Year 4 child struggling

[loopyloo87]

Hi, my child attends an independant school the classes are streamed. I'm very concerned at the moment as I was told that his latest assessment for one of his lessons was the lowest in the class under 50% we asked if we should employ a tutor as he is finding new concepts very hard.. I do support my child & I feel that he is finding all the work very difficult there is homework on a daily basis that he resents doing.. We do find time for parks & family time but 'm feeling so stressed as the tests are due just after the easter hols..
We also pay a lot of fees & to get a tutor is going to be costly...
I have discussed the situtation with my husband & I feel that the school is too academic for my child maybe he needs a school which goes at a slower pace which will enable him to understand new topics as at the moment the kids are only on a topic a week then it goes onto the next one... Has anybody got any experience on this please? I don't want my child stressing if hes finding the work difficult .. Thanks in advance

There is a similar thread running at the moment about a Year 5 child. My feeling is the same as I wrote on that thread - this sound like a very academic school and they get their results by expecting the children to keep up with the pace and do lots of extra at home. What has the school said about the fact your child is struggling? Have they offered extra support?

Personally, if I was paying for a school I would want them to support my child - not expect to have to pay for even more support for them. I agree with you that a more nurturing and less academic school may be better for your child.

I'm at my wits end & my husband isn't supportive enough his attitude is find another school.. I think my child would benefit from a slower pace he gets so strrssed .. I haven't spoken to the school as yet but I'm emailing his tutor & am going to ask for a meeting with the head..
Private tuition is costly but do the children really benefit from it I'm not even sure where we would fit in in with the homework which my child already resents

Private tuition is costly but it can be very effective. You could also ask the tutor to help your child with some of the homework. However, judging from your posts it appears that a slower paced and more caring school might suit your child better.
Surely part of the point of an independent school is to be able to find one that suits your child, rather than having to force your child to suit the school?

Unless a tutor is extremely able and sensitive to a child's needs, and the child is prepared to consistently work hard, and is keen to raise his performance and tackle new challenges, then a tutor probably achieve very much.

And as DS already resents homework, a tutor could make him feel even more negative towards education.

He might be happier, and achieve more in the long-run, at an ordinary state school.

Thankyou for your replies... We feel that he would fall behind in an ordinary state school with so many kids in one class he wouldn't get the attention that he receives at the moment... There are independant schools that are not too pushy it's just a question of finding one to suit my child.. He doesn't cope well under pressure & the topics are too quick for him to disgest.. I've just emailed the subject teachers to find out their thoughts as I really don't want my child to be stressed at such a young age ..

Not wishing to contradict you, but if your child was getting the attention he needed, he wouldn't be struggling to keep up!! All very well being in a small class, but if you are expected to work at the same pace regardless, it's not actually very helpful. I agree it's definitely worth shopping around to find a school to suit your child though.

He is receiving the support it's the pace that he's finding difficult..There are many people that need to be shown how to complete a task several times before they grasp it however there are others that find it easy..
The school is gong at a fast pace some kids cope perfectly well .
I try to support my child but sometimes it works better to have someone from outside to sit with them i.e a tutor... It seems to be normal practice these days even to children in state school..

If he were receiving effective support then pace wouldn't be an issue

So the support he needs is to be shown how to do a task a few times so he can grasp it? He is evidently not getting this and I'm not sure how you can say that he is, or why on earth you would pay for a tutor to do something you are already paying a school to do. It's really not the norm for Year 4 children to be tutored.

I appreciate it's not the norm for a year 4 to be tutored but you'd be surprised at the amount of parents that have tuition from a younger age .. Tuition in independant schools is pretty much the norm.. I've tried to avoid it for as long as I possibly can...
Mrz do you have children attending independant school?

No loopy loo it isn't the norm for a child who is being supported effectively to continue to struggle. I would be asking the school what they are going to do to ensure your child isn't left behind.

I have been in touch with teacher & have been told that my child works very hard in class. They are going to send extra work sheets home there are only so many hours in the day the class sets are small but my child doesn't grasp new concepts very well.. The tests are usually after easter this will determine as to whether a child will move down.. As I previously mentioned I know of two kids at our school that have been having tuition every weekend since the infants a vast majority of kids so but the parents keep it quiet & won't admit it.. In year 3 the teacher asked the children to put their hands up if they have a tutor my child told me nearly all the kids put their hands up so when we say year 4 isn't the norm you'd be suprised at the amount that do.

