Reception expectations seem really low? Just some reassurance needed.

[moonstorm]

I was looking in class today (there is a display just outside the classroom with info on) and the expectations seem to be things that ds has been able to do for ages- count and recognise numbers to 10, recognise and write own name,talk about a variety of situations.

I know some children come to school unableto do much, and i suppose I worry that ds will be allowed to 'free play' until others have caught up, rather than be stretched.. an any Reception teachers reassure me/ how will they stretch him enough?

I realise I sound pushy, I don't mean to - I just want ds to be stretched - he is already coming home asking when he will learn something... and I don't want him to get bored in class..

onehand I find it sad that anyone thinks a 4yo needs to be stretched. I'm not going to apologise for breaking out the sad for something I find sad.

I am entitled to my own thoughts and feelings, you know.

Really interesting post...I think it's also hard not to compare what other schools seem to be doing. My dd was in nursery full time and I was so used to daily updates on what she was doing and how she was progressing that I find myself yearning for feedback...I'm having to remind myself on a regular basis to have faith in their expertise and let the teachers do their thing...

Just relax- most 4yos can do those things ie count to 10, write their name etc, so most will be starting at the same level. I think they are just minimum targets for the whole class , DD is in reception and the targets are very similar. All she has been doing so far seems to be singing songs and playing house in the 'home' corner.

Tbh I am just pleased that she seems to be enjoying it, making friends, and remembering to ask the teacher when she needs a wee! There is plenty of time for formal learning, it is a good school so I trust they know what they are doing.

Thank you for all of your replies. It'd made some interesting reading. wrote a long one, then it vanished - I'll just sum up this time!

Please don't think that by 'stretching' I mean nose to the grindstone or sitting at a desk all day. I just mean learning more than he already knows. he himself has asked when he is going to 'start lessons' I think he wants to be able to come home and 'wow' us with things he has learnt that (he thinks) we don't know.

But a lot of you say it is early days. I'll give it at least until half term and see how things pan out. It's hard sending them away for 5 days a week when i've been used to him bing at home and me being in charge!

Have to go to him now! Will catch up again later. Thank you again

Getting used to school, and succeeding at school, is about so much more than letters & numbers.

My 4 year old has just started school. He's in his classroom for just over 2 hours for the next week and a half, so I wasn't expecting him to do a lot. Yet every day he comes out and tells me about all the stuff he's doing.
Today he sat on the mat and didn't talk, remembered to walk in the corridor, listened to a story, played with a friend and managed to be second in line at going home time, which I think might just be the highlight of his school career so far!
It doesn't sound like a lot but as far as he is concerned he's had a busy day.

Ds can dress and undress himself. He makes sure his own bag is organised (ie he tells me if he has needed a change of clothes in the day and asks for a new spare pair of whetever is needed). He knows the days of the week and can plan ahead what is going to be happening in the week. He is super organised at home and I don't expect to takehim much time to settle in at school. I know that for others, it will be much harder.

Ds was 5 early in September - that year makes a massive difference. I am not wanting to compare him to others. Had he gone to school last year (had he been born in August), then I realise that he would have found Reception much, much harder. The pointof my post is not because I want him to be 'the best' in his class - I just want to know that he is learning new things. He can dress and undress himself - he does not need to practise doing thisjust because others in his class can't. That way leads to boredom and potentially to behaviour issues. The same goes for other areas of the Curriculum.

He could have completed these Reception targets in Nursery. I'm not saying this to boast. I just wonder what will come next for him.

This post is to the people who think I'm being pushy To others with advice, I will sit tight and see where things lead next.

Thank you

x-post.

Moonstorm - my first reaction is to agree with you.

My DS is (just) 4 (summer baby) and actually my DD is just 3 (LATE summer baby).

Both can count way over 100, read, etc., but reception is about more than that.

My DS has HFA is actually struggling quite a bit. With the social stuff. It's very difficult, because he is bored rigid with the academic part of it (so much so, I actually got to printing off the deregistration form last night) but that's not what he's (hopefully) learning.

There is more to school than academics.

There's nothing wrong with wanting all pupils to be "stretched". It just means keeping them interested and learning. For some this could be learning numbers and letter sounds for the first time, for others it may be maths/English at the next levels. "Stretching" just means learning the next thing at the level you're at, rather than treading water.

youonlysing, is it only the more able pupils that you don't want to see "stretched" or would you apply it to all 4-year-olds? Do you also think it's wrong for a 4-year-old to be asked to sit and listen to a story, or to hold a pencil, or learn numbers and letters for the first time, if that's the stage they're at?

... because that is "stretching" too.

My DS1 was also a September baby, who started reception able to read and write and do all sorts of things. He still learned a massive amount in reception and they did stretch him, only it took a few months to emerge rather than a couple of weeks. He learned a huge amount about how to behave in class, how to manage his emotions, how to get along with other children including ones he doesn't like, etc etc...and he made huge academic leaps too. He has started Y1 well ahead in reading. No one has held him back, but he had a lot to learn in areas that he and I might not have known about and it was important that he did that...more important than rushing ahead with formal learning. With the kindest possible intention - calm down, and if you still have concerns by Christmas then start making enquiries. I wonder if your son has picked up on your keen-ness for him to be 'learning'? I am sure mine did!

It's going to take the teacher a while to get to know the class and their abilities. Once they get to know your DS most teachers will taylor work at his level. If your DS wants more challenges perhaps you could do this at home initially with extra reading etc. until things get more established at school.

Tudor, I think the job of all teachers and parents is to help children to be the best that they can be. I think maybe it's the term I dislike. It conjours the image in my mind of pushing children to reach levels that they wouldn't naturally reach without intervention and 'knuckling down'. Not something I'd recommend for 4yo's.

OP, you don't sound pushy at all, I apologise for reading too much into the terminology.

conjure

Definitely sit tight with regards to the YR teaching, but in the meantime continue to stretch him at home.

Tbh he'll probably learn a lot more social stuff than anything else. The school routines/structure/behavioural expectations they learn are different from those they need in nursery. These are perhaps less obvious, softer skills/development things, but they are true for all 4-6 year olds, however bright and forward in "learning".