"Steady Progress" - Positive or Negative?

[Alfieandzoesmum]

Just received DS1's school report for Year One - in every subject he is described as making "steady progress". I was quite pleased with this but MIL is a teacher and says this is a way of saying that he is struggling along and a below average pace. DH agrees with her. Feeling rather deflated. Would you be pleased with a report for a 6 year old that said this??? Am I missing the point or is this really OK at this level?

I think Alfieand, is pretty much confirming what I was saying, indigo. To say that being concerned about the progress of a good pupil does them a disservice doesn't strike me as correct. (I'd be interested to hear your explanation.)

Differentiation of work for able pupils isn't always forthcoming, that's a valid reason for concern.

The school might have staffing problems, that's a valid reason for concern.

The child might have an emotional problem, that's a valid reason for concern.

There are probably limitless valid reasons for being concerned about an able pupil. I don't think it's right to have a blanket statement that no one should be concerned about able pupils.

I have heard complaints a few times that home-educated children sometimes go backwards when they enter school. Really, learnandsay? Who has complained to you?

I cannot express how sorry I feel for your DD's teachers. The same topics do get covered again and again. Consolidation, recapping, alongside differentiated work for the genius children like your own of course.

I am doing a course at the moment. I am covering the same things again and again from different angles. It can be a good way to ensure that the learning is secure.

OP, my eldest is in year one and in some aspects has gone backwards a bit - is reversing more letters now than before and sometimes numbers etc - but IMHO some of it is because her writing is more fluent (in terms of using lots of expression and descriptive words) that she is rushing to write everything down before she forgets - usually long rambling stories about a cat or a princess

It might be a good idea to ask the teacher for a brief chat after school so you can compare how you think he is progressing from what she has seen in school - they are usually happy to have 10mins with you if you arrange it in advance.

Well, there's one such comment in this thread for a start.

"But surely it gives a good indication of how your child is getting on if you do compare them to their classmates."
Not really because if your child is in a very able class where most children are working beyond age expectations ...your child could be at the bottom of the class and still be doing very well whereas if your child is in a class where most children are working at low levels your child could be top of the class and still not meeting expectations for their age.