5 yr old extra support at school

[Dolanette]

Hi I'm looking for advice. I got a call from my son's teacher today/ He's in Kindergarten ( Reception yr equivalent). He's 5. She said he needs extra Support in Maths and English. I was in shock, he only started in Sept and thought they wouldn't be seeking extra help so soon! He doesn't know all his letter names, he is at very early stages at letter formation etc. She perhaps has a point, I'm a teacher myself and was fairly devastated to get this news. Anyway I have to sign permission slips for this support. One each for Math and English, I thinking of only consenting to one for now as I don't want him leaving class twice a day. I will do more work with him at home too. Anyone have a similar experience, what would u do?

I think it's easier to fix things earlier rather than later, and that you would be foolish to turn down early interventions. Is he going to be withdrawn from class, or is it in class support?
If he is to be withdrawn, how long will each session be?
I'm surprised that you are a teacher and see intervention in such a negative light.

I agree with early intervention, just a bit surprised at the timing, he's just in school since Sept. He'll be withdrawn from his classroom.

As he's only 5 and not that far behind (plenty of 5 year olds at UK schools won't know their letter sounds) I would have thought that the intervention sessions would be short and that there would be others in the same boat so could be a group session.

I think withdrawing from normal lessons is wrong and if he needs a little extra input, it should be extra not a substitute for normal teaching (that widens the gap IMHO). He doesn't sound behind by UK standards perhaps all he needs is some extra input at home?

and WofflingOn I'm a SENCO and see this suggestion as negative

I teach year 2 and am often frustrated by the lack of intervention offered in fs in our school. I often wonder if many of the children who require intervention in year 2 would need so much if they had been offered it early on in fs.
I would find out what he'll be missing by being withdrawn as this is obviously a key aspect, and then I would snap their hand off!
Obviously you will do stuff at home but surely any extra help at school can only benefit him? You could ask to discuss or receive information about the intervention to back it up at home as well.

Has anyone actually said the child has special needs? Doesn't craygracie have a point? Couldn't he potentially just be a normal child who hasn't been told a lot of things?

Given that we are only 7 or 8 weeks into the school year, it does seem a little too soon to be coming to the conclusion that your son is behind, based on what has happened in these few weeks, unless it was very, very obvious.
I agree with MRZ that at this time any intervention should be in the classroom, just helping him along, until the school gets a lot more data on just exactly what they are capable of. It could easily be just a case of him being shy in class and not showing his true capability at this time. If after christmas the school is still coming to the same conclusion then that would be the time to start considering some more intervention.
I assume that this is a private school from the use of the word kindergarten, so putting my suspicious hat on I just wonder whether signing consent forms equates to further fees!

Exactly what admission said!