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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

How do I know how well or not well DS is doing in reception?

17 replies

roadtrain · 08/02/2011 21:49

DS is in reception. I want to know how he is doing because if he needs some extra help then I want to sort it out sooner rather than later. There are 15 kids in his class and whilst I understand that it is pretty futile to rank them, I would like to know if he is anywhere near the middle of the class and I would particularly like to know if he is the bottom of the class. I have absolutely no idea where he would be in the class. Is there something that I can look at that tells me what the average child can do half way through reception?

I have been to a parents' evening (last term). However, when all the mums were chatting about what was said, it turned out that we had all been told the exact same thing . Child settled well, has friends, participates. I don't want to receive a report at the end of the year saying that DS has a load of difficulties that I was not aware of. I just feel a bit "in the dark" about how he is doing.

What should I do?

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Slambang · 08/02/2011 21:51

Is he happy?

Then he's doing ok,

Original poster

roadtrain · 08/02/2011 21:55

Yes, he is happy. However, that is primarily because he runs around with a band of other little boys talking about poo!

OP posts:

newname0601 · 08/02/2011 21:57

That sounds about right for boys .

gaelicsheep · 08/02/2011 22:08

My 4 year old runs around with his hareem playing mums and dads.

coolascucumber · 08/02/2011 22:11

Invite each child in turn for a playdate and check out their bookbags for evidence of writing, maths or reading diary. But be sure you really want to know...

yousankmybattleship · 08/02/2011 22:11

If he's happy and making friends then you're fine. Ranking him among his class means nothing. You might have a class of geniuses or doofuses so it tells you nothing. just relax!

pagwatch · 08/02/2011 22:13

You should leave it lone and trust that, unless they are astonishingly shite, the teachers/staff will talk to you if they flag any potential problems.

And the ranking thing is bollocks. Your child could be the best child amongst a group not very bright children or be at the tail end of a group of very developmentally advanced toddlers.
And next year it could all be completely different.

In reception so many thing come into play including age.

Everything is fine. Leave him be

griffalo2 · 08/02/2011 22:15

i ask myself the same question,my son is also in reception.but i tell myself the teacher will say something if theres problems.
She has done a couple of assessments on his reading and written down the words/sounds he struggles with in his record book.she did put once that she was very pleased with his reading which put my mind at ease.
Does your sons teacher do anything like that?

IndigoBell · 09/02/2011 11:35

Don't worry - if your parent evenings were all identical, there is no way they will tell you there are any problems in his end of year report. It will be more of exactly the same euphemisms.

In fact school will never ever tell you there are problems in his school report....

sarahfreck · 09/02/2011 16:29

Just ask the teacher - say something like "could I have a 5 minute chat at pick up time some time in the next couple of weeks." If she asks what it's about just say you're feeling a bit vague about how DS is doing and wanted to clarify a few things. Keep it all nice and neutral and friendly.

Then at meeting say you were just wondering how he was doing academically and whether there were any particular issues you might need to work with him on at home. You could say you've heard some horror stories from friends with dc's at other schools (you don't have to say its on MN!) who've got to the end of the year and then suddenly been told that dc has problems so although you are very happy with the school and teaching etc etc etc, you just wanted to set your mind at rest.

GypsyMoth · 09/02/2011 16:32

academically??? they are reception....what do they do 'academically'??

freshmint · 09/02/2011 16:39

we had a parents evening for our reception child last night
the teacher said she was ding really well in reading and enjoying it. was doing really well in writing and enjoying it. was doing really well in maths and enjoying it and doing some extension work
got on well with everyone but particularly x, y and z
had painted a very nice penguin last week

Apart from the ref to extension work, I don't know how she ranks and it doesn't matter. What matters is that she is doing well FOR HER, and enjoying it. Relax! If there were any problems they would tell you about them.

sarahfreck · 09/02/2011 16:47

yes - academically - as opposed to socially!
Learning phonic sounds, counting, adding one more, writing etc are all academic activities albeit early ones!

gaelicsheep · 09/02/2011 20:22

Oh, would that they did any of that in 4 year old DS's pre-school (in Scotland, home of the so-called Curriculum for Excellence).

ElinElin · 14/02/2011 21:42

I would ask. I was told exactely same as you when I went for parents evening in Nov. Then after xmas I noticed some kids were getting reading books and my dd still pic books. I mentioned to the teacher and she said oh, dd cannot match character names with pictures. (my dd had been able to do this since she started school.) Teacher disagreed. Anyway the next day my dd came home with a reading book and a note saying she can now do it. Pretty clear to me they had not checked it before. I would not put my trust everything the teacher says after what happend to me.

Itsjustafleshwound · 14/02/2011 21:49

No teacher in her right mind will give you the sort of info you want. It kinda figures..

Some kids do well at some things and not so well on the others - he may find figures easy to comprehend, but struggle to sit down and concentrate on the reading book - it is all down to character and child.

At the end of the year you should get an indication of where they are in relation to the 9 or so areas of learning.

Just relax and be cool - I am sure if there is an issue you will be told or you will have an idea ... don't be swayed by idle school gate chatter

mrz · 15/02/2011 08:08

I think most reception teachers are focusing on children's social and emotional well being in the first term of school as unhappy children rarely learn. Most parents want their child to be settled and making friends so obviously this is what the teacher has reported.
I recall some years ago a father asking me how his son was doing ... I replied "He's settled well and has made a new friend" to which he replied "I mean academically!"
The child had been in school half a day!

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