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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Worried about my child’s new school

45 replies

FranD1 · 27/10/2017 16:08

I am worried about my child’s new school. He started reception in September and since then he has been given no homework at all except to be sent home with a couple of reading books. I also get next to no information as to how he is getting on, no reports and only a hurried 10 minutes at parents evening which was very general. My friends whose children are at other schools say their children were given homework from the first week, they have apps or emailed reports telling them what their children have been up to, but my child’s school has none of these. Should I be worried?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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dazedandconfused12 · 27/10/2017 22:25

We just get reading too (in reception) and I would regard that as 'normal' and tbh 'adequate'. However I agree with OP on the communication front. We have a 10mins parents evening and a class news page online which we can log into. Last year DS1 (yr3) there were 2 news updates all academic year. I found it disappointing. It may well be that the teacher is doing a great job but it would be good to be better informed. I find the 10mins parents evenings inadequate, fraught aND full of surprises bease you hAve no iDea in adVance what your chold is up to or had aNY fed back on how they doing so its all condensed into 10mins. I asked if I could have extra time this time and come an a separate 'evening' but have been told by the HT if I need to make an appt it can be made during the school day (I also work) and they will find cover for the teacher... WTF I only want 15 or 20mins per child not an hour and a half!

AssassinatedBeauty · 27/10/2017 22:30

We've had a couple of parents information meetings, a couple of open afternoons (half an hour or so where you can look at your child's work in the classroom) and we get a KS1 newsletter each 1/2 term. We've got a parents evening appointment in the next few weeks too. Have you had any of those so far? If not I'd be a bit disappointed by the level of communication.

OnlyGlowingSlightly · 28/10/2017 00:08

Lowdoorinthewal1 - why do you ask the OP whether she lives in Guildford or Cambridge? Are those places known for a particular type of school, or a particular type of parent?

Norestformrz · 28/10/2017 06:07

“he has been given no homework at all except to be sent home with a couple of reading books” can he read already?

somewhereovertherain · 28/10/2017 06:40

Fuck me the poor sod is only 4. Give the school chance I’d be annoyed if my kid was getting homework other than reading books.

You need to relax and let him enjoy school before the real work starts

Also ignore ofsed biggest load of bollocks out there a local school to us got put into special messaures cause it didn’t have a big enough fence round it.

Fia256 · 28/10/2017 07:10

My DD started school this year too. Her school has been rated outstanding by ofsted every time they are inspected, and people will rent houses in the area around the time to apply as it’s difficult to get in as it’s so popular.

She has yet to have any homework sent home and has only started on reading books with words in them this week. Am I worried? Not at all.

My DS is 2 years above her and I do remember feeling your concerns when he started as all children I knew of at different schools were already reading and doing lots of home work. Fast forward two years and I know he’s a good 4 stages higher with reading than a friend who’s child seemed to be reading straight away. And reading does not come easy to my ds.

I know this probably all sounds like I’m just bragging about our school and ds achievements but all I’m trying to prove is don’t worry about what other children in other schools are doing. The worst you can do is compare what your dc is doing with others in reception. Throwing them straight into it doesn’t mean that’s the best way, even though it might come across that they are learning more.

2ndSopranos · 28/10/2017 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MidniteScribbler · 28/10/2017 09:28

A lot of parents struggle when their child transitions from child care to school. Whilst I don't teach the first year of school anymore (was called Prep, now called Foundation in Australia), I did for quite a few years, and so many parents wanted to know all the individual aspects of the day ("What did he eat for lunch?" - whatever you put in the lunchbox. "Did he put his hat on when he went out to play?" - well he wasn't sent back in to get it, so I guess so.) which they are used to getting from child care, but not so usual for school. I sometimes think that 'no news is good news' when it comes to school, as it means that everything is going smoothly and there are no concerns the teacher needs to raise with you.

As for homework, I don't personally agree with it, especially in early years of school (as does my principal which is why no one has it, other than reading books, until year 5). Remember, these are still very young children, and they are going to be tired after school. Take them to the park, take them swimming, let them play with their toys, just let them relax outside of school. But keep reading. Reading is all that I care about you doing at home.

