Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Sorry for the this but i'm blooming fuming!!! Year 6 SATS!!!

55 replies

littlelegsmum · 11/05/2012 13:58

Ok, so after fighting the school and endless meetings and phone conversations where DH & I have been told DD does NOT need any help and support in class, where we've been told DD does NOT have an SEN, where 'apparently' DD is understanding everything given to her and regularly helps other children in English & Maths . . I have found out that she's going to be given a reader?!?! DD is 'apparently' doing age appropriate work, without difficulty or any help needed . . You may ask why i'm making a fuss that she will be given a helper but there is a HUGE discrepancy in what they have been telling us for months and what i've just been told on the phone!!!

Can I request they do not provide her with one? Can I complain to someone about this?

I want a true reflection of DD's abilities/work etc and was under the impression this had to be a daily thing, not just a 'making the school look better' mark.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Feenie · 13/05/2012 22:28

It's not against the rules to have a reader - I have just quoted the legal requirements and posted the statutory document.

However, the child has to have reading support in the classroom already - the OP's school claim she has no difficulties, so they are open to an accusation of malpractice.

They can't have it both ways - either she needs reading support in the classroom (which they claim she doesn't) and needs a reader or she doesn't need reading support in the classroom (and the school say she doesn't) in which case she can't legally have a reader.

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 13/05/2012 22:59

So school are allowed to provide dd a reader just for the sats . . I'm sorry but that is just not true.

They cannot tell me, for months, dd is educationally great in everyday school life, then provide her a reader.

They even pointed out, before we asked, that in a particular lesson the teacher was working with a child and it came to a question they thought she wouldn't understand - from what I've said - and apparently she was able to. Not just that, she apparently helped some of the other children!! Now I admit that maybe she did understand this one. However as she's showing she understands (maybe she's asking school friends) then they've certainly not provided any help and support!

OP posts:
Tannhauser · 14/05/2012 00:10

IN your LEA there will be someone with responsibility for Assessment Recording and Reporting. They carry out the moderation visits for Key Stage Testing in schools, they would probably take this up, certainly in our LA they would (where they come under School Improvement).

startail · 14/05/2012 01:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 14/05/2012 10:21

Well, I spoke to the lady i've spoken to regular at the LEA, who seems as confused as me. I had to clarify a few things to her, as the SENco at school seems to have mis-lead her on details too!! No surprise there then.

Anyway, the LEA is going to call SENco and ask her to explain her reasoning for trying to supply her a reader. She is also going to say it's in DD's best interests not to provide the reader as it's giving her an advantage as she does need one, but not been getting one on a regular basis.

So, DD's school are going to really dislike me now . . Just need to make an appointment with the Head now, to share our complaint!!

OP posts:
Original poster
littlelegsmum · 14/05/2012 19:00

ANOTHER UPDATE GUYS - SORRY!

Basically we questioned the Head about a reader for the maths, he sat firm while holding his head up and said

"I provide MOST of the children with support and we ENCOURAGE them to ask for the questions to be read to them. I don't know if you understand those guidelines you've brought. DD has NOT received any support in lessons as she DOESN'T NEED IT, nor will she be provided with support afterwards. I am simply putting this support in place for the sake of pastoral care/pencil sharpening/toilet trips/reading questions to the children and am WELL WITHIN MY RIGHTS TO DO SO"

OP posts:
disintegratingdigestive · 14/05/2012 19:37

So are you going to contact the maladministration people?

[email protected]

Tgger · 14/05/2012 19:49

Blimey! So he encourages cheating- that's what it sounds like to an outsider Grin

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 14/05/2012 19:57

So it's not just me that thinks it's out and out cheating then. I made it clear that I had the guidelines and spoken to the LEA and he STILL stood by so many children getting reading help with their maths papers.

Oh and without a doubt i'll be contacting the right authorities tomorrow and thank you for reminding of the address :)

He doesn't have the availability to supply DD with support yet he's got so many spare bodies lying around the place that they can all read - I think if I dug deeper that most children are getting readers as they are level 3's - which seems to be acceptable at the school. Not just that surely there must be parent helpers too that are reading?!?!

OP posts:
EllenJaneisnotmyname · 14/05/2012 20:15

It is true that any child can put up their hand and ask for a question to be read to them. That's different to having someone exclusively reading 1:1 with them.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 14/05/2012 20:16

For the Maths only, that is.

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 14/05/2012 20:54

Thanks Ellen, that's what I said to him. He still stood by his reasons and said that though. I know dd is a child who won't ask for help and they know this.

Maybe that's why they tell the children to ask for the questions to be read out?

OP posts:
Collision · 14/05/2012 23:16

This cannot be against the law.

It is not cheating.

There is no way that the school I work for or any other school for that matter would risk soooo much by letting children have readers when they do not need one.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 14/05/2012 23:27

Collision, have a look at the other SATs thread. There are reports of teachers tapping children on the head, pointing at questions and shaking their head...

KitKatGirl1 · 15/05/2012 10:59

Or 'rewording' the questions in a Reading paper? It's to test their comprehension, ffs. If they can't comprehend it, they don't get the mark. There is no question that that is cheating!

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 15/05/2012 14:10

OK, after a very unsatisfactory meeting with the Head, I've emailed the MalAdministration Team.

Just a case of waiting now Hmm

OP posts:
bizzey · 15/05/2012 14:35

GOOD LUCK

Feenie · 15/05/2012 15:27

Collision, read the statutory documentation for 2012. It is legally binding I am hardly making it up. I could be kind and say that the rules have changed slightly over the rules, and are much tighter - maybe you could draw their attention to it?

If you are party to any sort of malpractice, you could be in the firing line. It is up to the school, however, to ensure you are properly trained according to the ARA document guidelines, and they don't seem to have done that. It's not really very fair on you.

Ineedalife · 15/05/2012 15:41

I worked for a HT who encouraged this. He and his deputy also walked round the hall placing rubbers on childrens papers and tapping answers!!

HT lost his job over it eventually but how many children went through to secondary on the wrong levels.

It's no wonder the secondaries put them through testing again as soon as they walk through the door.

Stick to your guns little, imo you are rightSmile

Milgod · 15/05/2012 16:38

In the maths you can read whatever questions the children ask you to. They have to put their hand up, bu you can read them out even if it isn't 'normal' classroom behaviour.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 15/05/2012 16:49

That's different to having an exclusive 1:1 reader, though.

Original poster
littlelegsmum · 15/05/2012 18:15

I've had a reply confirming it has to be normal classroom practice. And when the reader is given it should be in a separate room.

I've replied to confirm my child has been given a named one to one reader, purely for SATS.

I do understand they can put their hand up as I've read and been given the same answer by the maladministration team at the STA.

Just have to wait for any other possible responses I get!

OP posts:
Collision · 16/05/2012 22:08

Well there were 10 of us in a room with Y6 children today.

We all read the questions to them quietly and let them get on with the paper. Deputy was in the room.

No problem.

Feenie · 16/05/2012 22:19

Were you all one to one readers? That's an important distinction.

If you were one to one readers, were you in a separate room to the rest of Y6?

If you were one to one readers, are your children used to receiving this kind of support in the classroom?

Then we can decide if it's a problem.

Feenie · 16/05/2012 22:21

We all read the questions to them quietly

Ah, so you were proper readers, not just for the odd child with their hand up to ask for a question to be read?

My last two questions still apply.