Reception Reading/ Numeracy Expectations

[OlafCarrotNose]

My DS is in reception and we've been told by his teacher he's struggling in certain areas of numeracy/ reading compared to the rest of his cohort.

But he can:
Count to 100
Double numbers 1-10
Count in 2s, 5s and 10s
Knows 2D and some 3D shapes
Repeat patterns
Do one more than or one less than numbers 1-20
Do basic sums on his fingers and write the equation (1+3=4) etc

This seems to be broadly in line with what's expected at this age, doesn't it? I don't want to push him when I don't need to. He hates doing anything school like at home. And I know he'd hate even the "games" that have been suggested.

I can see that he may be behind in reading. He can blend simple words like cat, bin, pin, Sam, dip, mat etc and recognise some tricky words like "they" or "said" but nothing beyond that. He does enjoy looking at words and sounds so maybe I could at that with him. But what kind of thing should I be going over?

[Mammyofonlyone]

Sorry I didn't have time to read all the posts but I wanted to post to share my experience and hopefully give a little reassurance. From what you describe re: numeracy, I'd say that is really good (based on my limited experience). My daughter is not five for some months and sounds like she is on a par numerically. She is one of the furthest ahead in her year (I'm not saying brightest because I don't think the two things go hand in hand) at a small, well resourced, independent school (if that affects your opinion).
Try not to worry, he sounds like he's doing very well. Maybe ask for specifics of what others can do but that he cannot?
HTH

[brilliotic]

Hi Olaf,

with the maths stuff, it definitely sounds as if the teacher is trying to stretch/challenge your child. Contrast that to my DS, whose teacher said to us at about this point in YR 'Well he can do all he needs to be able to do by end of YR, so (she used different words for the following) I won't be teaching him anything for the rest of the school year'.

And indeed, he spent most of YR playing with dinosaurs. (Which I wasn't too upset about, tbh, as I feel strongly that even if a child is capable of learning more&faster, it isn't necessary in the child's best interest to do so, though I would not stop/hinder a child from progressing either, obviously.) He left YR at pretty much the same level as he entered it, in maths.

I get the impression that you feel somewhat similary.

Still it is probably preferable that the teacher does challenge/stretch your child, compared to what our teacher did. But that is enough; you do not need to further work your child at home. If I were you I would continue doing exactly what you have been doing so far - clearly, your child has been learning a lot and is way ahead of where they need to be, so whatever you've been doing (e.g. allowing him lots of free time outside of school) has been working well.

[user789653241]

If he is not 5 for another 6 months and doing all that, I think he is definitely one of the brightest. He will progress anyway with his own pace. Maybe teacher is keen to stretch able children, which I think is a great thing. (Have you seen so many threads about how dc's are under challenged by many posters?)
You don't have to pressure him to do anything, but you can incorporate a lot of practical maths into everyday life. With reading, just enjoying the books together should be enough, imo.

[OlafCarrotNose]

The school knows what he can do. The teacher gave me the list on the first post of where he's at. I'm just upset that they want even more from him. He's not even 5 for another 6 months!

[OlafCarrotNose]

Peng I guess I don't care that/ if he's ahead of his peers. 4 is tiny. I don't understand the pressure. He is bright. Questions how everything works. Loves doing science experiments at home etc. I'd rather spend time having fun with him than trying to turn him into a "bright" child. If he's bright that will shine through without me or anyone else forcing it.

[Sleephead1]

Op has he just started In September ? I think he can do loads I can't believe that would be classed as behind! It's awful this pressure to put on little ones and familys I mean he's been at school a couple of months. I honestly wouldn't worry about what he can do at all. But I would be concerned about the pushyness of the school.

[Jafinar]

I think eithe the school sound pushy or he isn't demonstrating what he knows at school. Some kids really only show knowledge at home. Personally I get the impression it's a pushy school though?

[Froggyonaplate]

The maths stuff she's asking you to do is past Reception requirements but from what you said earlier about groups/sets it sounds like they have a group that they're really pushing to get exceeding(or to move on to year 1 work) and he's in the group but only just if that makes sense? So he may get moved down a group but be more comfortable there.
Reading, if he reads daily then I can't see the point in stressing over fluency.,, it'll come!
I'm not a fan of homework at such a young age... We'll end up with a generation of stress heads. Your ds sounds fine!

(NC, formerly Scarlett)

[thepatchworkcat]

What you’re saying about reading matches up with where I think my DS is. He’s bright and articulate but I’ve never pushed him in any way and we just read what school sends home with no pressure. I don’t want to put him off.

As for number, it sounds like your DS is way ahead really. I am a primary teacher but KS2 so I’ll admit that I’m no expert on foundation stage though. I don’t think you need to worry.

