They all catch up

[Enb76]

Should they all catch up?

Say you have a child who at the end of reception is able to do all that is expected of a Y1 and quite a lot of Y2. They can read, do the maths etc... I often hear the phrase "they all catch up" but surely if the child is quite far ahead then in order for the other cohort to catch up, the child that's ahead can't be being given the same amount of effort that's going into a child that's struggling, otherwise they would stay ahead. Is my logic wrong?

Do schools let the ones who are doing ok coast in order to let the rest of the class catch up and how or even should you challenge that to ensure that a bright child is challenged to the same degree as their less able counterparts?

[Jinty64]

Ds1 started school able to read and write (self taught). He had a huge vocabulary and was clearly pretty bright. I was told by his nursery that "he would have no problems in school". He spent most of P1 staring out the window, causing low level disruption and generally doing as little as possible. When I suggested their might be a problem I was told he was in all the top groups, there was nothing wrong with him but that if I tried disciplining him at home he might behave better in school. He was eventually diagnosed with ADHD and remained in the top groups throughout primary with very little effort.

Ds2 (23 months younger) had a speech delay and barely spoke when he started school. He took a long time to learn to read and I spent time every evening working with him so he would keep up with the bottom group. By the time he finished primary he was doing quite well at most subjects.

Their standard grade results were almost identical and it looks as if ds2 is going to do better in his highers (awaiting results) than ds1 did because ds2 has always had to work hard for everything and has a good work ethic. So the slow ones can catch up and even overtake.

[mrz]

Jinty that "work ethic" you describe is seen as the most important factor in future success - in EYFS it comes under Dispositions and Attitudes to learning ... well done your DS2

[unrealhousewife]

Wow, they can measure work ethic in foundation stage?

[mrz]

It's one of the three prime areas of learning unrealhousewife - along with speaking & listening and physical development

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

a bright child who is completely unchallenged could well develop a poor work ethic. they never learn to work for anything or learn about failure.

[mrz]

just as strugglers who are always sent off to work outside the classroom or have a TA constantly attached never learn

[Taz1212]

ilovepowerhoop Your DC should be just fine. Scotland measures by levels and as you approach secondary school, most pupils will be finishing up level 2 with the expectation that they will start level 3 in S1. However, some pupils will be working at level 3 earlier (and some later) and the school should be able to handle this. DS has been working at level 3 in some areas since the middle of P6 and both his old school and his new school have tailored the curriculum accordingly.

[ChocolateWombat]

The idea that all children catch up to the same level is ridiculous.
If you look at the statistics, those who are ahead at the end of the EYFS are likely to be ahead at the end of KS1, Ks2, KS3, GCSE......
That is not to say that there are not some that slip behind the curve, or who do better than early progress would suggest, but of course they are not the norm.
So being ahead now, is a good indication of future success, if not something that is set is stone.

[Lara2]

They don't all catch up children who get a 2C in maths in Year 2 are unlikely to get a C - A grade at GCSE.

[Jinsei]

In some cases, other kids will catch up, and in some cases the gap will widen. I don't think it's possible to generalise.

[bronya]

In my experience, the more able progress at a slightly slower rate than they naturally would, throughout primary. So they still make their sub-levels of progress the same way as the rest of the class, but they could make more, based on their progress so far (i.e. if 2 sub-levels a year is normal, the more able could make three, but the resources aren't there to support that). It doesn't stop them getting As in GCSEs/A levels though.

[herdream1]

I think one of the reasons why top-table children are likely to achieve is: when a child is ahead of others at the early stage, that gives him/her confidence and motivation to keep working hard to stay there while they grow up.

[mrz]

and demotivates the children on lower tables herdream?

[MrsWinnibago]

My DD entered her school at the start of year 3 and was very much behind in everything. Now in year 5 she's top of the group in literacy and above average in maths.

Fantastic school with amazing teachers.

[ZanyMobster]

IME it really depends.

DS2 seemed quite behind in YR with reading in particular, this year (Y1) he is now a similar level to the child who was top in everything in YR (won the academic award etc) and in fact ahead of him in Maths. There are other children that have overtaken him in all areas.

On the other hand there was a group of 5 children at DS1s infant school who were miles ahead of the others and were put up a year. 3 out of that 5 are still quite a way ahead of their (different) classes in Y3 but the other two are not even top sets now. With DS1 I have never felt that he will even out and so far he hasn't and has still progressed at a quite rate, he has such a determination at the moment and works very hard - ask me again at secondary school though!!

So the answer is yes or no