Is this an issue or not?

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

DS1 started school last month. A week after he started his teacher approached us & said that because he was so bright he needed to be reading year 1 books rather than reception books as they weren't challenging him. A couple of weeks later I asked her what was happening & she said she had to clear it with the year 1 teachers before anything could happen.

Since then nothing has happened. I'd given up on writing in his reading diary because he can read anything he is given. No-one else is writing in his diary either.

I'd heard that most children are shattered after school but not DS1, he's full of energy & being more naughty than usual. He's hurting DS2 deliberately, which he had never done before.

My mum is a teacher & she thinks there could be a problem with this school & that I need to speak to the teacher at parents evening in a few weeks & then see the head if things don't change soon. But is she fussing over nothing much or should I worry?

My brother had real problems at school because he was very bright & wasn't being pushed enough & I wonder if this is clouding my mum's judgement?

Sorry for the essay, I just don't know what to do (if I need to do anything).

Only one of mine was visibly tired after school. Dd2 showed no ill effects at all, despite she had to also walk to and from her big sister's school (40 minutes each way) before and after school.
Ds was tired, but his way of showing it was much as your ds1-being naughty and having a short fuse.
Dd1 otoh was going to be at 4pm and needing to be woken at 8:15am for the next school day for the first half term.

I find it slightly strange to have "year R books" and "year 1 books" actually. In other schools I've been in there have just been the books to choose from. When dd1 started though the head had a policy of limiting how far they could go-in year R it was level 3 ORT, year 1 level 6, year 2 level 9. Which might be the issue, I suppose. Luckily they'd changed that by the time dd2 went, because she started on level 9, but no one described it as year 2 books, it was just she chose from the box with those in from the central stock.

My DS has never, ever been tired after school either (I wish ).

I suggest it is a bit early to think there is a problem but why not get some more demanding books from your local library and read them at home if the books from school aren't challenging enough?

I teach Reception. There are so many great reading books you can get for him from the library that will challenge him. Failing that, amazon or eBay have lots too! Work on his comprehension... Get him doing lots of talking about what he is reading, making up alternative intros and endings etc.

In terms of moving him forwards and challenging him... What is his writing like?
I would focus on developing his fine motor skills and practising his writing. Writing the sounds he knows and blending sounds to make words. If he can ready do this, focus on writing sentences, looking at correct letter formation, capital letters and full stops.

If you want to chat about anything further or if I can be of any more help please message me

Increased misbehaviour and excessive energy can be signs of being overtired IME. When my DS got very tired after school one of the main signs was him losing his ability to moderate his behaviour.

I'd try early bedtimes for a bit, you have nothing to lose. Also a snack on leaving school/arriving home and a bit of time to chill and relax as soon s he gets home.

The teacher definitely said he could read all the books available to him, she approached us about it initially but when I chased it up that's when she said she had to talk to the year 1 teachers.

He does have tea soon after coming home & we try & do quiet activities. He goes to up to bed at 7pm but often stays awake reading by himself: sometimes it's gone 9 before he goes to sleep.

He's read all the Mr Men books, all the Thomas books, all Beatrix Potter, plus whatever he brings home from school-I don't really know where to go from here. Ideally I'd like to get him some books where he can have a 'chapter' at night rather than an entire story but don't know if such things exist, bearing in mind he's only 4 1/2.

Some of the 'Daisy' series by Kes Gray are longer books rather than picture books!
Some of the Enid Blyton ones would be suitable too - the faraway tree etc

my 2 weren't challenged in reception, (well actually still waiting for challenge now but that is another story). Reading wise however the teachers were pretty good.

If you want chapter books he might like then there are loads you could try, try the early reader ones from Usborne, Corgi Pups (think they are also called colour first readers), some of the shorter Dick King Smith, Lighthouse Keeper books which have now been published as chapter book style ones, Early readers by Orion. Or if he is past those as well and they are too easy then The Enchanted Wood, Magic Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Horrid Henry and Beast Quest (I have girls who don't like them but lots of children do), Paddington.

Neither of mine were tired after school either. I don't think the odd reading book will make any difference to that! Bear in mind that many schools don't even start with reading books so early on in the year.

You could try the Magic Treehouse Books, they are quite ok content wise for this age, DD read them between 4.5-5.

Horrid Henry? Beast Quest? There is something called Usborne Beginners, factual book about virtually anything but easy written. No real chapters but a change in the usual maybe.

