Ofsted say literacy levels are falling.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Ofsted are saying that literacy levels are dropping and that those leaving primary at lower end of level 4 are not gaining GCSE C or above.

I just wondered what teachers and parents thought and if you agree where you think the problem lies and what should be done and by whom.

My view is more writing in lessons. My dd seems to do many projects involving drawing or computers and does very little writing, spelling. Also, she is brighter than her brothers but at a lower level than they were at her age.

Mrz

Please could you explain more about your creative writing and how we could do this at home? The escaped class pet, who is a dragon sounds a brilliant idea, our school does no creative writing at all (heartbreaking).

We read to children in every year group and we choose which books to read. I'm currently reading The Spiderwick Chronicles in Y2, Y3 are reading The Indian in the Cupboard not sure about other classes but Y5 were reading A Cue for Treason.

Before Christmas our link school in New Zealand asked us to help them decide on a class pet ... this led to the decision to have our own class pet. After a vote Y2 decided they wanted a dragon!!! We wrote letters to the County Council asking permission and highlighted all the advantages a pet dragon would provide - no need to hire coaches for trips and no more icy playgrounds not to mention the saving in heating costs. We completed a risk assessment on keeping dragons and a very nice man from H&S emailed us back. So eventually we ordered a baby dragon from the Fairy Catcher ... A very sleepy baby dragon arrived with care label and a warning that dragons sleep for 25 years but they weren't sure how long he'd slept. Everyday the children checked him and although they were certain he was growing he remained sound asleep until ... one Friday morning the dragon jar was EMPTY! Now we've plastered the local area with missing dragon and warning posters and the head dragon keeper has visited, we've blown the silent dragon whistle and bought his favourite dragon fruit to encourage him to return. Unfortunately he is still missing and Y1 want to trap and kill him!!!
We wrote persuasive pieces explaining why they should not kill our pet and after a debate Y1 agreed that killing dragons is unnecessary and we should protect this rare creature. Remember a dragon is for life ... and they live a very long time!

The most persuasive argument IMHO was from the child who wrote
If you kill our pet we will kill yours

mrz that is fantastic stuff!

I'm pleased to say that our local primary starts creative writing from Yr R (pitched appropriately, of course) and has a strong focus on it all the way through the year groups - my DDs have invented their own mythical monsters and then written stories about them, they've been explorers, Romans and heroes. Writing, reading and being read to are all woven into the fabric of all the interesting topics that are covered, and it doesn't feel like hard work - but the children achieve a lot.

It's very to hear that some schools do nothing but drill and test because they feel they have to...

here's another bit about the writing and reading- I liked the Bookstart scheme when I heard about it, and they did give us out some nice books for free which I would never have come across. But I can afford to buy my own books and would have bought the ones in the packs anyway if someone had recommended them. What I'd like to see is deprived households having the Bookstart scheme where the child gets given 5 free books a year to keep. And here, I might mean the kids are deprived rather than the entire household of adults perhaps- where the parent would buy an iPhone or a flatscreen tv but not spend benefits on the children's nutrition or learning aids - a comfortable desk to do homework, lots of books, a globe etc. Households you hear of where the children don't get bought or given books. I'd like to see more competitions in the newspapers and media where instead of texting some celebrity trivia you send in a nice written essay or poem about a topic - I used to see lots of these when I was growing up, and I think they had their merits. (The trend now for a multiple choice answer is just lazy!) Whether you win or not, at least you had the writing practice. Some very good establishments gave out lots of small prizes rather than one big prize, so that more children felt they had a chance of winning, and again, felt encouraged to try. I get very irritated now when I see ads for kids' products than you can only use if you own gadgets (eg anything with the word "app" in it!) - there is plenty of time for them to use gadgets when they are adults.

Great dragon story . As someone with a strong cultural and literary heritage with dragons I think that it is an ace project and wonderfully done!

It's even sadder pointy that these schools are seen as "outstanding"

i buy packs of books from the book peaople (10 for £10) and give these as rewards and for Christmas and leaving gifts because many of my class don't own books.

peaople? people

rabbitstew, it sounds like your children go to a very good school with the right emphasis on maths skills. Of course, schools differ and unless you went to the same school as the young people you are comparing with, it's hard to compare like for like. I suppose it's a society thing - I remember when I was 18 and someone asked if could afford something in a shop if they had a discount card, we'd whip out a pen and calculate it by scribbling on our palms (or doing it mentally). Now the 18 year olds (all of them) whip out their smartphones/mobile phones and type in the figures.....and half the time I have to point out that they have put the wrong figure in, so if they type in the wrong info, they can't expect their calculator to give them the correct answer.

Agreed, mrz. And the primary my DD2 still attends isn't rated Outstanding - though it really is.

And it's only going to get worse.

mrz we have had the same trouble with a class bear who went missing. After lots of missing posters, and letters sent out into the community, the local police were kind enough to return him in their police car. It turned out he had run away looking for adventures but was let off with a warming . Another time he was returned by the local fire service, in their fire engine, complete with 'medal' for bravery.

but was let off with a warming

is that like a roasting? ;)

Mrz, Fantastic bear story, I love it. Please can you tell me the author of The Indian In The Cupboard, I would like to get it for dd.

Lynne Reid Banks

The fire alarm went and we all evacuated the school checked all the children were safe when I felt a tug on my arm and a small voice said "Do you think it is the dragon?"