We have just completed the reception year. My DC attends a local private prep school, while we are on the waiting list for a state school place. We live in an area where the state schools are very, very oversubscribed.
That aside, we have been very happy with the prep school and DC has had a lovely time there.
However I have found it very difficult to get any kind of information or feedback on how DC is doing. For example, at parents' evenings, when I ask how her reading, handwriting, music, maths, sport is coming along. Is it average, above average, where does she sit in terms of the rest of the class? My husband and I are always given answers such as, she is absolutely where she should be in terms of the curriculum. That doesn't really tell us anything though does it?!
At the risk of sounding like a pushy parent, I just want to know more about her strengths and weaknesses so that I have that in mind when dong homework and other activities outside of school.
Is it normal to have no transparency in terms of your child's progress, state school or private?
Or is it just this particular school? What are other's experiences?
The reason I suspect DC is in lowest group is that we had a chat after school last week about the charts in the teacher's book, and DC was at level 1 and most others at level 4 and 5. I looked into this with a few chats with other parents about reading and writing ability, I can now see my DC is behind peers. Other things came up, for example, my DC does not get given spelling lists or extra reading books, next level of music tuition, etc, etc. DC must clearly not be ready for them and I understand that. I do wish however I had been made more aware of how DC was doing at school. I have spent the year thinking DC was actually above average as I've seen her reading and handwriting come on leaps and bounds.
Must also mention, other parents are friends, and would not be dishonest about this. We're not a competitive bunch, more supportive of each other and our children.