attainment levels in key stage 1 and 2

[Madprest]

Hi,
Could anyone explain what are the levels expected for end of yr 1 and so on. Also how many sub levels are they expected to move up in each year.The reason I ask is I am not happy with my childs progress..she is in year 4 and was told by senco she is at level 1 and is making adequate progress. She as been on SA since starting school and I have only just found out 2 months ago about all this and all the IEP's..9 in total and only 2 evaluations filled in (without our input). What I want to know is what the average level for the beginning of yr 4 and how many sub levels a child should be achieving from yr 1/2 and 3/4. just so i can argue that she is not making enough progress and get her the help as in Ed P. Any information would really be appreciated.

Hi Madprest,

I'm sure there are others on here who are more knowledgeable than me, but my DS is in Y4 and was 3b in everything at the end of year 3. I believe that's just above average. He was 2a/3c at the end of year 2...not sure about year 1 as they don't really report the levels in year 1 at our school.

I think they generally go up about 2 sub-levels a year.

Hope that helps a little bit? Sorry can't be more precise.

If she's functioning at level 1, I'm a bit surprised that you hadn't realised before that she was significantly below the levels that the average 8 year old achieves.
Is this just in one subject area, or does she struggle across the curriculum?

The 'average' child goes up 2 sub levels a year.

The average Y4 would be at a level 3b/3a.

Is it level 1 for literacy? This is really quite low in terms of achievement - the child would be unable to write simple sentences or read a basic reading scheme book.

SA+ would be the minimum level of support that I would be expecting for a child of this attainment at this age.

The average child actually progresses at one and a half sublevels a year in Ks2. Two sub levels is what schools aim for tp be aspirational - it's good progress, not average.

OP - what???????
parents need to sign every IEP, there isn't another option
my year 4's are mostly on 3b and 3c, very average school, some on low 4s but that's as good as we have got. yes a child theoretically should increase two sublevels a year, if not then the teacher needs to be explaining why (or providing an IEP and some interventions)

If you want to get an Ed Psych referral then you should have enough if she's had IEPs for all this time, that's one of the requirements, in addition to the child's needs being presented at either a multidisciplinary meeting where referrals are made (happens every term in schools) or alternatively that the school is putting in interventions and support which aren't resulting in the expected progress by the child. IYSWIM. I'm typing far too fast because I'm quite at the OP, in your shoes I'd definitely be asking for a meeting with the SENCO to discuss the whole thing further.
Get hold of your local Parent Partnership, who will happily support you and accompany you to meetings if you need help or back up.

didn't explain the two sublevels thing properly. Meaning the two sublevels is theoretical and not all children will do this. Separately from that, if children are way way below and are to all intents 'stuck' on a particular level, then you look at IEPs and so on. I don't think I explained it very well

the meetings go on across our authority, Cat64 - quite a good system round here (but high numbers of SEN in mainstream too, don't know if that's got anything to do with it) Agree with your point that a L1 child who is reportedly on SA in year 4, should be on SA+. They would be in ours.

OP, haven't you worried about your daughter's reading, maths skills, writing ability, reasoning skills and the rest before now?
Has no one ever said to you that she was not achieving as she should be?
How can you have been unaware until now that she isn't making progress?

Thanks everyone,
I know it comes across that I should have known before now..actually I voiced my concerns in Yr 2 and was told by the professionals that she has to take small steps because of her ability. I told her teacher I was concerned because I now what is expected in Juniors regarding work. And was told she would catch up. In Yr 3 at Parents Evening(Feb) I said I wasn't happy with her progress. When my eldest children was in primary we was told by age e.g he is 9 and reading level is 9yr 6mths and so on. As I have said above Oct I found out she as been on IEP's since starting and nobody as told us this which has left me furious. She is on SA and been on that since starting. Goblin take a look on special needs there are many parents who have been in the same position and listened to the pro's. That's the reason I wanted to find out about how many sub levels a child is expected to go up each year cus another meeting soon with HT,senco and 2 teachers and I wanted to have the right information to argue my point for her to go on SA+ and get outside help.

'Goblin take a look on special needs there are many parents who have been in the same position and listened to the pro's.'

Really? I think I might just pop over there and have a look.
Most parents seem to be very aware of their child's needs and abilities, and are angry if the school doesn't. You seem to have things te other way round.

You no nothing about me big 'gob'lin. Many people have been good to me with advice, I'll just put you in the category of pathetic idiots so bog off. I am not going to waste anymore of my time to explain things to the likes of you

OK, but I need to tell you that I tend to live over on the SN forum, and I'm not moving house because of a bolshie and aggressive parent.

Ladies! Now then. It's wine time!

How rude, Madprest!

I'm drinking mulled wine thank you lovecheese, one of the perks of being a teacher is that your cellar is stocked year-round.

Madprest - often parents I come into contact with do not appreciate that their child is operating below (or indeed above) average.

The most well educated, caring and concerned parents can find it hard to negotiate NC levels. Furthermore, unless you are a teacher and can see the range of ability, it is very difficult to know where your child sits within the range.

I think what I'm trying to say is - don't feel bad that you didn't know. The school is very definitely at fault for not communicating with you better. Certainly, I would insist she goes onto SA+ as soon as possible. I'm not sure whether this is the case everywhere, but in our LA, this SEN level means that the child is entitled to hours (which may be shared) and you are entitled to extra meetings with teachers.

Thank you very much amateurmum that's why I have asked for advice to find out if her attainment gap is getting wider compared to the average child for that year.I know some people might find it hard to believe that I honestly didn't know that she as been on SA since starting school and had IEP's, it was Parent Partnership who found all this out. HT investigating and meeting next week. Nice to have some positive advice. And if I knew I would have certainly questioned targets and especially evaluations.

You say she is Level 1 which is considerably below where a child is expected to be in Y4. Is it for all subjects and do you know if it's 1c,b or a?
She certainly isn't making adequate progress and there is no way the school could say she is.

I'm surprised you haven't realised how far behind she is even compared to your other child

Madpriest to put it simply your child is working at the level of a child just beginning school so yes, there is a huge gap

But didn't you notice her Y2 teacher assessments? They have to be reported to you

But Madprest did say she brought it up with teachers in Y2 and Y3 so she did realise there was a problem.

Honestly, I have had (very distressing) meetings with truly lovely parents who simply did not realise that there child had more than a small issue with reading/writing. It is very difficult to interpret levels and parents trust teachers to tell them if there is a real problem.

Most teachers do this but I work with some who are much too vague with parents in terms of children's achievements against the average.

No mrz i don't know if it's c,b,a...I asked for that information to be there on the last meeting with HT and all that was there was yr2. I asked to see yr 3 and was told it was kept internally. Have stressed that I require this next week. I did know how far behind she is compared to my other children and was told by senco that I should not compare my children.