natural that you want to know about what your child gets up to for a whopping 32 hours a week. Teachers should not shut parents out! We still have a very important role to play.

Although I agree with the general consensus, I am going to leap to your defence on the timetable issue. DD2 has a flexible, play-based curriculum like most other children in year 1. But she does have a timetable for some things which happen once a week. French is on Mondays, PE is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have a singing assembly on Wednesdays (when they learn songs) etc etc

I agree that it is useful to know when those "once a week" things come up, so that you have some clue of what your child might have been up to. If I ask DD1 "what did you do at school today?" she will say "I can't remember". Whereas, last Tuesday I asked "did you do PE inside or outside today?" and discovered that they'd been outside, with outreach coaches from Chelsea FC. Which was quite exciting and would have passed my by completely if I hadn't had the timetable info.

When DD was in Y1 she would recieve an A4 sheet each term. This would outline what she would cover in each subject for that term.

I work ina Y1 class and each half term a newletter type sheet is sent to parents showing similr information.

I have no issue with a parent taking an interest in a child's education

I just wonder what kind of timetable you would get for a year 1 child.

I would ask for when does my child do PE, when do they need to bring in show and tell; a timetable sounds a bit hig-falutin, is all.

So let me tell you about the meeting yesterday. It was pretty informative - her teacher talked to us about about the theme for this term and how each subject related to the theme. We were given a timetable which is brilliant because it shows things (assmithagain pointed out) which she does once a week, for example singing and reading assemblies.

Admittedly this all could have been given out without a meeting but it was good to have opportunity to ask questions to dd's teacher.

The subject of homework came up and I expressed dissatisfaction at homework sheets - they are usually crumpled before they even get home and worse by the time they go back in. I don't think it encourages children to write neatly or take pride in it. So I suggested A4 workbooks that the sheet can be stuck into so we can bring the book home and the work be done in a book. The children and parents can then see their progress much better. The headmistress agreed that this is a very good idea and she will look into it.

That sounds very positive.

The Y1 class I work in does have a timetable int hat it sets out when PE and assemblies will be. It also show when literacy and numeracy will usuaully occur, when outdoor provision is and when continuous provision occurs. It obviously shows break and lunch too.

But this is very much open to change and timings vary lots. We never have anything too much set in stone and we tend to feed of the children a lot and follow the lead at times.