School Reports in Reception

[biggerthanwas]

never had a school report and for various reasons have yet to attend a parent's evening. this term there will be reports but no parent's evening (though an opportunity to approach teacher and ask questions if necessary). Please can you tell me what I should expect -and what I need to look for - and what kind of follow up questions are useful to ask. Should it just be whether or not a child is lagging behind in anything that matters. Or more specific. Will there be talk of these mysterious 'levels' referred to in MNet (and if so, please can you give me a crash course in what they mean). Don't want to waste my tiny window of opportunity.

I don't think they refer to levels in Reception?

My last experience was 4 years ago though and I've still not received my Reception aged child's report yet, but this is what I can remember if things haven't changed:

Each child is given a number from between 1-9 to say whereabouts they are within the FS profile for each area (and sub-area).
1-3 I think is nursery level
4-8 I think is reception level
9 I think is working beyond the level expected of a reception aged child

The average (again I think) is 6/7.

These are sometimes added up and given as a total.

hth a little bit

The foundation stage profile can be seen here: cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485586/data/EarlyYearsFoundationStage-AssessmentScales.pdf

There are 13 areas they are scored on and the average for the end of reception year is 6 or 7 out of 9. So a typical FSP score would be around 85. To score a 7, for example, they would need to be able to do everything in each section from 1-7.

Will there be talk of these mysterious 'levels' referred to in MNet (and if so, please can you give me a crash course in what they mean).

DS2 is currently in reception, his report doesn't refer to levels at all. It is a two-sided description of the things that he can already do, and a list of targets that he is currently working to. Very helpful! (An no I'm not being sarcastic). Things that he were given as a target in his report when he joined reception have also been marked down that he can now do them.
Technically it gives me no advice on how he is doing to any other child, but as he is obviously progressing well, and the school seem focussed on exactly what he needs to next to progress further, I am quite happy.