Can someone talk to me about EYFS and what my daughter should be doing please.

[Janefeelsold]

DD is 4.5 and currently in the nursery class attached to the school she will go to. She is one of the older ones as her birthday is September 2nd. She seems very able and is starting to read. but in nursery they will not do the phonic stuff and they have told me she will start it fresh in Reception.

Thing is she is ready for it now as she is both mature and able. What I don't understand is on the government website is states that all children, regardless of age should be working at their level. which obviously my daughter isn't.

What I also don't understand is why children just 2 or 3 wks older than her are deemed ready even though some may not be, but she's got to wait until September and then by schools own admission start at 'a'.

She is my eldest so maybe I'm being a little bit PFB but if she's ready why isn't she doing it when she would have been if she was born 2 days earlier?

Cansu, she has very good social skills and is quite mature for her age.

My frustration is why is it right that the Reception children get it and not the Nursery children? Surely that is arbitrary when quite a few are just weeks older than her? Surely they should all be learning at their pace-so some in Reception maybe not ready whilst others in nursery very ready.

I asked about it again this morning and they told me they were under no obligation to do it in Nursery. Can anyone tell me if this is correct?

The eyfs is statutory however phonics is not statutory.

Thank you, Gottakeepchanging. You have been really helpful.
Guess I'll have to just suck it up but it does make me worry about in school is inflexible and rigid.

Squidgy, my point is really, why are children who are in some cases just days older than her receiving it and she is not?

I know play is important. But why some and not others just because she happens to be born two days into September when they are in the same setting?

So do you think an able 8yr old should only be doing Y4 work if he is capable of moving on to move advanced maths then? I would think in a typical Y4 class you would have some children still working at Y2 or Y3 level, some Y4 and some Y5. Is that not likely? Shouldn't they all be working at their own level and isn't this one of the things that ofsted are hot on, working at their own level?

Maybe I'm being PFB but I assumed they assessed and each child would go through school working at their individual pace.

Sorry, I didn't mean my last post to sound agressive or confrontational.

I guess I just don't know how it all works and the fact that they have said she will do it in Sept but start at the beginning has made me worry that it is very rigid.
I just assumed all children would be assessed on entry and be taught to their own ability regardless of their age.

I wish I felt that way. I wish I'd known all this a few months ago so I could have made a more informed choice about where to send her to school.

I know she's only little but my big worry is that this is somehow indicitive of how it's going to be.

Hi,

I have only skimmed this thread, so apologies if I repeat anything. There is a lot of stuff you can do at home, including singing songs. Jolly Phonics do a great CD with phonics songs on, when I bought it I paid about £7 from Amazon. If you're not sure where to start with phonics at home, there's a nice little book by Ruth Miskin, I also got this from Amazon, only a couple of pounds as well. It's really worth starting at home. You shuld probably also remind the school that 'EVERY CHILD MATTERS' the framework is ending soon as well, but the ethos will remain - every child is entitled to progress at their own pace, and the school seem to be hampering this.
Sorry if I rambled, and good luck xx

Thank you, Rachael, I will start doing stuff at home but my worry is that from what they have said, she will still need to start at the beginning regardless.

Squidgy, I chose the school because it was my nearest and it had an outstanding ofsted. Because of those two things I didn't even think about looking elsewhere.

If they are going to start her at the beginning regardless they are not adhereing to the Every Child Matters principles. I have no idea how to post a link so I've just copies this one - copy it into your browser: -
www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrensplan/downloads/ECM%20outcomes%20framework.pdf
This will take you to the childrens plan which is quite clear in regards to a childs achievement. I believe this is being replace at the end of this month, but it's a good place to start.
I'm sorry if I sound pushy over this, I just know what it's like to try and get the right help for your child. Talk to the school like you know what you're on about, and make yourself heard. xxx

Thanks, Rachael, I did speak to the teacher again at drop off this morning but was told to wait until September.
I am now waiting for our offer letters next week to know whether she is definitely going there before I decide what to do.

Squidgy, LA nursery places have nothing to do with Reception allocation apparently. The LA told me that not all schools have nursery classes so that one nursery may serve 2 or 3 local schools. All the forms were quite clear that having a nursery place at the school has no bearing on Reception places. When I asked the HT about it before DD1 started, she said it would be unfair to parents who work as obviously at a state nursery you can only do 9-12 or 12.30-3.30 mon-fri.

I guess that seems fair to me. There is also 25 morning and 25 afternoon children and only 30 places in Reception though obviously some of the children at nursery with DD1 will go to the other local schools.

totally normal squidgy, the reception places are allocated by the LA based on their criteria (mostly distance) often children who live close to the school either are already at 'daycare' nursery or dont attend any nursery at all and so apply for reception but not nursery

janefeelsold my DS went to the school attached nursery and was capable of maths/phonics/reading while he was there. They weren't at all interested. When he started in reception he was allowed to go to a year one/two class a few times a week. Now he's in year one and his teachers challenge him.

DD is in the nursery now and was going to the reception class a couple of times a week for phonics work. Recently I saw her nursery friends outside playing while she was inside 'working' and it suddenly hit me how quickly her brother grew up. I've now stopped her reception visits and am happy with that decision.

Let your DD be 4!! Do stuff with her at home if it's what you want her to do, but nursery is for playing in my (newly found) opinion

Maybe you are right, julybutterfly.

I guess I just don't understand the logic of it being done with Reception children then. Some of them are literally days older than her so why not leave them to play when they are also just 4.5 at the moment. Maybe I am being PFB about it all and it's my fault for letting her go 5days after her due date!