What can you realistically expect from a school (KS1 levels)?

[pickledsiblings]

Can you 'expect' your DC to get a level 3 in writing at the end of KS1 because your previous 2 DC had level 3s at this stage? DC3 seems just as capable as them in other areas (more in some areas) but I'm pretty certain that unless I intervene there is no way he'll be getting that level 3 in writing or science.

DC1, girl was at a different school (private)
DC2, boy, joined school in question half way through Y1 (previously private)
DC3, boy, has been there since the beginning

I'm concerned, not just for my DC but for all the other DC that may be able to achieve more. Nothing is being flagged up for my DC and he'll pass through the system as a 'success'.

Should I speak to the teacher?

Huitre, thanks again, you've got a great attitude. He does write a sensible size at home when reminded to do so.

I've been on Amazon and ordered the Usborne Write your own story book x2 (thanks simpson) and I'm about to order some handwriting practice books - can anyone recommend any for 6 year olds and 10 year olds - I've decided that DS1 could do with some more practice, he obviously missed the lesson when they were joining vs and ws.

Ah, finally huitre - someone who can use practice/practise correctly

A bit of ignorance about writing levels, is the least of the unfairness doled out to children.

I think you expect too much of schools.

Well, if education reforms had constantly outlined home heating levels, whether or not mom was out pulling past 8PM and the ingredients of a child's tea, then I think we could expect constant improvements in these areas. Since we've been legislating about elementary reading writing and rithmetic from the 1800s up until now I think we have a right to expect good progress in these areas.

Haha, Feenie. I pride myself on it. It's not really that hard, though, just takes a bit of attention to detail... I have passed it on to DD (though, at seven, it's taking a bit of repetition to go in).

I'm a bit confused OP - how do you know how much time they spend writing at school? What do you think they spend the Literacy hour doing?

By all means provide extra support at home but remember there is a chance that your ds just isn't a Level 3 in writing (his sister's level at the same age is irrelevant really and reading ability does not necessarily imply writing skill either)

ShoeWhore, I ask my child how much writing he has done, I see his work on open book evenings and I have his folder sitting here in front of me. I know that he is not doing enough writing to enable significant improvement.

I'm fairly certain he'll be level 3 by the end of the year with my input, he enjoys language and story telling (we have story cubes which are brill btw) and has excellent speaking and listening skills.

Are these not reasons why he should be heading for a L3?

You do give a shit about his levels.
You sound a nightmare

I'm about to order this handwriting book unless anyone can recommend anything better.

Why do I sound like a nightmare kilmuir?

God! Don't get into the bear-bating. Anyone who has the temerity to ask is my child doing well enough in school must obviously be a nightmare. (I don't know what people who run around stabbing people in showers with scissors are described as.) Cue penetrating violins...

Throughout my posts I have been using 'level 3' as a shorthand for the standard of writing that I feel my son should be capable of given what I know about him and my previous children. I looked up exemplar material on the internet.

Do we not make assumptions all the time about what our children are capable of? He has made lots of progress in his swimming lessons, in rugby and in violin (all very short weekly lessons compared to time spent at school), so why shouldn't I expect him to make lots of progress with writing too.

I suspect that lots of bright children don't get level 3 Writing at KS1, because writing is quite a technically difficult thing to do and they're simply not mature enough to do it well.

I also suspect that those bright children will quite often go on to get L5 writing at KS2 - as long as they carry on reading, developing great vocab, understanding of context and character, original style etc etc.

NC levels really are a load of garbage, I wish Gove would abolish them (hahahahaha - as if).

I don't think you sound a nightmare but tbh you are going to have to help him at home I think. Although I think it's perfectly normal to write phonetically in KS1. My DC school don't correct spellings until yr3 (unless the child has previously shown they can spell the word).

I love the story cubes btw

Our local pound shop has handwriting books, DD uses them quite a bit even though her writing is now ok (she is hyper mobile).

One thing I would ask is if it hurts your DS to write because if so then maybe his pencil grip is not the best.

'I also suspect that those bright children will quite often go on to get L5 writing at KS2 - as long as they carry on reading, developing great vocab, understanding of context and character, original style etc etc.'

I took a leap of faith with DS1 (he's the one that had a year and a half in the private sector) and he'll probably get L5 if left alone although I'll be interfering there too so fingers crossed for L6 .

Books ordered, the grand total of £21, I'll let you know if it works.

Thank you all for your input on this thread it has been great to get it all out.

I would never criticise or be rude to the DC's teachers btw but I will tell her that I have bought some books and I am aiming to help him at home.

Dd1 is really enjoying these books: www.amazon.co.uk/Leckie-HILARIOUS-HANDWRITING-Age-6-7/dp/1843727315/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385422390&sr=1-10&keywords=Letts+handwriting

I even found her doing it in bed one night!

Ooops www.amazon.co.uk/Leckie-HILARIOUS-HANDWRITING-Age-6-7/dp/1843727315/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385422390&sr=1-10&keywords=Letts+handwriting

Thanks mydaftlass.

To be fair on the OP it does sound as if the school isn't doing enough on writing. When DD2 was in Yr2 they did lots of writing - she filled more than two books and there was ad hoc stuff as well. They did factual writing, poetry and fiction, and all work was corrected for spelling and grammar and there was a lot of work done on expanding vocabulary and sentence complexity. The OP's school does need to address this and it's a valid concern.

Both my DDs got L3 at the end of KS1, DD1 got L6 at KS2 and DD2 is heading the same way - I didn't do anything with them at home other than proofreading and telling them if they had made errors (not telling them where the errors were, just asking them to proofread and correct themselves). I certainly didn't buy workbooks - but that was because the school was doing its job properly.

As far as I am concerned no one on this earth will care how your DC do as much as you do.

So its the right thing to do, make sure they are progressing as they should. Not to push, or hot house or pressure, just keeping an eye that they are sort of on track, for what you know they can do.

Thanks pointyfangs and Elf.

Purple definitely isn't three years ahead. It's roughly equal to NC level 1a/2c

In wales we have the foundation phase and my son is working at a high level in numeracy, but it was implied to me that they will only predict him outcome 6 (I believe that's the equivalent of level 2a? correct me if I'm wrong) because they can't go higher for ks1.

I was a bit about this (he's in yr 1 doing the yr 3 curriculum for maths) but I didn't know enough about it to challenge it.

btw he's been awarded outcome 5 now (and she said that was being conservative) - beginning yr 1.

Assessment in the Foundation Phase

the following outcomes broadly cross-reference to the current national curriculum level descriptions:
•
Foundation Phase Outcome 4 links with National Curriculum Level 1;
•
Foundation Phase Outcome 5 links with National Curriculum Level 2; and
•
Foundation Phase Outcome 6 links with National Curriculum Level 3.