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Original poster

Suppose you had just found out that the other kids in DS' Y1 Class

181 replies

TwigTwoolett · 10/10/2006 19:35

all had reading books and records that they brought home every week ... that teacher wrote notes on how they read in class in, and parents wrote notes on how they read at home

and they'd had them for 4 or 5 WEEKS

and your child didn't have one (hadn't had one since Reception last year)

What would you think /do?

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Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 12:26

sorry guys .. da moo and me went out

story so far

I spoke to her sub (was right in thinking this am was her 'prep' day so she wasn't there) .. sub left a message to ring me on mobile

I then went out without my piggin' mobile

Got back to it ringing .. was teacher .. 3rd time she tried

Basically boiled down to a very pleasant conversation .. I was reasonable and charming

she said they were all issued with reading records at beginning of term .. I pointed out that DS had never had one nor had he ever brought home a reading book

they weren't doing much reading in school .. because they have to use toilets on 1st floor .. and it cuts into reading time .. was shocked at this particular fact .. something to do with H&S? .. think she was reaching for excuses here

She said she didn't have many ticks in her reading record, I asked if she had any for DS and she said she'd check

She couldn't understand how he'd 'slipped through the cracks' ... um me neither .. its a class of 22 kids FGS with 2 full time adults

I kept my temper asked her for a quick meeting after school so we could see together what he had done and work out how we'll make up for it in future

you'd have been proud of me I was reasonable and nice .. I said I fully understand how mistakes can be made but I'd just like to make sure its rectified and doesn't happen again

and she's going to check through all her records

I think we can be sure that even if he has been missed out he certainly won't be in future

the only bit I'm pissed off is with them not doing much reading this term in general .. they're 5 .. I know they have a wide curriculum but reading is fairly fundamental

I did OK right?

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hub2dee · 11/10/2006 12:30

You didn't thump her ?

Sounds fine. Although, like you, I'm not sure wtf the toilet thing is about. Is it that the reading area is ground floor and the toilets are first and human rights dictate they must be within 60 seconds of a loo or sommit ?

singersgirl · 11/10/2006 12:33

Sounds as if you did really well.

About the not much reading in school - when you have a chat ask her how they organise it, because the 'not many ticks in her reading record' doesn't sound very encouraging generally. Does she have a group of children she aims to hear each day?

Also the bit about the toilet isn't very helpful. Couldn't it cut into some other lesson some time rather than reading?

For comparison, at the DSs' school in Y1 they do guided reading once a week in ability groups with the teacher, so she hears them all for a few minutes in a 30 minute session; then the aim is for all children to read their individual reading books to a parent helper at least once a week, though some of the weaker readers will be heard more often by the TA/other parent helpers as well. There are 30 in DS2's class.

At DS1's different school in Y1 they each read to the teacher twice a week and to a parent helper twice a week, so a lot more than DS2 is getting.

Twohootsandapumpkin · 11/10/2006 12:51

Just caught up with this thread and was tbh. I think you did great with the teacher and have her flummoxed (sp?). Hope you get to the bottom of it and it is all sorted - not great though that you had to bring it to light. If you don't get the answers you want/need would it be worth mentioning to the head? DD nowhere near school age yet so not sure of the way these things work....

NotQuiteCockney · 11/10/2006 12:53

Hey, you didn't scream at her or laugh hysterically when she said they weren't reading because of the toilets! You did better than I would have!

Marina · 11/10/2006 12:54

I think you did fine. I'm a great believer in giving people the benefit of the doubt first off, but I too would note for future reference the toilet excuse (WTF?) and remain concerned that with only 22 in the class and a TA she is not a bit more on top of the reading records. Have an open mind on how much they should be doing at this age, but whatever they do, it should be properly documented and rolled out across the whole class. Hope that's it sorted now and good luck this pm.

Marina · 11/10/2006 12:54

NQC tells it like it is re toilets as a hindrance to reading activities...

Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 12:57

will never have to speak to head about it I don't think as chair of governors is a friend and her daughter is in DS's class (and they live 10 doors down) .. she is following saga closely .. head will hear from her I'm sure

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Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 12:58

must admit toilet comment had me flummoxed .. would like further explanation of that one

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hub2dee · 11/10/2006 13:07

Thought my 'Twig's been nicked' was rather good. Just a pity I can't keep a straight face.

katierocket · 11/10/2006 13:21

well done Twig. Very odd comment re: the toilets - clutching for straws methinks. And rubbish if she thinks he has "slipped through the net".

Gobbledispook · 11/10/2006 13:42

They do less reading because they have to go to the toilet? Que?!

