Extra literacy support in Year 1

[LittleBlossom]

Hi, we got a note in DS' bookbag last week asking for permission for him to participate in extra literacy support sessions, run daily and in a group. It is signed from the SENCO, however as far as I know he's got no special needs and the recent parents evening was positive. We did have a short meeting with the teacher a few weeks into yr 1 as he was struggling a bit with reading and they changed the books to simpler ones, he now reads well at stage 2 ORT and seems a lot more confident. If anyone else is similar, with experience of this or possibly a teacher, could you advise please. Id be happy for a little boost for him, however am a little concerned about him having stigma of being in 'slow learners' or somesuch (it's quite an academic kind of school) or missing out on things like music or art, or playtime!

You should be pleased that your school have picked up on any issues, especially as they are not obvious ones. I live in 'foreign parts' and it is sink or swim here. If you don't learn how to read in the first year, then it's tough luck. The only TA's we have in our school are for behavioral problems.

Great- many thanks for all your replies, it's been very useful, and given me an insight into what's involved.

I think some DCs are just not ready to learn to read/maths at age 4/5 - I know several who struggle and get extra help, and by no means are they 'slow learners'!

They are sooo little they just need a bit more time, maybe start school at age 6 like in most other countries.

Hi gabid, yes I think that makes a lot of sense. He still seems quite young and is in a class of the older year one children, and is just starting off with some things like starting to sound out words, whereas some of them seem to be rushing on ahead. it scares me that they can be labelled as 'struggling' or behind when they haven't even really had a chance yet to get started! That is also partly behind my concerns, too, not to foist too much on them to soon, but I guess it's just the way things are at the moment with the curriculum / SATs etc.

On another thread there was a teacher's TV video on Kindergarten in Sweden. They focus on social skills and the children's interests and start school at 7. They only teach reading etc if they are interested - but at age 10 they head league tables internationally. We can just dream...

Hi- the program is called sounds discovery, does anyone have experience of that?