national curriculum question - y1 levels

[dietcokeandwine]

I would love some advice on this (particularly from any teachers on MN) as I'm confused!

DS is 6, has just gone into Y2 and has some SEN (ASD DX, key issues being some difficulties with auditory processing, struggles to listen/concentrate effectively, fine motor problems) for which he is well supported by the school. Achievement at end reception was apparently well below expected level, he seemed much happier during Y1 and we felt he was progressing quite well but there were still various issues arising.

During last term (July time) I had a catchup with his Y1 teacher during which there was a lot of talk about his difficulties/challenges and she made a comment along the lines of 'it's great you are not worrying too much about his level of academic achievement, some parents would have been getting seriously stressed' or something like that. School doesn't state NC levels on the reports until Y2 and stupidly I didn't think to ask about any Y1 assessments - just assumed from her comments that he'd be 'working towards level 1', or whatever the formal terminology is.

Anyway. Fast forward to this term, just reviewing DS's IEP, when I notice that his end-of-Y1 assessments for numeracy and literacy have been written on it: numeracy 1B, writing 1B, reading 1A.

So my question is - is that considered really poor? I thought 1B is basically the expected level at end Y1, with 1A being slightly above expected level? Obviously I appreciate many Y1 children will be way above that, easily achieving 2s/3s if they are fluent readers/maths whizzes etc...but given DS's issues (oh and he is also late summer born) I didn't think those levels were that bad?

Will be speaking to his teacher to clarify but would be interested to see what people think.

Not a teacher but was told by school that 1b or 1a at end of year 1 is where they'd ideally like children to be. Seems your son is doing really well.

Level 2/3 in Y1 is not all that common and as a Y2 teacher I would be happy with your child's levels if he were entering in my class.

Not a teacher either, but I am an assessment data administrator in a school - these levels are nothing unusual for the end of Y1.

Seems your DS is achieving better than you think.

Don't know what the teacher meant, unless there are some high achievers in the class (with gossipy mums).

I'm a year 2 teacher and level 1b/1a is average for the end of year 1 (can vary slightly from school to school- some say 1b some say 1a). If DS had some SEN going into year 1 then they've done really well.

Do you get many children entering yr2 on a 2a, Clarkiee/

I'd be happy sending kids on from Y1 with good solid level 1s (which a b is and an a DEFINITELY is). If you follow the two sub-levels a year idea... it would mean level 2cs and bs in year 2.

Also worth bearing in mind - the Y6 Sat scores don't actually get returned with sub-levels at all... so a 4c that squeaks through gets the same level as a 4a that nearly missed a 5 at the end of the day (schools may sub divide them for their own internal purpose - but that's not done at all with the Sat marking process) - they're just a tool for tracking these kids across what are fairly huge chunks of achievement within one single NC level.

Thanks to everyone for your comments, I am really proud of DS Had a quick chat with his teacher this afternoon and she confirmed what you have all said.

I think maybe the issue is that the catchment area of DS's school is stupidly posh quite affluent, with lots of high powered parents and bright children - school is outstanding ofsted rated, many will go from either KS1 or KS2 into the private system, etc, etc. So maybe general attainments across the board tend to be quite a bit higher than 'national average'. Just to put in context, DS is in the lowest ability group in his class (about 6 children), so theoretically the remaining 24 are achieving as good as 1a/1b or significantly higher. A high proportion of children achieve level 3 in the Y2 SATs, apparently...

So perhaps his Y1 teacher was thinking that I'd be hoping for much higher achievement levels than he managed. Bless her. After the couple of years we've had (it's not been an easy ride to say the least), I am thrilled with what DS achieved!

emptyshell - interesting to hear those comments about KT2 as well - thank you.

lovecheese no very rarely get children coming into year 2 with a level as high as 2A, get a few 2B's- but most pupils come up as a level 1

Thanks for the reply Clarkiee; So would you expect a child on a 2a at the start of YR2 to be extended in their work?

Of course - but so should any child, lovecheese.

Yes lovecheese they should be working on a mixture of level 2 and level 3 work.

Like Feenie said all children should be extended and challenged whatever their level
:)

Of course, not intending to sound precious. Incidentally, had a v. quick chat with DDs teacher on Friday about something else but got on to the subject of reading, and she said in a roundabout kind of way that she (the teacher) was using junior ideas and strategies with DD and another child - so I suppose that answers my question.