No bright child should need a tutor in Year 4.

However, I also don't feel your child would be better off in a state primary. If anything, he'd probably be left to languish.

I think you need to find a school better suited to his needs. Is he behind because he's just a little slow to grasp new concepts, or do you think he may have some learning difficulties?

And Mrz, even children that are being supported effectively, they may well be able to do what they're being asked to, but they may still be struggling in relation to what the rest of the class are able to do! (you're not telling me that all children in state primaries end up leaving with a level 5 regardless!!!)

Some independent schools are more academic and only want high flyers. Other independent schools are stronger with pastoral care and supporting children who aren't the typical high flyer. These schools often get good results but have a more balanced rounded approach and less able children often have their self esteem still in tact by the end

I agree Blazing88 my child wouldn't cope in a state school now he is a bit slow to grasp new concepts the work is advanced we have been told he doesn't have learning difficulties but a lot of people find new things hard to grasp as I previously mentioned.. I also work with my child & I can see that he needs to do things a few times before it clicks he can also be lazy.
The teacher has been very supportive & understands our concerns which is reassuring.. I also understand when people say we pay a lot of fees & why should we pay a tutor as it is very costly but I take on board all your comments.

I agree about the self esteem Ooooooh , I'm giving serious thought about changing schools as I don't want my child stressed out ,struggling & put off about learning.

I'd suggest looking at other schools both state and private. It's the individual school rather than the sector that makes the difference. Clearly OP's child's current school is not providing the correct level of support, I have no idea how she can generalise that no state school would be acceptable for him.

My DD is in Y4 as well, and this is what happens in her state school (in her class of 30)

• the whole class are taught the new concept
• they are given work on the concept
• the children that grasp it quickly are given extension work
• the children that struggle get additional 1-1 or small group support

It definitely isn't the norm for a child in a small set who is being effectively taught to be left behind loopyloo

I didn't mention state or private schools Blazing (it's not relevant) only the effectiveness of the support provided which in this case doesn't appear to be closing the gap.

I came on her for support not opinionated remarks. .I'm really looking for someone that has been through this & would know what I'm going through ..

So you are happy with the support your child is receiving and it is highly effective in allowing him to close the gap between him and his peers?

If not you need to speak to the school and discuss how they plan to provide effective support.

Opinionated yes! but also backed up with experience as a parent and many years as a Senco.

I can't understand why you think your child wouldn't cope in a state school, loopy. It sounds very much as if he is an averagely able kid in an environment that isn't set up for his ability level and is expecting far too much from him. An environment that is genuinely set up for a more average ability level (such as a state school) would be great for his confidence and self-esteem and he would be more likely to be able to access support within the school day if he did fall behind there rather than tutoring. He'd have less homework too and you could easily afford a tutor twice or three times a week if you thought it would help.

I don't have a child at an independent school, but I attended one myself and there were a very few children in the school who, even though they were really clever, ended up with real issues about their academic ability because they were at the bottom of the class all the time (they'd have been at the top in any normal school). I don't think it's healthy for a child to always be struggling. I appreciate that you want to do the best for your child but that might not be an independent school. Equally, you could certainly find a non-selective independent but then I honestly wonder what the advantage is there - you'll still have the problem of tutoring on top of fees because few of these schools are set up to deal with children who are finding the work a real challenge.

I honestly don't mean this as a dig of any sort. I just think maybe you should look round some other schools and don't confine yourself to a particular type. You might be surprised at what you see and at what you find might suit your son better. Good luck.

Why do you think he wouldn't cope in a state school?

Blazing- why do you think he would be left to languish in a state school?

What sort of thing is he struggling with, by the way? I mean, is it a case of not knowing his times tables yet (doesn't matter, he'll get there in the end if he's averagely bright) or is it a case of not being able to understand fractions or decimals? Or, oh, fronted adverbials or whatever. I mean, are the things he's failing to grasp really important or not? And are they age-appropriate in terms of what most children can do or not? If they're doing simultaneous equations at school and he can't understand it straight away in Y4, that is actually perfectly normal and the school is the cause for concern, not your son!

I agree with opop. A good state school used to dealing with mixed ability and different teaching methods may be the making of him. I feel so sorry for him. School must be a fairly miserable place to be. The year 4DC in our school love school - a creative fun place to be with little homework but amazing results. Loads of extra curricular. Every child excels at something