Don't understand the point of Y1 Annula School Report and the Phonics Test

[Flyingtree]

Can someone explain to me what exactly is the point of end of year reports for Year 1 and the Phonics test results being given to parents?

Surely if a child is failing it's the responsibility of the school to up their ante. It isn't a parent's responsibility to educate their child academically, otherwise I'd keep mine at home and educate her myself. As long as homework is being done, that's where my input ends academically.

Apart from compiling national statistics to explain how bright or dim children are on a national average, why exactly do we as parents need to know? Why can't they keep those test results and reports for their own use?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but their annual school reports and Phonics and any other tests they sit, do not dictate which junior or secondary school they will be accepted into (state schools).

So, what's the point? At age 5-6 I am completely indifferent to whether my child is a genius or a numbnutz. She has several more years of learning ahead of her at junior school and I have no plans to put her into private education. So if annual reports and tests make no difference to her future school choices, well, you know what I am going to say next ... :D

I've found ours quite useful tbh and I like getting feedback - good or bad! We haven't had phonics test results but I understand they have to give those to parents in any case. We get a progress tracker too which is helpful..

Reports are far too generic these days but at least it's something and we always get a teacher and head comment which is nice. I think reports are important throughout school.

I'm in Wales. We didn't get this. Is this just an English thing?

Many parents like to see how their child is doing in relation to others, some want to identify where they can help if progress isn't as expected, some want to chek that the teacher/school is doing their job properly. But by the sounds of your post, you'll probably put it in the bin! Still, each to their own! I think, from reading another thread, that schools are legally obliged to give you a report, so whatever you do with it, you'll get 1 every year.

For what it's worth, where a child is settled and progressing well and happy generally, I also think a report doesn't add a lot at this age. But there are so many children where this is not the case.

It's just that my Facebook newsfeed is currently flooded with results of Phonics test and annual school reports. It all seems a bit narcissistic and must be awful for those parents whose child didn't receive such a glowing report or test result. Surely those children are not told the content of the report/test? At age 5-6 that could've so detrimental to their self esteem. It's far too young for this sort of thing.

Op do you read with your dc or is that schools job too?

I agree with you. IME, reports are often pretty crap these days. All the scaffolding and senior management interference makes them fairly generic, on the whole. (I know this from having twins. Their reports over the past 10 years have always contained the same stock phrases and there has been little sense of reading anything summing up my individual children's skills, weaknesses, character. This is despite them having some great teachers now and then who knew them very well.) 'tis a shame- in the olden days they were great souvenirs of ones schooldays!

Phonics test, schmonics test. I agree.

Flying, a facebook feed covered in phonics test results does sound annoyingly dull - I do get that. I have to say that, at our dc's school, no parent and few children were aware that they were being tested at all - and no one is talking about the results thereof.

Test results are reported, I think, because parents complain bitterly if they are not! Though I think schools have a duty to report them, possibly - I should know that, actually, but have forgotten.

In any case, rather than complain about the reports I would complain about the people who have nothing better to do than report 5/6yr olds phonics test results to the FB public at large

It sounds like the problem is less that we get reports and more that people seem to be bragging about the contents! I think that's a bit crass.

Personally I was very keen to get a report for DS - and very interested to see how he's doing and what the teacher said (though obviously no real surprises as she communicates pretty well throughout the year). Wouldn't update on FB though.

One of my children is in Yr 1 and I don't have any friends doing this on Facebook - although we're waiting for one mum at school to tell us all what a genius her daughter is.

The thing is, as far as I know, every child gets an excellent report. It's about what they have achieved rather than what they haven't achieved. We sat down at the weekend and tried to work out what the hidden messages in it are - there are a few vague comments that could be translated as meaning DC has scope to improve in those areas.

Also, our school has given the phonics score but not what it is out of - so DC has scored 40 but no indication, other than a pass or fail as to how good this is - the literacy element of the report guides us to how well the DCs are doing. The phonics test is not really for the benefit of the children but to help assess the school's teaching as far as I can tell.

I quite like the reports. We have only had the phonics test results so far.

