Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Advice needed re very negative teacher!

39 replies

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 09:52

I had parents evening last night and am dumb founded by teachers attitude.

My DD3 is in reception, I posted a thread on here a while ago about her difficulty in blending words. Since then, I am waitng for my DD to have a hearing test as the doctor thinks she has glue ear caused by numerous repeated ear infections.

At parents evening, we were told that she has made little progress since September, she cannot read or write and is now having intensive phonic sessions with her teacher two mornings a week during assesmbly time. Her teacher couldn't say anything positive about her, the only thing positive was that she was the first child to get dressed for PE. We were told she is showing signs for dyslexia, but they can't and won't do anything until she is in year 2. Looking around the classroom and in corridors, I couldn't find any examples of her work on the wall, no pieces of work in the collective class books. It's like she doesn't exist. I have 2 other DDs at the school, the teacher told me that I have 2 academic children and 1 practical. I was so angry that she is being compared to her sisters. I left feeling very deflated and angry at teachers attitude.

I think teacher attitude is rubbing off on her as DD keeps asking to draw her teacher a picture so her teacher will like her. Shes been having tummy aches and not wanting to go to school. She did tell me that another girl in the other EYFS class wouldn't play with her because she wasn't in the clever group! I told her teacher this and she didn't believe DD until I had enough of her opinion and approached the other EYFS teacher. It was then dealt with.

I feel so sorry for DD, she's very popular, has many friends, tries her best,but the things shes's good at like model making, construction are not even mentioned. I am on the doctors case to chase her hearing test and wish I could fast forward her to year 1 to be with another teacher. I don't know how to deal with the teacher, I 've spoken to her loads but don't seem to be making headway with her. I've met with her with the Head present but she's always negative about DD. Any advice would be great! Thanks.

OP posts:

Bucharest · 04/03/2011 09:57

Your poor dd, that is so sad about wanting to draw the teacher a picture.

I think you should make an appointment away from parents evening, possibly with head of year? It sounds really negative for your poor daughter. The fact that someone, somewhere is already talking about "clever" and "not clever" in reception makes me very

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 10:16

I have had 1 meeting with teacher and Head present. She told me that DD is immature and this was the main problem. I think that with her attitude she shouldn't be teaching EYFS,DD still only 4, 5 in the summer. The more meetings I have, the more defensive the teacher becomes, the more insecure DD becomes. She now has her phonics and numeracy lessons with a group of children with the same ability with the other EYFS teacher. She seems to be making more progress with this teacher.

I don't know whether it comes from school or from other childrens parents, the children are very clued up as to ability of the groups. DD teacher always teaches the higher ability group, I don't she has ever taught any other group. I don't think having clear plastic folders help, children can visibly see who has what reading book, sheet etc. It's a shame that children do know the difference in abilities. I think I'm going to arrange a meeting with the KS1 co-ordinator, see if I can get a better response from her.

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 04/03/2011 11:10

I don't know what to say to you, but just wanted to comment on this line - We were told she is showing signs for dyslexia, but they can't and won't do anything until she is in year 2

They are already doing everything they should be doing for her - giving her extra phonics lessons. Whether or not she has dyslexia, or a diagnosis of dyslexia, the correct thing to do for her at this age is extra phonics lessons.

So, don't let this be an extra worry for you on top of your other worries.

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 11:15

Thank you, I'll try not to. I just want her to get her confidence back which will help in her phonics lessons. Once she's feeling more confident, I'm hoping things will get easier for her. It seems more of a battle when they are unhappy.

OP posts:

Callisto · 04/03/2011 11:34

If your daughter is this unhappy and failing to thrive why don't you just take her out of school? She doesn't have to go to school at all if you decide to HE. I also don't think that lots of pressure on children to read and write at this very young age is at all helpful or even healthy. Children in most other countries don't start school until 6 or even 7 years old.

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 11:42

I have thought about it, we have only 1 car, they go to a village school and the other local schools have no places in reception. Their waiting lists are long. I thought she had to be at school the term in which she turns 5, which is easter. Is it different? I agree with you, children are pushed far too early and personality and individuality has been lost as governments have made children a statistic.
Such a shame. The teachers are great in year 1, can I withdraw her until then?

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 04/03/2011 11:47

You can Home Educate her until then - but school won't hold her place. So if you want to put her back in Y1 there may or may not be a place for her.

This may well be a very sensible option for you. Keep her home till Sep. Do what you want with her - teach her or not, and then send her back to the jam factory in Sep.

Anyone is allowed to HE their child. You don't need any reason, nor follow any curriculum. You can teach them whatever you want to - or even nothing.

squidgy12 · 04/03/2011 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Callisto · 04/03/2011 11:54

Yes, it is at the schools discretion whether or not to accept your child after reception. However, I would recommend that you get over to the Home Ed threads and have a look around and maybe find out about your local HE group.

