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Primary education

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Original poster

Why would a teacher do this?

59 replies

numbum · 13/10/2013 22:02

Before I post, I want to say I will be speaking to DD's teacher but wanted to make sure there wasnt an obvious reason for the teacher's actions (hence posting here!)

Y2 DD is able. Reading level 15/16 from school plus her own choice of books from the library. Writing had just reached a L3 at the end of Y1. Maths, she is on the G&T register but I think its in a low ability class and she is around a level 2b/2a.

Over the weekend she has been very quiet, crying over silly little things and refusing to do her homework for the first time ever. I finally managed to get her to talk this evening and she said she couldnt do her homework, is rubbish and 'has a mind that doesnt work as quickly as others'. On further questioning it seems as if she's been moved to sit on the SEN table.

She has told me who she is now sat with and I know they are the SEN children.

Why would her teacher move her to this table?

OP posts:
Periwinkle007 · 13/10/2013 22:20

I would hazard a guess it is possibly that she is so far ahead of the others the teacher has put her there to give her different work? Is her homework suddenly harder?

OldRoan · 13/10/2013 22:29

I agree it sounds like it could be to simplify giving her different work.

Is she particularly chatty/were the children on her table particularly chatty? Might the teacher have mixed the tables round a bit to try and stop cliques forming?

Might she be about to start a project and the teacher will be moving them all to mixed ability tables?

MrsCakesPremonition · 13/10/2013 22:32

I think you are right to talk to the teacher. The teacher needs to be aware that your DD is upset and to reassure her and you about the reasons for changing tables.

Original poster
numbum · 13/10/2013 22:34

No her homework is still the same level.

I know there was some maths work she managed to do that the rest of her table struggled with but she isnt hugely ahead of the rest of the class (based on what other parents say).

She is a teacher pleaser at school and, as far as I know, isnt chatty. She flits between friends so not in a clique really.

OP posts:
girlsyearapart · 13/10/2013 22:36

They may have been pairing ha & la children to do certain activities?

Original poster
numbum · 13/10/2013 22:39

But she's the only HA child on a table of LA girlsyearapart and nobody else has moved tables (according to DD)

I'm not overly concerned. I'm sure there is a reason! Its baffling me more than worrying me

OP posts:
cece · 13/10/2013 22:40

There are so many reasons why children are seated where they are - it's best to speak with her teacher. Not really much point in strangers speculating on here!

BrigitBigKnickers · 13/10/2013 22:40

Ofsted now want to see evidence of how higher ability children are stretched and that they should come under the wing of the SENco. Could it be that the TA who works with the SEN children has been asked to encourage your DD too?

Or was it simply that she wanted them to work with different children. Sometimes bright children can gain valuable skills by explaining their thinking to others.

How long has she been on this table? Could it have been a one off?

cansu · 13/10/2013 22:42

Maybe there has been a change around generally? maybe your dd was sitting there for one activity or one session? Maybe the teacher is trying to give a boost to one of the other children and therefore your dd needed to move temporarily?maybe there is a friendship issue she is dealing with? There could be several reasons. I am also a bit surprised that the children are always seated by ability in maths and English. Surely the children with SEN do not always sit together? why would your dd suffer from sitting with some less able children?

Original poster
numbum · 13/10/2013 22:47

cece my first paragraph was written because I knew someone would say what you have said. I WILL speak to her teacher but wondered if I was missing something obvious.

I didnt say she would suffer cansu. If she is the only more able child sat with lower ability children I'm sure there is a reason. I just want to know what that reason is

OP posts:
Ihatespiders · 13/10/2013 23:08

Perhaps she's there to be a role model for another/others? When I change around my groups it's not just "ability" that I have in mind - I split up chatterers and pals, separate the 'easily distracted' from the distractors and put role models with those who could learn from them.

It's one reason why I change my groups regularly, so that the role models get a break too!

What I do though, is talk to the child and/or their parents first if I think there might be an issue or if my reason is less than obvious.

Anja1Cam · 13/10/2013 23:19

I get the feeling that teachers sometimes seat children of very varied ability together, i am aware my fairly quiet and able DD has at times been seated with slightly more lively kids, probably in an attempt to calm them down... Mine never read anything into it, but these moves happen at least once a term, so it's nothing unusual. Maybe you get an answer on here from a teacher and it would be lovely if you could update us with you teacher's answer too.

