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Is DH right and should I stop worrying?

7 replies

numbum · 01/05/2012 21:31

We had parents evening last night for yr2 DS. Looking through his literacy book afterwards I could see a chart from October levelling him at a 2b/2a. The chart further on in his book from April is still levelling him at a 2b/2a. I know this is a perfectly acceptable level for this stage in yr 2 but surely he should have progressed, even to a 2a would have made me feel better. DH seems to think I should leave it because DS is happy. But I feel like either he's been left to get on with things because he was already at the level he needs to be for SATs or there's a problem?

Unfortunately we didn't get to look at his books until after we'd spoken to the teachers who'd said he needs to work on his sentence starters but that was all they said.

Would you be questioning the teachers about it or is DH right and I should let it go?

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pointythings · 01/05/2012 21:43

I'd ask what the 2b/2a was - was it the level he was at then (back in October) or the target they were expecting him to reach by the end of the year? Without knowing that, you haven't got much to go on. Could you see improvement in his work since the stuff he did in October?

The teachers don't sound very informative, I've always had lots more details than that from my DDs' teachers - perhaps book an appointment with his class teacher?

Don't worry about SATs in Y2, they are internally marked and the final score is based on teacher assessment throughout the year, not just a one-off snapshot.

numbum · 01/05/2012 21:54

Yes it was his level in October not his expected levels. They spent most of the time talking about how good he is at maths and what a great friend/delight to have in the class he is etc, which is why DH was happy about it all. His spelling has improved since October but I don't think i can see much improvement overall.

Will make an appointment with his teacher, even if it's just to put my mind at rest, and hope she doesn't think I'm crazy doing that so soon after parents evening Grin

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pointythings · 01/05/2012 22:05

I would not be happy with that - when mine were in Y2 the teachers were very clear on where they were and what they needed to learn to make the next step up - very concrete advice on what they should be doing and suggested ways to get them there. This was at an ordinary school rated Satisfactory by OFSTED (though now rated good borderline outstanding, shows you what OFSTED know...)

What's his maths level? It does sound a bit like he is being left to coast and that is not fair on him - and his Y3 teacher won't thank their predecessor for it either. Definitely have a word with the teacher, as Y3 can be quite a shock in terms of what is expected. It's much more academic and head down/hard work, if your DS is ahead of expectations he should be getting a head start, not being left to drift.

IndigoBell · 02/05/2012 00:05

I would assume the teacher has done everything she can and he hasn't made much progress. I would not assume he's been left to coast.

If you go see the teacher all she'll say is 'children all progress at different rates, and they don't follow a nice straight line'

I think you should leave it now and see how he does next year.

totallypearshaped · 02/05/2012 00:12

My DD goes in bursts and starts - she's very good at maths, and was very poor at reading last year. Now this year her reading skills have come on in leaps and bounds, BUT her maths is now really lagging.

Not to worry, I think your DH is right - swings and roundabouts and all that.

blackeyedsusan · 02/05/2012 08:01

there are lots of statements for the teacher to highlight.. maybe he has had some more of these highlighted but not enough to get him the 2a. or his story writing has iimproved and not his nonfiction writing... the only way you re going to know is ask.

TheBestSeatInTheHouse · 02/05/2012 08:11

I would assume the teacher has done everything she can and he hasn't made much progress. I would not assume he's been left to coast.

I would never assume anything, I would definitely make an appointment and ask the teacher if he has stayed at the same level and what her thoughts are.

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