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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Reception - have you had a parents evening or even a report?

29 replies

Gobbledigook · 30/06/2006 21:07

I thought we were having parents evening as usual but today we have had a 'record of achievement' home (it's a report!) and next week we can go into the class to look at our childs work and talk to the teacher if we feel we want to.

Anyway, I'm very happy with ds1's 'report', but what I'm thinking is, how do I know what 'X can recognise, describe and name 2D and 3D shapes such as triangle, rectangle, cube and cone' really means. I mean, is this good or is it expected or is it bad? Do you see what I mean? The whole report is glowing but I don't have anything to benchmark against - what are they meant to be able to do at this stage?!

On the one hand, it doesn't really matter - all seems to be tickety boo and I don't feel the need to see the teacher, but it would be nice to know whether what he can do is about right or not. It doesn't say anything about what he can't do iyswim.

This bit made me really laugh 'he shows imagination in dance and movement activities and moves carefully around others and equipment' - pmsl!!! Just the thought of him dancing in his pants and vest and moving 'carefully'!!!

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bluebear · 30/06/2006 21:15

We've had a 'report' which is a 'cut and paste' job - all very positive but no benchmark - just as you have! From reading it I guessed that ds seemed a bit behind the crowd (only mentioned passing early years goal for physical education) - but we also got a list of numbers and some other criteria. Each criterium is marked out of 9 with 6 being average, and ds has scored at least 7 in the majority of his - so that makes him at least average.
I'm totally confused to be honest, but we have a talk with the teachers next week,
Hopefully it'll become clearer then.

LOL at the idea of your ds doing the pants dance - my kids love to dance all over the room.

littlerach · 30/06/2006 21:16

We've had both, but on the report they kind of graded them, with a, b or c, depending on if they are above, level or below their expected mark.
They also graded them on how much effort, not sure if thats the right word, that they've put in.

At parents day the teacher basically reiterated everything, then tol d us what to excpect in Tr 1.

moondog · 30/06/2006 21:18

lol gdg
mine is exactly the same,but in welsh

Original poster

Gobbledigook · 30/06/2006 21:22

Ah, no, we didn't get any grades or numbers or anything - just text. I know he is quite ahead on reading but don't really know about the other things. I don't suppose it really matters at this point - it's just curiosity.

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madness · 01/07/2006 16:30

same here. DH thinks all children just get the same printout...

bluebear · 01/07/2006 19:11

It matters to me as ds has hearing problems and has been very unhappy over the last year - if he is behind the other children I am more likely to try to move him to a different school, but if he's ok with the work then I will keep on trying to help him with the social stuff, and trying to encourage the teaching staff to remember his deafness, and employ some of my suggestions to help him (like not talking to the back of his head)

QueenPeaHead · 01/07/2006 19:19

we had a really nice report, an a4 page of very small type, which was very specific to ds1 (ie not all platitudes etc). we then also had a parents meeting. the report didn't say "ds1 can do x and this is better than expected", but in the meeting she did say that he would have no problem at all in yr 1.

I think it is difficult to say that a reception child is doing better or worse or whatever because where your birthday falls has SUCH an effect on what work is expected of you in that year I think. The difference between a sept baby and a july baby is so marked at that age.

Dior · 01/07/2006 19:37

Message withdrawn

Earlybird · 01/07/2006 19:58

I had a written report in December for fall term, a 10 minute parents evening "conference" in March, and will have a written report at the end of this term.

Have also had 2 brief meetings which were at my request (one in Feb to clarify/expand upon issues raised in fall term report, and one last week to chat about dd's academic year/progress and discuss any areas of strength/weakness).

singersgirl · 01/07/2006 20:03

We had a parents' evening this term, and will get a report, because they say they're obliged to tell us the findings of the Foundation Stage Profile. Whether we will actually see the profile scores I don't know, but at the meeting we were given a general idea of how DS2 had scored. We didn't see scores or points for DS1, but that was a different school.

They've been very explicit about DS2's performance in reading/writing etc, but like Gobbledigook, though I know he's doing well, I'm curious about his maths in particular -I know what is 'expected' of Reception children from the Foundation Stage Profile (you can Google it if you want to see all the categories), but lots of children in his class will have exceeded them.

Original poster

Gobbledigook · 01/07/2006 21:22

We had parents evening in Autumn term and also back in Feb as well - no issues raised at either.