Anja1Cam · 13/10/2013 23:21

Thanks IHspiders you've just explained it!

Worried123456 · 13/10/2013 23:26

I seat children according to personality more than ability. Did your DD chatter on her previous table? It could be something as simple as that.

MidniteScribbler · 14/10/2013 01:35

It is extremely rare that I will seat students by ability (unless it is mixed ability). And there certainly would never be any such thing as a "SEN table". Disgusting idea.

What worries me more is the language your daughter is using. "is rubbish and 'has a mind that doesnt work as quickly as others". Where is she getting this from? She should certainly not have that impression of the students with additional needs in her classroom and I'd want to quickly stamp that sort of language out. Is there bullying occurring towards her or these students? These are all things which should be discussed with the classroom teacher as it's something which needs to be addressed very quickly.

keepsmiling12345 · 14/10/2013 07:58

Agree with midnite the idea of a SEN table is outrageous and I would really question whether this is the case or you simply think it is the case. I am also extremely surprised that you "know they are the SEN children". My DD is also in Y2, I help in the class occasionally and I would never dream of making such a statement.

I think talking to the teacher aout why your DD is upset would be a good idea. I'd be interested to hea back once you've spoken to the teacher. I am still reeling from the idea there is a SEN table.

Lonecatwithkitten · 14/10/2013 08:29

My DD is very able at Maths and was a similar level in year 2. However, she just wrote the answer no working out. So to encourage her to think about the method by which she got the answer she was place in a group of children who did not find Maths quite as easy to work together.
DD was then encourage to explain how she I'd the problem to the other children helping her to see the importance of the working out and helping the other children through the steps of the method. Peer to peer learning.

yeghoulsandlittledevils · 14/10/2013 08:41

G&T comes under the SENCO's umbrella, along with SEN. My dc had extra help from Senco from Y3/4 as needed more than just exrension work. If her normal working level is so far ahead of the rest of the class that she needs her own lessons, perhaps the class teacher needs her to be on a table where the teacher and Senco can find her easily and set her work. Y2 is pretty early though, and not a good idea to do this without giving an explanation to your child to reassure her.

If this is the reason, I would ask the teacher/head if they can have that seating arrangement only for maths, and she can go back to sitting where she was for everything else.

OddSockMonster · 14/10/2013 10:04

May I suggest that you ensure your daughter doesn't see 'the SEN children' as having 'minds that don't work as quickly as others' and rubbish.

It's taken a long time to convince my son that he's not shit at schoolwork, just that he needs a little extra help getting his million and one brilliant ideas onto paper. Without the support and friendship of his peers, that convincing would have been much, much harder.

jussi · 14/10/2013 10:05

I know not every teacher does this but I work as a supply teacher in primary and unfortunately, more often than not, the 'SEN' children are put together on one table.

indyandlara · 14/10/2013 10:30

I have never ability grouped the children in tables. Mixed ability all the way.

moldingsunbeams · 14/10/2013 10:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/10/2013 10:41

Perhaps it's because she is quiet and well behaved they feel she is not going to distract the children and if she's more able then she could be getting on with it rather than chatting to kids or whatever.

I'm surprised there's a "sen" table surely the abilities would vary just like any other child and therefore they should be seated according to that (if that's how it works in the school) as opposed to being grouped together for merely having sen.

Or maybe that is the G&t table. Many sen kids are capable of being high achievers. Maybe the work is too hard and that's why she's upset?

moldingsunbeams · 14/10/2013 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cranberryorange · 14/10/2013 11:21

My Ds who has SN and SEN is sat at a table with the other DC in class with SEN. I made it clear i wasnt happy about it at parents evening last week but was given the death stare and made to feel as though i was making a fuss over something thats standard across all schools.

Its very interesting to read it isnt common practice.

Ds has lost touch with all of his close friends from reception and just sticks to his table group because he doesnt have the confidence to mingle. Its good that they're a lovely group of Dc but terrible that he no longer feels part of the bigger group.

He is very aware he's on the slow and cant do it tableSad

Op i agree with all the advice about just asking the teacher.

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