I know several home ed children from age 6 right up to older teens and they are generally delightful, confident and articulate. They are also self-motivated, interested in learning and have the widest range of choices ahead of them. HE is a choice for us, but atm DD (yr1) is very happy at school. If she had experienced anything like your DD I would have pulled her out straight away.

Callisto · 04/03/2011 11:55

That should be 'if she had experienced anything like the things your DD has,'.

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 11:55

Thank you. The only problem is the place issue. I'm hoping to return to work in September for fianancial reasons with the cuts etc.Its food for thought. Thanks.

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 04/03/2011 12:10

It is at the schools discretion whether or not to accept your child after reception.

No. If the school has a place they have to accept her. If they don't have a place they can't accept her. (Although you can appeal....)

So if the class is not full now, there is no reason to think that she would have any problems getting in in Sep.

I removed my son from the school nursery, because I didn't like the teacher, and then he went to reception there. It was all fine, and no problems at all. ( I know not quite the same, but similar...)

OffToNarnia · 04/03/2011 12:39

I find it worrying that the children seem so aware of ability groups in reception. My son is in year 1. They have colour groups for their tables. As a parent it is fairly easy to work out the ability groups -there are 5- and he is in the second. However they have planet groups for numeracy and something else for guided reading and even I start getting confused as to groups! My ds does seem to be aware that sometimes different colour groups do different things but only in the way for eg 'I want to be in blue group cos they do funner things'. I am pleased that he seems completely unaware of any reasons the class is 'grouped' for various things. As for book bags they are not transparent so unless someone shouts out book levels it is not obvious who is on what level. I am sure that our teachers would be horrified if children were saying I won't play with you cos you are not in the clever group. I would expect teachers to try and stamp that out as it is a form of bullying. If you feel the head and teachers are not taking you seriously maybe you should write to the school governors expressing concerns about the ethos of teaching in reception. I wish you luck in whatever you do. I feel sad for your daughter.

solooovely · 04/03/2011 12:42

Can she be moved to another class or is there only one intake?

Callisto · 04/03/2011 12:46

Really? I thought that apart from the reception allocation which is run by the LEA, schools can accept or delcline who they like. That is certainly the impression I've got from talking to people who seem to know about these things.

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 12:51

There are two classes in each year. That would be an option as she has the other teacher for letters and sounds and numeracy. She also has some very good friends in the other class. DD always speaks highly of her. She comes home saying this teacher has put her on the happy side when she writes her letters well. This teacher is the Senco for Key Stage 1, she's very calm and DD seems to react positively to her. She's also pushing for her hearing test to be quicker. I'm going to phone the Head and arrange a meeting to discuss her moving classes.

OP posts:

solooovely · 04/03/2011 12:56

YES! OMG I nearly started crying then (hormonal?).

Ayway, I'm so pleased there is another intake and the teacher is lovely. Fingers crossed they can move her. The teacher she has at the moment sounds really quite horrible. Maybe point out to the head how it is affecting your daughter and you think it will affect her confidence and love of school long term. Also that it sounds as though the teacher doesn't even seem to like your dd (that's how it sounded to me). Say anything you can to get her moved! She shouldn't have to put up with it, poor little thing!

OffToNarnia · 04/03/2011 12:59

I suspect if the teacher is causing your daughter problems other parents may not be happy either. Good luck with the Head and remember the Governors if you get no joy.

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 13:02

I know there have been formal complaints from parents before about her teacher, one other mother told me that this teacher was bullying her child, another parent did tell me ( she's a teacher herself), that this teacher was very negative about her son. There is a pattern here, it's a shame the affect she has had on children. It's heartbreaking, you never know if what other parents say is true, until you experience it yourself.

OP posts:

bodencustomer · 04/03/2011 13:03

After your first few posts I was thinking about home ed too. It might be worth it until a) your dd would go into another class with a different teacher b)she is a little more 'ready' for school seeing as she is one of the younger ones.

OffToNarnia · 04/03/2011 13:08

I am glad you are seeing the Head but feel if things don't go well [which I hope they do!] putting things in writing to the governors would do no harm and would mean your DDs issues would have to be taken seriously and not brushed under the carpet. I wonder what action was taken concerning the other parents formal complaints?

Original poster

ClaraRenee · 04/03/2011 13:11

I have no idea, I think one child moved class but unsure about anything else.

OP posts:

solooovely · 04/03/2011 13:16

If others have complained too then they will take your complaint more seriously. I'm surprised she is still allowed to work there is she is being consistantly negative to children. What a horrible woman!

ninani · 04/03/2011 14:56

Have the other women complained just to you regarding the teacher or to the HT as well? If the HT is not aware then make a group and talk to her.

If you HE until September then the next person in the waiting list will get your daughter's place. Then you will have to go in the waiting list. In the meanwhile new children might move closer to the school also waiting before you. Or that's a nightmare that has happened in our area and hopefully shouldn't happen in a rural area!

Good luck!

IndigoBell · 04/03/2011 18:35

AFAIK it's almost impossible to fire a teacher, so there's not much the school can do about a teacher even if she does have a lot of complaints against her....

Flip

1 2