School Reports - Chat thread

[IndigoBell]

How's everyone feeling about their children's school reports?

I've just got DS2s report and it's glowing - which stupidly makes me upset because he's a very difficult child at home, and it makes me feel like it must be me that's the problem.

Apparently he's fine at school and is only a monster for me, DH, the nanny and Beavers.....

Anyway, what are your school reports like? Do they describe your child? Or someone else totally......

In the first school I worked in we were not allowed to write negative reports because "these are things that parent will keep and it's very unpleasant for them if they aren't positive"

Hence, things like "lively and enthusiastic in class" actually meant, "disruptive and can't sit still" and "has great creative ideas but needs to focus more on recording his work on paper" meant "talks constantly and will do anything to avoid doing some actual work!"

etc!

I work in a private school now and we are perfectly free to tell it like it is!

I also work in the same school as my children and one of the teacher's is one of my closest friends so I don't get any surprises come report time.

older daughter (Y3) - very bright but too quiet in class. Way too sensitive
younger daughter (N) - very confident but not showing any signs of wanting to learn anything as yet! Disruptive tendencies.

This will be the first end of year report. Is there much difference from the mid year updates. To be honest anything is a bonus. Overseas she was always marked against targets and the independent box check in every single blinking one. She didn't have any goals etc and they never had parent consultation. So pretty much I'm chuffed we have some communication going on, a curriculum to measure against etc. Just so you don't think I'm boasting by stealth I'm expecting DD to be much more average over here and to have to work as I would expect on quite a few things.

the trouble with the 'only positive' reports is that the teachers become expert at damning with faint praise. And if you are paranoid like me you read negativity into everything.
One of dd's comments is 'she is beginning to express her thoughts with sensitivity to others' feelings during our RE sessions'. I assume that means 'She is a tactless and unpleasant little cow but we're working on it.'

I think she is beginning to express her thoughts with sensitivity to others' feelings is a target she is meant to achieve and not a personal comment....

We haven't had ours yet, but they always leave enought time for you to read, sign and add your own comments.

At our school,the teachers just choose from a list of pre-written comments to find the one which best fits your child. You have to read very carefully between the lines to work out what they are actually saying. This becomes much more obvious if you have more than one child at the same school, or heaven forfend, the teacher has failed to delete the name of the previous child from your child's report (happens from time to time, trust me).

Ds is in year 2. One of his strengths this year is that his 'cutting skills have much improved'. I read that as them struggling to find something to say as the report lists 3 strengths.

A lot of it is criticism of him too but put in a kindly manner. It is quite sad to read especially as i have one at the other end of the scale.

I hope Indigo

So glad to see this thread. Got DD2s report on monday and am hovering between crying and anger. I have never seen such a personal attack in black and white. She is only 5 in yr1 and has already been labelled as lacking in any level of concentration, unable to follow instructions given to the group, and says if left to her own devices she would happily chat, socialize and day dream her way through the day 'but this would not be conjucive to academic progress'
What really sticks in my throat is we have expressed our concerns over her concentration levels since reception, an issue highlighted by her nursery before she even started school. Now, after 2 years of her teachers dismissing our concerns, she writes it all in such a negative way with no suggestion of how the school will help her as she enters year 2. I feel really sad that my lo has been so let down by her teachers, and have just written to her head teacher asking that now they have finally acknowledged what we have been saying what are they planning to do to help her.
Report says that she rersponds well when instructions are directed at her, but becomes easily distracted and teacher 'has to give her time to reflect on what has been asked of her' (whatever that means)
Am waiting for a response to my letter to the head cos it just seemed so pointless to discuss with a class teacher who has so far ignored all of our concerns.
On the plus side report says she 'has a natural flair for art', only positive comment made. Only just a 1C in all subjects so feel school is really failing her.
Rant over and breath!!!

what is this 1c business? we don't have anything quantifiable.

A 1c at the end of Y1 is not dreadful (it's not brilliant, but not dreadful either)

She should be able to make a level 2 at the end of Y2.

The school report won't say what they're going to do to help her - that stuff will be all contained in an IEP (Individual Education Plan) if school she feels she needs one.

That's what you should be asking for. For her to be put on the SEN register, and given an IEP.

But also you are going to need to do stuff yourself. Work out why she lacks concentration and is unable to follow instructions. Is she deficient in Omega 3? Does she have a hearing problem?

drivinmecrazy,

I would be tempted to write a note in to her teacher saying "having a teacher who cannot spell or even be bothered to use a spell checker is not CONDUCIVE to her academic progress either."

Honestly, I have no issue with critical reports but teachers should at least make sure their English is technically accurate before slamming other people's children - especially when you misspell a word in a sentence that is actually relating to a child's academics!