[QueQueQue]

The aims for end of reception according to the EYFS (curriculum for up to reception age) for numeracy are:

• Recognise some numerals of personal significance.
• Recognises numerals 1 to 5.
• Counts up to three or four objects by saying one number name for each item.
• Counts actions or objects which cannot be moved.
• Counts objects to 10, and beginning to count beyond 10.
• Counts out up to six objects from a larger group.
• Selects the correct numeral to represent 1 to 5, then 1 to 10 objects.
• Counts an irregular arrangement of up to ten objects.
• Estimates how many objects they can see and checks by counting them.
• Uses the language of ‘more’ and ‘fewer’ to compare two sets of objects.
• Finds the total number of items in two groups by counting all of them.
• Says the number that is one more than a given number.
• Finds one more or one less from a group of up to five objects, then ten objects.
• In practical activities and discussion, beginning to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting.
• Records, using marks that they can interpret and explain.
• Begins to identify own mathematical problems based on own interests and fascinations

Taken from www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2012/03/Early_Years_Outcomes.pdf

[OlafCarrotNose]

I know I sound awful, but I didn't list what had been asked because if he's ok based on what he can do I don't want to do the work. More and more I'm thinking this school is just a bad fit for our family.

[OlafCarrotNose]

The maths stuff was building on what he can already do. number bonds up to 20. (He can do up to 10 at the moment). Doing 2 more than and 2 less than any given number up to 20. Adding values of coins together. (He knows what 2p, 5p and 10p are but show him 2 10ps and he will see 2 10s rather than 20p).

With reading it was just to read his school book every day, which we do already, so that he isn't sounding out familiar words like "the" rather than just saying them. I think he quite likes blending! Also to practice phonic sounds he hasn't got the hand of yet "oa" and "oo". It just seems too much to me. To be fair she did say just a few minutes a day. But I don't want to be pushy when I don't think he needs it.

[thepatchworkcat]

Doubling and counting in 2s, 5s and 10s...? Really?!? That sounds more advanced than Reception to me!....

[thepatchworkcat]

I don’t think that sounds behind at all either. I don’t think my Reception DS can do all of those things and I consider him to be pretty bright.

[helterskelter99]

Jesus mine started reception in sept can’t do anything on your list and is apparently doing fine !

[Scarlettpimpersmell]

Is oddly vague, given that you were offered resources and therefore you must know what the issue is, yet you're listing all his skills but not saying what the teacher has said he struggles with. So, my best guess is that all the skills you have mentioned seem to be rote/memory skills. Were the resources based around understanding and using eg ordering numbers, matching numbers to sets, sorting shapes according to different criteria?

[Scarlettpimpersmell]

I'm not trying to be harsh, sorry. I'd like to be more helpful as I'm a teacher and have a reception aged child but your post I

[OlafCarrotNose]

Harsh Scarlett. When the teacher said he needed help to stay in line with his group it threw me, because I assumed he was fine. I asked here because I wanted to make sure that my assumption he's broadly working to age related expectations is correct. As it is I know I don't need to be overly concerned. The school has quite a pushy/ overachiever culture. I will ask but know I will probably just be told he needs to do the activities to stretch himself. I'm not interested in making him do extra work. As long as he's where he should be for a 4 year old, I'm happy with that.

I don't mean I do nothing with him outside of school either. We do plenty of reading together etc but that's enough for us.

[Scarlettpimpersmell]

But if the teacher said he was struggling, needed some extra work and offered resources then you must know what areas he's struggling with, surely??? What sort of resources were you offered? Your ds is definitely doing fine in terms of the learning goals so assuming you didn't understand what the teacher was telling/showing you. Go back and ask for clarification and stop inviting guesses from strangers on the Internet.

[user789653241]

I can't say it's average or below, since I don't know your dc and your dc's class/school.
But according to this, pink to yellow is expected level for reception.
www.readingchest.co.uk/book-bands
So, I wouldn't worry about his level now, but if it was me, I would take on board the suggestion from the teacher and do keep reading with him, but without stress.
One of my ds's friend had no interest in reading and his mum was so worried in reception. He is one of best reader in his class now in yr5.
It's not a race, what's more important at reception age is to learn to love to read. Don't compare with others. Just make reading fun for him, that's what's important at this age, imo.

[OlafCarrotNose]

Thanks Irvine, so would you say his reading is average or below? If he's genuinely falling behind then I'll make sure we are using the resources provided. If he's ok I can stress less. He's one of the youngest in the class if that makes a difference

[user789653241]

Reading may not be as advanced as maths, but children click at reading different times.
My ds is a lot older, but there was quite a gap in reading levels in reception, not so much in yr3.
As long as read with him regularly, he will progress with his own pace, and it's only beginning of his second term. I wouldn't worry too much, unless you have doubt about some underlying issues.

[OlafCarrotNose]

Looking at his reading book he's on Oxford book band 1 Pink A. Which I assume is the lowest one?