Should I query Y1 DC's NC levels in her report?

[CrispyFB]

DC1 is just finishing in Y1. Due to relocating and waiting list shenanigans, she only started at her current school in April and has been through two other schools over the course of Y1. The school has been having shenanigans of its own with Y1 teachers and they've been using supply teachers on a longish-term basis. One taught the class until the May half term, then another one for the remaining half term.

The teacher who wrote the school report was the first one, over seven weeks ago. This means that she had only been teaching DC1 for probably not even a month when she wrote it. She would have known the other children better as she had been a very regular supply teacher before it all went pear-shaped with the old teacher having a lot of sickness and eventually leaving.

When the second supply teacher took over, not long after he started, he promoted DC1 into the "top" groups for everything (guess she took a while to shine maybe?) and from what I have heard from her, with a pinch of salt, and other parents (i.e. parent helpers in class, so more reliable than a six year old!), she's routinely coming at or near the top for most things - she is a smart cookie

We've been given her NC grades with her report. They're no different to the grades she had at the end of reception at her first school with the exception of maths where she's gained two sub levels. It appears she has seemingly pretty much made zero progress in an entire year

I don't believe that is true from looking at her work. I know she's had upheavals but she has coped admirably and I am sure she has improved. She must have!!

I also don't believe the first school overmarked her either - they were Ofsted Outstanding, three form entry, loads of experience and a very dedicated and wonderful teacher who practically wrote an essay on DD in her report! Last year I looked up what the grades meant and agreed with them based on what I'd seen of her work.

I obviously have a strong suspicion that the supply teacher who wrote the report really did not have the time to form a proper judgement on DC1. I honestly can't and don't blame her - under a month is not long enough. The (short) written parts of the report are otherwise glowing, it's just the levels.. she's way beyond them in most cases. They're above average, but her cohort is very smart too, and most of them will be at a similar level and many of her closer friends far above I'd have thought - with levels similar to what I was expecting DC1 to get.

Thing is, DC1 is in Y1. This is not her GCSEs or A-Levels ffs. In the grand scheme of things it does not matter, right? It means nothing to her and if anything her KS1 SATS next year will show she's made some massive surprise progress or something..!

However next year they all have a brand new-to-the-school, permanent teacher as their current supply teacher was only temporary and will be leaving. My concern is that with nothing else to go on and nobody to ask, he will use their NC levels as a basis and she's going to have to, for the fourth time in her short school career, have to prove her ability all over again and miss out on valuable stuff the top groups are being taught whilst she has the easy work that bores her once more. She's only just settled in the school and finally made some great friendships in her "top" group after a year of uncertainty, and I just don't want her being knocked around again, she deserves some stability. After all it took six weeks for her to get noticed enough to get into the top group this time.

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill and being a bit PFB? Or should I have a chat with her current teacher as we are given the opportunity to next week if we feel we need to. I just don't want to come across as one of "those" pushy parents because honestly I am not (I've never approached a teacher before over anything even slightly like this, I am totally hands off and extremely non confrontational to put it mildly!!) I am just worried she'll end up in the wrong group and get stuck there for ages, and frankly she deserves a break after the year she's had and shouldn't have to prove herself yet again.

Honestly, I just want to look out for her emotional wellbeing and her self-confidence rather than prove some (pointless!) point if you see what I mean? But on the other hand, questioning NC levels in Y1 is a bit , yes?

So should I ask for a chat with the teacher next week?

It never hurts to talk to the teacher if you are concerned, though as she's not going to be around next term, any reassurance she gives you might not be that meaningful.It could just be the way they mark the tests - do you know what kind of grades the other children in her group were getting?

In the new school year I don't think they'd base groupings/settings just on last term's NC levels. At my DDs' school they test all the kids at the start of September and base the groups on that (rather than any tests they did in the summer), especially as there's usually new kids joining in Sep. If they do that at your school she should be fine.

If she does get put in a lower group I'd have a word with the new teacher next term. And in Yr 2 moving between groups should still be pretty flexible.

Your DD sounds like she's done really well so I would try not to worry (I know it's hard, even if rationally you know it's daft). Good luck!

Yes, go and have a quick chat to the new teachr and mention your concerns. Don't make a big deal out of it, but no harm in saying something.

Yes I would go and have a quiet word - but I am a bit confused as to why your previous school gave you NC levels at the end of reception - they should normally be assessing in terms of the EYFS framework?

I'd have thought that who's in which group now would have quite some influence on which groups they are in next year so I wouldn't be too concerned about that.

Thanks everyone - I am glad that I'm not completely overreacting even if I am being a little concerned! I am really anxious not to be seen to be overbearing because usually it's not what I am at all.. I've always let the teachers get on with it and do their job and figure DD's ability will show itself before too long. It's just I don't want her to have to do it a fourth time in two years, enough is enough!

everlong - the most verbose parts of the report were to do with her behaviour (as dreadful as she can be at home, thankfully the reverse is true at school!) which is a lot easier to observe on a daily basis than her aptitude I assume. When it comes to the various subjects, at most there are just comments on her handwriting - again, an easy thing to observe. I honestly can't and don't blame the teacher, four weeks is nowhere near enough time to get to know what level a child is at to a great degree of accuracy and I do not blame her at all if she's just taken her "best guess".

Dixiefish - that's very reassuring that they're not necessarily going to use NC levels to set groups. That is my primary concern after all, that it will affect her moving forward, not what it says in the past. As a fairly new mum to the school I don't know how much the other parents chat to each other about levels so I am not going to ask anyone else unless the information is offered! That's a good point about it could just be it's how its marked e.g. they can't actually score more.

ShoeWhore - We had EYFS scores too, but I think because she maxed out(!) along with some of the other children, her teacher was also happy giving out NC levels as well to give a clearer picture. Good point about looking at the existing groupings and using that as a basis - I would hope the new teacher does!

I'll have an informal chat with the teacher next week and if nothing else the fact she (on paper) has made no progress will hopefully raise a flag somewhere and encourage a deeper look.