Are there any KS1 teachers out there who can give me some advice?

[WantAnOrange]

DS will be 6 at the end of June, he is in year 1. His attainment levels are 'below expected' in reading, writing and maths.

I am giving him extra support at home to practise his reading and writing. We read every day (once or twice) and practice writing every day. He is also doing the 'Book Quest' at our local library because he loves it, and gives him yet more practice.

I have always found that he finds maths very easy .

Can you tell me what the "expected levels" are at the end of Year 1? I have not found his teacher very forthcoming and I'm finding it hard to know what to do without knowing the (ideal) end goal.

I believe its 1b from my dd (now year 2).

I wouldn't worry too much about this. There's a lot of 'catch up' that goes on for many in year 2. My dd was 'below expectations' in year 1 but has done really well and is now 'on expectations'

They all seem to find their stride at different times!

I am worrying. The headteacher implied that DS is lazy and that his low attaintment was down to a lack of parental imput. This IS NOT true but I hate that DS is being judged so harshly at 5 years old.

What does 1b mean?

Lack of parental input -cheeky sod!
It really does sound like you are supporting your ds well. My year 2 ds was very distracted and flighty in year 1, but matured a bit in year 2 and is doing well. My ds would have been 'turned off' school if I had tried to hothouse at home.

You are doing plenty .

yes, I agree you are doing plenty. Its important to keep 'em happy with learning.

'Lazy' is a harsh judgment to pass down on a 5 year old. I hope this wasn't his implication!

sorry...intention would be a better word

He's not lazy, he lacks motivation. I'd be asking the school what they were planning on doing to engage and enthuse a 5 year old, and why they felt he was uninterested in learning.

His exact words were "well you know 90% of learning happens in the home".

Anyway, I am trying not to dwell on him asshole. I have excepted that I am pretty much going to have to teach him to read and write myself, however, I work in Early Years Education, not Primary and I'm not confident about exactly what I should be teaching him. When I asked his teacher about what they are learning she told me to read Letters and Sounds. I do beleive that is her job, no? I've never told the parents I work with to go and read the EYFS!

My biggest concern is the effect it is having on his confidence as he is aware that he is behind. I would feel so sad if he was put off reading for life because it's been made a difficult chore for him. I feel stuck, what is the difference between not hot-housing him, and letting him be lazy?

I pointed out exactly that MigratingCoconuts but the Head feels very strongly that DS is in complete control of the amount of effort he puts in and that if his reports are saying he is not trying then I should basically tell him off! AT 5!!!!

I will also mention that the Head has never actually met DS or me personally before, and that this was based on one tick sheet report about him, and me phoning to ask for an explaination.

This website has got some fun games to play.
phonicsplay.co.uk

What is ds teacher like? It seems strange that the Head is involving himself so much.

well, he sounds like a tosser!!

Fallen is entirely right, its the school's job to engage him and to offer constructive ways you can support this.

Sounds like a very defensive response to me!

any mileage in asking for a meeting with the teacher to discuss what to do next?

The Head isn't really invovled. He managed to say all this in one 5 minute conversation with me on the phone, when I phoned to discuss the end of term 'reports' that are given out, as I did not feel they were an effective or appropriate form of feedback.

DS's teacher is very nice but comes across as very young and niave. Her answers are pretty wishy washy and I don't think she knows how to help DS. I also don't think she really understands that children develop at their own rate, not when the curriculum says so.

Put's me back to square one, I still am going to have to teach him myself as he is not getting what he needs at school.

Is moving school an option?

All of this sounds absolutely dreadful.

I've been looking for stuff too to try to get my head round the UK system. I did alot of googling and alot of looking on here. I found for english www.teachingideas.co.uk/english/files/writingchecksheet.pdf www.hwps.ik.org/attachments/Maths%2005.doc

I know at 2005 they probably need updating - but it might help give you an idea. It might be that a few small things like capitals and full-stops would help him go up a level and keep the teacher quiet. All depends on the teacher ....... if he was clear about what they expected, would that help him to concentrate? My DD responds well to being told, you need to do this to tick the boxes ...its not going to change by arguing so lets get on with it.

Maybe go to the school, say this is what I have been doing with him, but given I don't know what happens in the classroom, is there anything you can recommend that would be more beneficial.

Also if you do stuff with him over the holidays, when he isn't tired out by school all day, then maybe that will give him the boost he needs.

Did you phone the head or did he contact you in response to you asking about the report?

That was my plan to keep working with him through the holidays. It would be one-to-one and should give him a boost. But what do I do with him, just follow the Letters and Sound programme?

I don't know if DS would benefit from being told what boxes he had to tick but as a parent I certainly would!

I have seriously considered moving school. There is a school with an unbelievably brilliant reputation near by but I doubt he would get in, they always have a very long waiting list. We are probably just out of the catchment area. Also, DS is happy at school generally. I don't want to move him away from his friends unless I have to. The school he is at now is rated Outstanding and has many really good points and his class are lovely.

I phoned the Head.

'outstanding' is not a rating that i would expect for a school that did not understand that pupils progress at their own rate.

Did you not have the opportunity to discuss the report with his teacher or was she not answer your questions?

I'm assuming the school is teaching using Letters & Sounds since you have been told to look at it. What reading books are coming home?

I would start by finding out which sounds he knows and whether he can blend these to read and spell words and focus on any gaps in his knowledge.

No me neither. After having Ofsted pour over how I report back to parents I am shocked that the tick sheet report was not commented on in their inspection. It had a tick box for level of attainment and effort for reading, writing, maths, homework* and behaviour. And that was it. No comments, nothing. DS was ticked as below expected levels for everything except behaviour which he got a 'good' in.

*he has not handed in his homework late this term, not once.

The report specifically asked for feedback but had a tiny little box to write it in. I felt a discussion was more impropriate because I felt so upset by the negative way in which I was told this. Instead of listening to my concerns the Head just wanted to shoot me down. He said I was only complaining "because I didn't like what I heard".

mrz I feel now that I should have booked an appointment with his teacher, but I have spoken to her so many times! The report is done throughout the whole school and I thought it would be more helpful talking to the person who had implemented it in the first place. DS's teacher was just doing as she was told. I have learned my lesson.

Do you know what reading scheme the school uses? Does he bring new sounds home to learn? Can he work out new words? Does he bring home word lists to learn?

sorry lots of questions