Our infant school doesn't give assessment info to parents - is that normal?

[gabsid]

Last October I have had worries that my DS's (Y2) work in maths is far too easy. He was behind at the end of Y1, as far as I could judge, I supported him over the summer and he caught up - this didn't seem to be reflected in the school work I saw in October.

I tried to tell the teacher and DeputyH several times but was always told that DS is being differentiated for appropriately in the Y1 class he was working in. Only in January his teacher tested his maths and moved him up 3 sets!

Last week we had an evaluation sheet from the Governers and I ticked that I felt I am not sufficiently informed about my child's achievements. At the same time I wrote a letter to the HT (I hadn't spoken to her as she was on sick leave).

When I spoke to her on Friday she told me that the school does not give out levels to parents in order to avoid competition in the playground and to let the children develop at their own pace. Further, she said that my DS was on target for maths at R, Y1 and now in Y2 (not true - the DeputyH did agree that he was a bit behind). Also, she said that they are all mixed and the fact that he was in a class with a lot of Y1s doesn't mean anything (I know they are in groups according to ability and if he is in a Y1 class with a few Y2s in that suggests to me that he is bottom set).

In any case, I told her that I would like a bit more openess about my son's achievements, especially if I have concerns, e.g. if I am concerned that he is not doing appropriate work I would like the teacher to have a look at his book/tests with me to either prove me worng or to fix the problem. I can see that it may have been missed that DS has improved as my DS likes easy and does not always concentrate well.

I do/did feel fobbed off and patronised by the school - all I asked for was an honest conversation about my own child! I am an informed adult and a (secondary) teacher, and they think its OK to not tell parents how their DC are doing to protect the DC from pushy parents - can't they give parents some credit? And we are not even in a middle class area!

So, is that just our school or is this attitude more common?

We get a report with their target and current levels on each term.

Same here. Drives me nuts. I'm not an idiot, I understand levels and expectations, I just want to know. I think it's bollocks about playground gossip/comparison. It's because they are scared we'll hold them to ransom if our DC don't make expected progress. Which some PFBs may do, but the majority just want to know. And it varies from school to school.

We never got levels, only at the end of Y2 because they have to and they leave to go to junior school.

I do agree with the HeadT that they are very young children and that a lot of it is developmental with 4 and 5 year olds, however, if a dozy and silly 6 year old isn't too interested in maths, do I just leave him to potter around bottom set?

And to have a school policy to keep parents in the dark?

I am also aware that I didn't want to go in to push the HeadT to admit they got it wrong (which is blatently obvious anyway), but to ask for a bit more openess

The school is rated 'good' by Ofsted and achievement on the whole is good too.

Thanks, that's what I was intending to get across to the HeadT, that I wanted an open discussion, especially if I have concerns about something.

In my letter to her I described what happened this year though, they did get it wrong and maybe she was trying to protect herself/the school.

I didn't push, neither do I want to see anything now. I just wanted to make her aware and hear her views.

On the other hand, my DD will be starting at the school in 2013 and I will want to know levels at the end of each year, just to be aware, and if I am seen as awkward then so be it. I think you can ask for them by writing a letter to the Council as well - we had some info regarding that some time ago.