MsJuniper · 28/10/2017 09:42

My DS started reception in September and we’ve had no homework or reading books. We do have Tapestry though and regular parent newsletters with info on what the children are learning (eg phonics sounds) and how we can support them.

I believe Tapestry is quite cheap (£40ish?) so you could suggest it to them or even offer to donate, but it may be that they are doing things differently and don’t want to change that. If they are a small school then resources/time may be stretched even further (DS’s is 3 form so they pool resources).

Perhaps the best approach is to ask the teacher when would be a good time for a quick chat, then ask them how you will be getting updates across the year (rather than complaining). It might be that they hold back for the first half term or term so that you’re not bombarded and your child can settle in.

BackforGood · 28/10/2017 14:34

I asked if I could have extra time this time and come an a separate 'evening' but have been told by the HT if I need to make an appt it can be made during the school day (I also work) and they will find cover for the teacher... WTF I only want 15 or 20mins per child not an hour and a half!

Yup, but that 20mins will easily turn into 1/2 hour, then obviously if they do that for you then they would need to offer it to all other parents, which become 15hours on top of the 60 hours a week the teacher is already working. (Before you get to those separated parents who feel each parent has the right to see the teacher separately too). Oddly, that teacher might also want to get to see their own family at some point in the week.

user789653241 · 28/10/2017 15:06

BackforGood, totally true.
I think we parents tend to forget that teachers are human and they have their life/family.

MidniteScribbler · 28/10/2017 22:12

And the teacher works too. And has a family, and all the other commitments in their life. Because you 'work' you are expecting the teacher to stay back after hours, possibly find someone else to pick up their child, and then you'll yammer on for two hours while the teacher tries to look at their watch and give you a hint. Don't you realise that you just want another 20 minutes per child (which we all know turns into an hour +) then everyone else does too.

Most parents who need a chat will drop in after the bell and discuss what they need to discuss. Or if they really can't take that time off work, they'll send an email. I've never actually heard of a HT offering to find cover for a teacher to hold a chat with a parent outside of safeguarding or student support meetings, so I suspect your card has already been marked by the school and they have you down as a parent who can't meet with the teacher without someone from leadership there as a witness.

Oliversmumsarmy · 28/10/2017 22:23

One of them mentioned her son got sent home with handwriting practice, another had to do some sort of project

So they haven't done any reading yet are doing hand writing practice and who is doing this project. The 4 year old or the parent.

Some schools give the most ludicrous homework which I swear is not meant for the child but the parent.

2ndSopranos · 28/10/2017 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MotherofA · 28/10/2017 22:53

I would be worried and pissed off if my little 4 year old had homework . Enjoy it while you can , it flies by !

dazedandconfused12 · 29/10/2017 08:19

Midnight scribbler the HT isn't saying she will join for the meeting as well?!. Lordy if teachers can't meet parents 1:1 no wonder it takes so many resources. We only get parents evening twice a year, only 50% of parents turn up and we have 15-20 kids in a class. I don't see an extra 5 min as an unreasonable request. My husband has a profound speech impediment and in the past we have had to book double Gp Apts and I have gone with him just so he can get through 1 issue in the double app time. I think it's judgy to suggest 15 mins will turn into 1 hour and for some reason I am marked as someone who cannot meet with the teacher on their own without the HT?!

user789653241 · 29/10/2017 09:03

No I don't think midnight is being judgy. Expecting to meet teacher after hours because it's convenient for you is unreasonable. If it involve something to do with your child, you should be the one making adjustment/ compromise. Not a teacher who may have their own life.

user789653241 · 29/10/2017 09:07

At least they didn't say you cannot have extra time. They asked you to come in during their working time. I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

Gileswithachainsaw · 29/10/2017 09:10

Homework doesn't really help kids at that age. Most teachers don't even supoort homework for infants besides reading.
It is set not because of the fact it is useful for the child it is set because parents for some reason want it.

All these projects are a waste of time the parents have clearly helped I'd not done it for them. It's not a learning activity for the kids it's a competition for parents to try and out do eachother.

MiaowTheCat · 29/10/2017 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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