If you have a decent library see what you can find there. Or hunt down whatever the charity shops have on offer.

I would let him choose what he likes to get going.

Take him to your local library and let him choose the books he likes the look of. Doesn't matter if the books are very easy for him to read, or which will definitely require you to read to him. Just go with what he picks, and he will soon discover some challenging reads!

Thanks for the book tips, will look out for them.

Should I not be concerned that she approached us about his reading but has since done nothing?

Also, my mum has placed the idea in my head that his teacher doesn't like him, is it too soon for her to like/dislike any of her pupils? I know I'm being a bit PFB but I had a miserable time at school & don't want him to be miserable.

Your mum sounds like she's being totally unhelpful tbh.

Take him to the library weekly and let him choose loads of books to read.

Problem solved.

I don't really understand your,'I don't know where to go from here' comment. There are loads of free books out there-let him read them.

I'd guess it's the year 1 teachers stalling. She wouldn't have approached you about it otherwise.

Also, please don't give him the idea his teacher doesn't like him. You have no evidence bar your mum's second hand ideas.

I would never let him know about his teacher not liking him, I've no idea what she thinks about him so why would I tell him she doesn't like him?

I know there are lots of free books, I guess I've just heard so much about my brother's school experience that I'm worried that DS will get bored & start having similar problems.

I need to remember he's only 4 1/2 & doesn't need to be prepped for Eton yet .

Teachers if they are any good do not dislike their pupils. Even the irritating ones have good in them, which it is crucial to look for. I very much doubt that a Reception teacher "doesn't like" any of her pupils.

Your mother sounds really unhelpful.

If he's not tired after school then there is a great opportunity for you to do other stuff with him after school. So the Library is a good place to start. Also crafts and construction toys, and in half-decent weather playing in the garden/outside. Even children's TV can be educational, my DD has learnt a lot from Horrible Histories.
If he enjoys writing, that is something else to encourage. Or art is just as good.

Be lead by him.

In school he will be learning a lot about getting on with other people, which is the main skill that 4/5 year olds need.

If he's reading loads why not just make sure he's got lots and lots of books at home and let school focus on all the other stuff? Are you happy with the school apart from ghost?

and ignore your mother she isn't being helpful

I work in the children's publishing industry and there's a huge amount of a new wave of books that 'bridge' from picture books to full on novels - heavily illustrated in 3 colours. They are really up to date and really successful.

Have a look at the Claude books by Alex T Smith. Also, 'Foxy Tales' by Caryl Hart. Also 'Oliver and the Seawigs' would be really challenging without loads and loads of words.

I think it's odd the reception teacher has to clear with a year one teacher what she gives as reading material to a child in her class. Is she not permitted to adequately differentiate in her own teaching? Most if not every year there will be one/more children in reception who can read well.

I would ask at parents' evening what she has identified as the way forward. However I also would not worry about boredom in reception too much. There is still a lot of learning through play/outdoors etc IME as a parent. I think your mum is fussing too early.

My ds sounds similar. He has access to all infant school books but to be honest once they get to the early chapter books the school selection is fairly poor. We complement it with library books which tend to be more up to date. If we find one he likes then we order more on the library catalogue. Count yourself lucky that you skipped the 'Oh no Floppy' stage!

"I know there are lots of free books, I guess I've just heard so much about my brother's school experience that I'm worried that DS will get bored & start having similar problems. "

I think this is where you need to break from your Mum. I often argue that parents need to be a bit push, and not overanxious about seeming a bit pfb, but you really need to start by trusting the school. It is hard if someone has been failed, but schools have changed a lot over the years.
Also starting by undermining the school and pushing for no reason is not the best way to go about things. It can create more problems than it solves.

5 is very young. There is a lot he should be learning just by play, exploring and new situations. There is also a lot you can do if he does seem bored.

With my DC, if I didn't think the books were helpful, they read others and I told the teacher what they were. If he's not tired, then use that energy to explore his interests, and try new things.

In lots of countries children do not start school until much later and they can still go on to become Noble Prize winners.

Education is not just about school. If you choose and trusted this school, then you need to give them more of a chance. Although you can always ask the teacher for advice on what you can do to help your son. (Teachers are extremely busy, in your son's class there are probably children who have barely held a book, are just potty trained, or maybe are only just learning English).

I've never heard of such a thing as 'Reception books' and 'Year 1' books. Children should just read whatever level is appropriate for them. You really need to take this up with the teacher and make sure he is receiving the correct level reading book.