Parent teacher meeting feeling upset and need advice.

[lollilou]

We have just come from DSs Y4 parent teacher meeting he is nearly 9. We have been told that he gets confused in class,doesn't know his 2 times table and can't do punctuation. Now I understand that there are things that need to be brought up but surely this should have been flagged up before.No mention of these things with his last teacher. I am quite happy to step up his teaching at home BUT I think some of the problems stem from the school. He has said his teacher is a bit crazy and talks too fast(which she does as we found out tonight) His class is mixed with Y4 and Y5 which is not helping his confidence. Also his class is big,36 children. So is there anything we can do? I am feeling quite tearful about it any advice would be great.

Hey don't panic! There are loads of things you can do and I'm sure lots of people will be along soon to advise you!

The first thing I would do is to arrange another time to see his teacher when you have longer to talk. Then I would ask how the school are going to help him make improvements. I'd ask what his SATs score was at the end of Y3 ( if they were assessed) and whether this matches what he is doing now. If not, what do they think is happening. Ask if he needs to be on school action ( ie have extra help). Then ask them to give you some support to help him at home. What does the teacher recommend you do etc.

36 in a mixed class?

Sorry, I can't offer better advice than Sarah. Personally I would be running towards a different school.

Don't ask for his SATS score - a one off test will tell you nothing. Ask for his teacher assessment.

36 in a class is NOT good, especially not a mixed class. How many full-time TAs are there, and are any HLTAs who take a group independently?

I'd be asking some rather pointed questions of head teacher and governors as to how the situation has arisen. Changeable class sizes are a fact of life in many smaller schools with mixed age classes (which might e.g. have 14 in one year group but 22 in the next) but a good head and good governors would be looking to adapt staffing structures and use of space each year to avoid extremely large classes - even if e.g. the class is split in the mornings and recombined for the afternoons if there isn't enough money for an extra FT teacher.

Does he really now know his 2 times table? Or do you think maybe he just gets confused when asked by too-fast-talking-teacher?

NOT know, even (sorry)

If your concern is (which IMHO it should be) your son then I think you need to let go of resentment towards previous teachers and mistakes made by the school. It hasn't been picked up before but it has now. Now you know, you and the teacher can start working towards a solution.

I personally don't see the point in trying to change the world by making complaints or anything. Are you happy with the school in other ways? If so then I wouldnt even consider moving him.

A large class can be difficult but the limit for KS2 is actually 40 so the school is doing nothing wrong. Secondly if behaviour is good, there is a TA and the teacher is ensuring she splits her time well across all the children then I don't see why it is that different to having 30 or 25.

I had a class of 17 year 4s once (just a very small year group, no other reason). However 3 of them had very challenging behaviour and 2 or 3 others were easily pulled in. 2 or 3 were very low ability and many of the girls were low in confidence. It was difficult to give all children the attention they needed, especially when one child was kicking off, swearing, breaking things. There were lots of schemes in place and support but I'm just saying that class size is definately not the be all and end all.

Chat with the teacher as others have said, it is her responsibility, now she has noticed the issues, to support him in some way. Try to forgot what has gone before.