Well done for remaining calm though! You've got time now, before your meeting, to really get into your head all the points you want to raise!

LadyTophamHatt · 11/10/2006 13:47

when I've helped out a t Ds's school they read throughout the day. I was given a list of the all the childtren and just worked down the list regardless of what activity they were doing.

Computer work, maths, art whatever, some even came in from PE to read!

The toilet thing is crap IMO (no pun intended).

throckenholt · 11/10/2006 13:47

tell them to take the books to the loo with them - good training for adulthood for DS (in my experience blokes do most of their reading in the loo )

GhoulsToo · 11/10/2006 13:58

just caught up with this thread - I think you've behaved impeccably I don't think I would have been so circumspect.

In the first place, if the TA had passed on your worries why didn't teach have all the 'records' to hand when she rang you? That should have been her first job surely? That really would have peed me off.

The toilet comment is beyond ridiculous imho - pathetic!

I do hope this gets resolved to your satisfaction Twig.

Gobsmacked tbh!

Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 14:57

If you were me what would you want out of meeting after school

I'm thinking I'd like to know what he has done this term particularly in reading, writing and numeracy

I'd like to see what 'homework' has been set and if she's aware of what he's given in

I'd like reassurances on how much reading support he will be given in class in the future

I'd like to know that no other children have been missed out

Would I like to know how it happened? Is that post mortem??

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pamina3 · 11/10/2006 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 15:05

ahem

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Original poster
TwigTwoolett · 11/10/2006 15:06

thanks pamina .. sorry x posts

I wonder if they do it by grabbing reading record books (which DS doesn't have hence hasn't read in class) .. bad system needs replacing

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pamina3 · 11/10/2006 15:12

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GeorginaA · 11/10/2006 15:15

Twig, I think their explanations so far are really poor.

I'd want to know how they're marking off time for the national literacy and numeracy slots (hours?) - I thought this was protected time. I know in our school if anything gets eaten into it's PE time, they're not allowed to take curriculum time away from literacy or numeracy. I'd be very unhappy that toilet time is eating into reading time!!

I'd want to see examples of his work, I think. Get something concrete as to what he's doing in school (cos lets face it, kids never tell us properly, do they?). I'd want to see the system replaced if they're doing reading time by the record books rather than a register type system. And I think I'd want some dedicated catch up time with Twig Junior to make up for the 5 weeks he's been ignored.

(I would also make efforts to do my own separate work outside of school with him as well, I think, if at all possible - maybe getting a different scheme's readers to one being used at school so that he gets plenty of practise in?)

Simply not reading allowed because a child doesn't enjoy it is absolutely LUDICROUS! So what if he doesn't enjoy it - it's school, he's supposed to be learning to read, ffs!

LIZS · 11/10/2006 15:21

Find out how they are expectign him to read aloud in class time. Is this one to one or in a group, may be he doesn't want to be overheard ? It sounds as if whatever their "strategy" is, so far hasn't worked but avoiding the issue isn't an option. The system for checking home reading evidently isn't thorough enough if he and possibly others are being overlooked. When were they planning to tell you ther ewas a problem, and address it ? As to the toilet excuse.... good luck

GhoulsToo · 11/10/2006 15:23

Apart from everything GeorginaA has said
I'd smile sweetly and say 'can you just explain to me again the comment about toilet time, because I'm a little perplexed by that to say the least!' (that bit has me rather rattled!)

Your ds has missed 5 weeks for goodness sake not just one session - I think I'd give her detention!

(Don't follow my lead though, I'm too cross )

Bozza · 11/10/2006 15:29

Yes I agree particularly with Georgina's last para. Do they let him off the hook with anything he doesn't want to do?

Oh he doesn't like reading, so despite the fact that he is a perfectly, capable intelligent child we will let him remain illiterate. We won't bother trying other strategies, encouraging him, pointblank telling him he has got to, we will let him fall behind.

Doesn't really work for me as an argument.

Ladymuck · 11/10/2006 15:35

tbh what bothers me is the fact that Twig doesn't seem to have been given clear expectations. Schools all differ wildly as to how they teach with some giving daily reading at home from reception, others not bothering with hoeowrk of any sort until much later on. In an ideal world you can pick which sort of school suits you. But it would bother me not to have a good expectation as to what was happening in the term ahead (even if it was fairly freeform a la Soupy's school). In these circs my key concern would not be reading records, or toilet arrangements per se, but more the question of how the school communicates with parents. Yr1 is far too young for parents to pick up useful information from children IME.

But I'm probably just a control freak.

Anyway Twig, sounds as if you handled yourself admirably, and I hope that you have a fruitful meeting.