Haven't got ours yet, don't know when they are planning to issue them.

I do hope they are better for Reception than they were for Nursery (same school). I shared last year's one with DS's then childminder, a good friend, and she told me pretty much everything had been lifted from EYFS standards to be met, so no real personal insight .

Exactly manic, several other grammatical errors throughout, was tempted to comment especially as she is head of literacy for the school. Teacher has just phoned me to invite me to meet with her and head before end of school today. Teacher thanked me for my prompt and candid comments, and try to assure me there has been a plan in place for DD throughout the year although they have never communicated it to us. Feel a tiny bit bad now I went over her head to the head mistress, but I must stay strong and not just get sent away with platitudes again.

Would it of hurt her to include details of how they are helping DD in the report instead of just highlighting her short comings??

try to assure me there has been a plan in place for DD throughout the year although they have never communicated it to us.

Look. She has made a mistake. She either has been helping DD and not communicated it to you (which she should have) - or she's now lying to you.

So don't feel bad about going over her head. They are meant to communicate concerns with you.

If your child is on the SEN register you are meant to know. You are meant to have IEP review meetings termly. This is where you should discuss the details of what they are doing to help your DD (not in the report).

I suspect they haven't been doing much for your DD all year, and now that you've raised it with the HT she will overstate what they did do.

Ours haven't come out yet but it is parent's eve next week so are expecting them then.

Still waiting for ours. I am looking forward to it even though I know it will just say whether dc have met targets and comments will be cut and pasted from set phrases. Not very personal at all.

Ours were meant to come out tomorrow. Had an email about 15 minutes ago from school to say they have been delayed. Was looking forward to getting them tomorrow. I possibly need to get out more

We didn't even get a report in nursery snowie. So disappointed after the fab reports and folders preschool did.

Ours came out yesterday. DS1 (9) needs to work on his concentration and presentation (totally true!) but works hard and is a kind and helpful child was the general gist. Apparantly he has a flair for languages and is never short of ideas but rushes his work too much. All true. Generally speaking it was a lovely personal report highlighting the things he is good at and enthusing over how his self-confidence has grown but also not shying away from the things he needs to work on. Quite happy with it. 4C in reading/writing and 3a in maths.

DD (7)'s report reads like she is basically perfect can't do any wrong, the school have very high expectations of her, she is a role model for every other child in the school. Highly motivated, highly intelligent and is way ahead of her peers. Wonderful report, but she is in danger of getting a big head (my observations - not the teachers i hasten to add!!). Level 3 in everything.

DS2 (5) works hard, is lovely, would rather play quietly on his own rather than with the other children. Has great ideas, very sweet. But after a whole year in reception still can't read much at all (still on lowest band) and struggles to write. On the upside, he is the happiest boy in his class and the headteacher comments how he always keeps her informed of everything that is happening in the school (basically he talks non-stop).

So basically i'm happy with the reports, but a little concerned over DS's reading/writing but spoke to teacher today at open evening and she said he'll be fine and is really starting to pick up on things now so will probably accelerate his learning in Yr 1. i hope so.

Generally speaking I love to see the levels they are working at, but what means the most are the little personal remarks that show how well the teachers know each of the children. And really pleased that teachers haven't held back in the things that the children need to work on (except DD who is basically perfect allegedly!) - it really helps me to know how best to encourage and help them at home.

What is higher...a 2a or a 2c for example?

2a is higher; the next step is 3c, then 3b, 3a, then 4c, 4b...etc

Teachers, is it official policy that you have to use the "X enjoyed this activity"- line? It seems such a cringe-worthy one to me, when chances are the parent has had to listen to moaning about X activity for weeks. And even worse, of course, if you know for a fact that your child wasn't even in that week.

To me, it's just way of saying in capital letters DON'T EXPECT ME TO REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

Far more honest was the teacher who wrote: the class has been doing X activity- she knew she couldn't be expected to keep track of dd's frequent absences, so wasn't going to commit herself.

Useful links for those trying to work out the levels and numbers stuff:

curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/assessment/app/index.aspx.

www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/07/06/decoding-your-childs-school-report-national-curriculum-school-levels-assessments/

Still waiting for ours next week. I am not expecting much useful information after the last two years.

Still waiting for ours here.

I am really interested in what DS1's will say. Last year in YR3 he got a writing 3B, Reading Comprehension 4, Maths 3A.

He has had the same teacher this year for everything apart from maths, so we will see if he has progressed as he should have.

DD is in YR2, and struggles to get much work on paper so I think her report will reflect the teachers frustration.

DS2 is in YR and is a handful lively child, so his report should make for fun reading!