We can go in on Thursday to look at their work in teh classroom and see the teacher if we want to. Tbh, I'm not really bothered about seeing the teacher - on the one hand I'd love to quiz her on exactly where he stands in terms of expectations (though I think QPH is right in what she says about ages - will be interesting to see how my other two get on as ds1 is March, ds2 early Nov and Ds3 end of Aug!!) but I'd feel a right plonker as it's pretty clear from his report there's nothing to discuss.

Under 'Individual targets for improvement to be addressed at school and at home' it says 'To write at greater length, using full stops and capital letters' and 'to maintain the high level of achievement shown this year'. So I think deffo would look like mad pushy parent if I requested an appt

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LIZS · 01/07/2006 21:31

We had a brief meeting a few weeks ago to go through the Early Years Curriculum booklet (probably the Foundation stage one Singersgirl refers to but not sure exactly what it is called). They score 8 specific areas through observation, 1-9 depending on level attained. 1 being level expected from nursery age, 2-8 during Reception year, 9 first term of Year 1.

Have also had parent/teacher meetings in both Autumn and Spring terms, reports at Easter nad due next week and opportunities once or twice a term to view the classroom.

Original poster

Gobbledigook · 01/07/2006 21:33

It would be interesting to see what they have to do to score those LIZS - is it online?

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LIZS · 01/07/2006 21:38

There is info on it here but not sure if you can view the actual thing or how detailed it goes. You should get a copy of the booklet for your child though.

PrettyCandles · 01/07/2006 21:45

With all respect to the teahcers, I think there's a lot of Buzzword Bingo going on with these reports. Like others here, ds's report has been all very glowing but no benchmark. A couple of things in it I wonder whether are euphemisms to try and put a positive spin on what may not be the most positive of aspects ("always eager to share his knowledge with the rest of the class" is one that springs to mind - ie chatterbox or showoff!).

Every single report ds has ever had, verbal or written, mentioned that he is competitive, but this one does not.

We'll be seeing his teacher next week so can discuss further with her.

What gets me though is the feedback they're requesting. So many questions I have no comment on, or don't have enough knowledge of the school and its procedures to agree or disagree. But if I were to indicate that (not that there's a suitable box to tick), I think I would come across as an uninvolved, uninterested parent. But I'm not!

foxinsocks · 01/07/2006 21:53

I agree with QueenPea here - there is such a vast difference in abilities in reception that it probably wouldn't be helpful to anyone to have comparative scores.

I have always thought that if they come out of reception still positive about school and the teacher thinks they will be able to manage yr1, then you've done fine!

Original poster

Gobbledigook · 01/07/2006 22:02

LIZS - ha ha, thanks so much for that!! I can see that that is exactly what has been used for the report - some of the phrases in his report are identical to those used in the booklet!! Just think that's quite funny actually!

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Original poster

Gobbledigook · 01/07/2006 22:04

Oh agree prettycandles - ds1's says 'chatty' and also says 'keen to initiate ideas and speak in a group' - ha ha!! We can all read between the lines!

One of my old school reports said 'has great potential for leadership' - read as, she's a right bossy boots!! Twas true though!

OP posts:

cat64 · 01/07/2006 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

PrettyCandles · 02/07/2006 00:16

Asking me to agree/disagree/don't know on statements such as:

Teaching is good.
Staff expect my child to work hard and do his best.
The school is led and managed well.
Staff encourage my chid to become mature and independant.
Staff treat my child fairly.

and so on.

bluebear · 02/07/2006 00:21

And is it anonymous or do they expect you to sign your name

Clary · 02/07/2006 00:34

GDG I felt like you after having DS1's reception class report. I really wanted to know where he stood in his class - but of course the school/teacher won't tell you that (ie what the other children are doing - and rightly so really).

I can't remember if you have older children, but I now find (DS1 is just finishing yr 2) I have a much better idea of where he stands - from the groups he is in for literaacy and numeracy, and from what he is able to do at home etc.

So I'm not too bothered by the fact that I know dd's FS report, due very soon, will be full of positive spin etc. I have a better idea anyway of where she is. I'm sure as ds1 progresses you'll get a fuller picture IYSWIM.

PrettyCandles · 02/07/2006 00:35

That's optional BB.

bluebear · 02/07/2006 00:40

Go to bed PC!

PrettyCandles · 02/07/2006 00:43

I was just about to ask you what you were doing up at this hour! I have an excuse - dh put me down for a nap this afternoon, and now I'm too wide-awakey.

(Sorry for the hijack - nightnight!)

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