My dc2 is in y1 and earlier in the year at parents evening his teacher told me he wasn't doing brilliantly. He needed loads of help with spelling for instance. We agreed I'd put in extra work with spelling at home (although I don't think I achieved much) I was totally dreading the phonics test, so it was a nice surprise when I saw it and it made me feel like we'd achieved a little something.

I avoid FB like the plague at this time if the year. My dc1 has had great reports so far and I've never felt the need to boast about it on FB. I have had to sit on my hands a few times but I won't get bitchy

Nosey, I was told my ds's phonics score was 39 out of 40. So I'm guessing your dc's score was excellent!

The phonics screening check is to identify children who may need additional help with reading and spelling Nosey ...not about the school.

Reports are to keep parents informed about their child ... your choice what you do with it.

mrz To be fair the phonics screening should also be there to ensure schools are teaching phonics adequately.

I think parents should also get to know whole school results.

Failing the phonics check is not always purely down the child's ability (in every case), the test could be badly administered or phonics inadequately taught.

OP I think as parents the information is useful. I wouldn't necessary take it as gospel but it does show another perspective concerning your child's abilities and their performance at school.

You may have to move schools in which case the information may help in the selection of a new school. You may be concerned about your child's progress for whatever reason. You may want to support you child at home in the best way you can...There are lots of possible ways the information given could help you make these kinds of decisions.

We got DD's phonics score and the school's score, broken down for boys and girls. For comparison we got last years nationwide score.

I put a comment on Facebook but just a general one. We gave the grandparents a copy of the report. We also told DD a couple of things as she was quite exited and I think they can be told that they achieved something. For her the quotes of the report we told her have equal standing to her swimming badge she got a day later.

I like that it is broken down by subject as DD is next to useless telling me what they do apart from the general topic. I like that there was also some not so brilliant comments like "she achieved most of her targets" and that she could improve XYZ. I believe as a parent I am also responsible to help her learning, we do homework religiously and always look to add to DD's topic if she wants. Reading is obviously a must and writing practise can easily added in daily life.

noramum - I think that sounds good, I think a general comments aren't odd - I just thought it odd that people might post scores on FB

I don't understand why people feel the need to post about reports on FB. That's annoying.

But I don't understand the rest of the OP at all. You really have to ask why the school would keep your informed of your child's progress? As both a teacher and a parent, I really don't understand. And I find your view that your responsibility starts and ends with homework to be very sad.

I agree daftdame it should be there to ensure schools teach phonics effectively but the fact is that if a child didn't achieve the expected level last year they had to do the check again this year and if they still fail to reach the expected level there is no further check ... what message does that send ...

mrz I agree it is very problematic...I don't know how else it could be done though, more rigorous OFSTED? Tighter guidelines? More press profile on the importance of phonics and better teacher training? This way gives lots of lovely (misleading?) data, which politicians love....

I don't think the average OFSTED inspector would know a good phonics lesson if it bit them on the bum ... better teacher training would be a good place to start

I think it odd to post either results or reports on fb, although maybe thats because my family wouldn't really care, they just expect the boys to do well, whether they can or not.

The reports however, I find really useful. All 3 from nursery to year 6 gave a specific list in core subjects of the areas that the child needs to work on next year, so I can make sure they are working on the right things when they do their homework, and presumably their new teachers (especially for DS going to secondary) know exactly where they are at.

Llareggub Wales doesn't do the phonics test, but from yr2-6 there are now newly introduced tests in English (or Welsh if Welsh medium presumably) and Maths to produce a standardised age score for across Wales.

Harryhausen ooh, that is good. DC thought she'd probably got some wrong. I won't however be posting this on FB - think my friends would think I was a bit of a dick!

Pozzled - posting that my child got her report is equal for me to posting that I had an interest deal at work or that we went to the zoo as a family. It is part of my life and I have friends in FB who don't see me in real life as they live abroad and this is family news for them.

There is a difference between boasting about your child and mentioning something which has happened to them.

I liked reading dd1's report this year (also year 1). She was out of school due to serious illness for the whole of February and March so it was reassuring to see that she has not fallen behind.