Y1 report, not much progress since Feb. Something to worry about?

[AaDB]

Ds did really well in Yr with 8/9 EYFS. I can't tell if his progress has really slowed in Y1; my expectations are too high, or if expectations are different for ks1. His report states that the expected levels for the end of next year/ks1 are 2c to 2a. He has mainly 1as with a couple of 2c/b. He has moved one sub-section in four sections since his report in Feb. Reading (the best) has moved from 2c to 2b. This doesn't seem like much progress.

The next parent's evening is in mid Sept. There isn't much of a chance to talk to teaching staff.

Not sure what you mean by 1 out of4 sub-sections? If your child is Year 1 those levels are good and well on track to achieve or exceed end of key stage 1 expected levels. You say he is mainly 1as with some 2c/b - which subjects?

He has moved from 2b to 2c for reading so moved one sub level in 6 months. He got 2c for maths and science and 1a for everthing else. According to school rating, he is on track for 9/12 subjects. This time last year he had exceeded expectations. On track seems a bit meh in comparison.

Yes it is good progress and he is on track to be where he should be, if not slightly above. The expected level for the end of Year 2 is around 2b for most schools. If he already has 1a in most subjects he only needs to move two sub levels to be there (1a to 2c and 2c to 2b) and 2 sub levels is expected progress in an academic year.

Are you sure he has moved from 2b to 2c in reading as this would be a backwards move. The school is unlikely to say he has regressed - they are more likely to say he has stayed the same.

I am sure that being on track sounds a bit meh but it really isn't. Children often shoot up and then level off and then shoot up etc. Try to avoid thinking that he should be doing better than expected progress - it isn't a competition where you win a prize for being above the expected level. A child can be very bright and interested and intelligent but still be at the expected level.

Sorry, I think you've got your expectations too high. Children don't progress at the same constant rate. Also there is a very different approach to EYFS and main school national curriculum assessment. The other subjects (history, geography, art, music, design technology, etc.) are different from EYFS assessment where they are all lumped into areas rather than separate subjects.

Reading at 2B is way above expected level for Year 1 (it is the expected level for 12 months time at the end of year 2). If your school uses APP to assess it means your child can do just about all the level 2 statements.

How much do you know about the levels and what were you hoping for? Have you looked at what is required to achieve the levels you would like your child to be at?

I wouldn't worry at all, OP. At this age, children learn in fits and starts and not in straight lines at all. Also, could be he's had a slight plateau in reading/maths/writing but grown hugely in terms of social interaction, motor skills, etc etc.

I read with KS1 at dds' school and have lost count of the number of kids (often but not always boys) whose reading seems to slow down in Y1 as they discover other interests! Then it picks up again later on. Not a worry.

And it also sounds as though your ds is doing really well. So have a good holiday and I hope the worry goes away when all the wretched end-of-term level/report talk stops.

I think reception levels CAN be deceptive. Children don't develop uniformly, it may be he grasped basic stuff very quickly in reception hence finishing it a bit higher than expected but this year the change in format of learning is different and he might be settling in to his level, it might be that next year he will make more progress after having a settling year. He may just be consolidating stuff.

My information is coming from a table on the report.

Boys you are correct, he went from 2c to 2b in reading.

Ds definitely progresses in leaps and bound rather than by chipping away. I suppose his report last year was so glowing, this seems more average without any indication that he wasn't doing as well. It seems like slightly ahead isn't quite the same. If he progresses the average 2 sub levels next year, he will, by the schools rating, be 2b or on track.

I'm very happy with him. His homework for literacy and maths had been year 2 all year. I had no indication that he wasn't progressing at the same rate as last year.