What age to start tutoring?

[hibbledobble]

Dd is in year 1 in a state school in a deprived area. The iintake is very mnixed ability.

She is very bright and is doing very well so ffar, but does report that the work is too easy for her so she finds it boring. We do a lot of reading and exercise books at home, at her instigation. She loves Learning.

At 11 we would likefor her to go to a pprivate or grammar school, and I'm conscious that there is likely already a gap between her and privately educated children.

At what age is it worth trying to 'top up' her learning with a tutor? And would 121 or a tutorial school setting be better?

The bottom line is any extra help from a tutor as long as the pupil is motivated to learn then it will all help with there learning and gain the subjects a more comprehensive and deeper understanding.

My DS is 10 and the youngest in YR6 at his school. He has had an English tutor since Easter in YR1. He was behind. Substantially. DH and I did everything we could with DS to help him. We read with him (and to him) every morning and evening, practiced phonics at every opportunity but he just couldn't 'get it'. We did everything we could and it saw soul destroying watching him struggling and trying to stay so so positive. So we paid (and still do) for him to have some focused help from somebody qualified. It's helped, but there is still a gap between what DS can do and the expectations for his year. I often think about where he would be if we hadn't done this. For our family it's the best thing we have done. I would also add that his school have also been fantastic throughout. If I had to do it again I would.

If she is bored at school already, then she probably isn't very academic. Its a myth that bright children get bored; bright children are the LEAST likely to get bored at school

user1484226561 or the pupil could be bored because they already understand the subjects and want to progress deeper into the subjects. Although because of the boundary's of what is being taught it may not be possible for the pupil to delve deeper.

user that is a rather goady, and also factually incorrect post.

Her teacher has confirmed to me that she had a very bright and far exceeding expectations. At home we are doing work, at her instigation, that is 1-3 years ahead of her year group. She loves learning, and I believe it is the case at school as global says.

I remember being utterly bored at school too. I got 5 A levels at top grade, including the highest marks in my selective school. I'm not saying this to boast, but just to prove that I wasn't bored due to being not academic enough.

user that is a rather goady, and also factually incorrect post. I am not being goady, or being factually incorrect. Why is it whenever you say something poster doesn't want to hear, you get called goady. Sorry if you don't like it, but its not goadyness.

What factual basis is there behind your assertions? You are presenting your opinion as fact. It's not a question of not wanting to hear what you are saying, but it being completely incorrect. You have no basis to say my dc is 'probably not very academic '.

I think some people on here making goady statements need some lessons in critical thinking. I am qualified in this if they are interested

I don't get this. At all. You can stimulate them outside school in ways that don't involve a tutor and educate them in different ways. Mine does gymnastics, dances, sings in a choir, plays an instrument etc. She reads lots at home and will make 'projects' to do with things she's read about. She's doing well at school. They don't need more cramming at this age, they need to be encouraged to think creatively.

if you are refering to me Mrskeats, I am not being goady, and I teach critical thinking

We started tutoring in year 2 and this has made a world of difference for my DD. She needs one on one attention and I can't give it to her (at work all day). I don't understand the reactions here. Tutoring doesn't have to mean hot housing or the kids being worked too hard. It's an hour or two a week during which a child gets a teacher's full attention in a quiet environment.

It's a huge over generalisation to say that kids that are bored are not bright surely.
Exactly bitlost
You can't generalise really. Some children don't do well in huge classes where they never get any individual attention, for example.
I'm afraid there is a lot of time lost in schools with teachers dealing with bad behaviour also.

I'd start with speaking to the school about whether the work is too easy. My Dd is in Y2 and has the label of "high achiever" (not sure if "high ability" has been superseded or if it is school thing or whatever). I've twice very politely spoken to the school about her work. (Once in Y1 about reading, just recently about maths.) Both times school was fine about it, looked at the situation, said what they would do, did it and said to speak again if I still had concerns.

That's great delphine and if only all parents were like this.
But unfortunately they aren't.
I go to plenty of people who never read to their kids or indeed have a book in the house. I take them with me. I don't get this either to be honest. Libraries are free and books can be picked up for pennies in charity shops. You would be surprised what I witness.

delphine ee are already doing all those things (other than playing an instrument, but she has been on the waiting list and is due to start in a couple of weeks now).

I'm just wondering how to ensure she reaches her potential, and most here have said that what we are doing is sufficient, and we are reassured by that.

We are in a similar situation. DS1 is in Year 2 and often says maths at school is easy. The average ability at the school is low and the recent SATs results were poor. I have been tutoring a friend's Yr6 child in maths who is allegedly top group and she is very poor compared to expectations e.g. poor knowledge of times tables, struggles to do past SATs papers (e.g. gets 6/30 on the 2nd time of doing a past paper). I have discussed my concerns with the school but they insist the standard of maths teaching is not poor... so I have given up with further discussion. The KS1 teacher is good but not so confident about the KS2 teachers.
There is no grammar where we live and the state secondary is not very good. We hope to move the DCs to private school at 11. But are also concerned they will be too far behind to pass the exam at 11+.
DH wants DC to start tutoring now in Yr 2!! We do some fun maths games and a little writing but its a hard sell as she knows no one else is doing homework.
Its more than a 40 min drive to a more academic primary.
I'm finding it all a bit of a nightmare.
I know there are loads of people who will say its too much too soon - let them do messy play all day but I don't agree with this. I don't think such young children should need tutoring if you go to a decent school but I don't think ours is able to teach such a wide range of abilities simultaneously. They are just trying to get everyone over the target hurdle.

I've found out from my reception class son this week that he is being sent to year 1 to do phonics with them. He was a non reader when he started school and is picking up reading fast.
His maths skills also seem to be advancing and half the time I'm not even sure where is picking things up as school is doing one more atm and he seems to have picked up half of/double of.
But on the flip side we have some issues with his writing due to some physical development issues.

Yes, there are different situations. Some DC go to a very good school, teacher has done enough to simulate and challenge each individual DC.Some DC has well educated and not busy parents and their parents has time to educate DC and hide the education in playing , they may not call it tutoring, but it is the same effects. That's why I don't like some general advices given on mumsnet here.

Our school is another in a deprived area and starting points are very low as is parent participation.
The sats marks are very good though as are the year one phonics results too as school has high expectations and are on the ball.
It also helps that DS' teacher really like the fact that he does challenge her and I think she encourages it. I dread it if he gets a teacher in future who does like that he is a knowledge seeker, always asking questions.

I found your comments really useful. My daughter is also in Y1 in a very standard state school but unlike the original post, she does not find the work easy but challanging. I came across the post and your comment because I was considering whether she might benefit from additional tutoring support. I have decided that this may put her off even more and will focus on your suggestion that we try harder to incorporate more learning into more every day activities. Really appreciate reading your comment.

for future reference. We removed our son from school in summer 2019 and now home Ed.