Loosinas:
I don't think I've responded to your post but we were in a similar situation - and I have posted elsewhere on both our solution and our anger with the school over the situation.
First - though - to answer your question - yes, so that you aren't putting the teacher on the spot - I would e-mail the school (or head if you have his/ her e-mail) and explain that you understand it is quite normal at other schools to be shown examples of your child's work. You are particularly concerned about mathematics for your DC and would be grateful if a selection of examples of your DC's work could be avilalbe for you to review before your parent/ teacher meeting. I would also make clear that you would like to dicuss your DCs maths work in terms of NC levels with the teacher, which again is quite normal practice at other primary schools.
Second - It has been our experience (unfortunately) that some schools in KS1 are quite laid back (certainly ours was) about math. They put all the energy into reading and writing. As a result - the maths work/ tuition can be unimaginative and unambitious.
We initially went by what the school was telling us in YR & Y1, but by March Y2 when DD1 couldn't even take 1 from 10 we complained. I think it was natural for us to do so but the school reacted badly, the Teacher was incredibly insulting verbally to both myself and my husband. We then complained to the head who investigated the situation, agreed DD1 maths ability was below desired and had her tested for SEN (without informing us - although I had said that we felt there was no SEN issue so therefore we couldn't understand the lack of attainment vis a vis her peer group from nursery school who attend other schools in our LEA). The school concluded there was no SEN but basically told us she was 'on track' and topped it by the head informing us that what we really needed to understand was that our DD1 simply wasn't that bright.
From that day we treated school as day care. We lost all respect and confidence in the teaching staff/ management at the school.
We joined mathsfactor (www.themathsfactor.com/) in March 2010 and have never looked back. DD1 has gone upwards through the sets in the last 1 1/2 years - so that she's now working in top set. She is regularly finishing classwork first and all her current Y4 teachers/ TAs are thoroughly impressed with the improvement (indeed she won an award for most improved student at Christmas). We took it upon ourselves to do something and took the decision that we were so ancient and our methods were so out of date, that the best course of action was on-line tutorials which use terminology appropriate for the school but also incorporate our old fashioned column methods & good old fashioned practice opportunities.
With mathsfactor you have a number of choices - you can just buy worksheets or you can join for on-line tutorials. The on-line tutorials are fairly expensive (£14.99 a month) - but we have to say that it is worth every penny.
Finally - if you want some free practice ideas - and your DS responds well to video games I can suggest two games which offer lots of practice:
Tux of Math Command: tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxmath/
It's like the old video game Asteroids. The problems come down the screen and you shoot them away by typing in the correct answer. You can chose the skill level and the type of problem you want to practice. It's a little stressful and more and more problems come down the screen - but it is great for review and improving mental maths.
BIG BRAINZ TIMEZ ATTACK is only multiplication and division - but they are developing addition and subtraction games (which are now available only as BETA version). You can download the free version. More elaborate versions are available and look good, but are expensive so we never have opted for that. You are a little monster (girl or boy) and you search a dungeon or castle solving problems (addition/ subtraction/ multiplication/ division) based on your selected game. The game will test your DC to see their ability and start from that level. It builds in lots of practice and visually understanding what you are doing in the process (so with multiplication for example 4 x 7 - would result in 4 sets of 7 balls and then you type in the number). I will add that a Giant Ogre (who is a bit scary) pops out and quizzes you every so often - so it can be a bit stressful, but my girls love it. The link here: www.bigbrainz.com/
Info here: