Questions to ask teacher about child who still working towards age related expectations

[ScoutFinchMockingbird]

DS had his report last week and is still working towards age related expectations in both Maths and English (not reading) for KS1.

By now, I had expected him to be meeting them in Maths at least (he was this time last year). Admittedly his written work is poor due to hypermobility, but we and the school are working on that.

Targets in Maths are to know tables more consistently (just started working with him on this, as I had thought they were only expected to be able to chant them, rather than know 7x5=35 immediately IYSWIM) and to do more word related problems.

Questions I want to ask are:

1. Are you expecting DS to meet age related expectations by year end?
2. Is there anything more we can do at home to help him reach them?
3. How is he doing in comparison to the rest of the class.

What else would you ask?

I should just add that DS seems happy at school and has lots of people he plays with, though no specific Best friend, so I may ask a question about this too.

Tbh i think some schools will list them as this at this time of the year so that it looks like they make progress in last months.

Is your DS in Y2?

I think your first two questions are spot on.

I can understand you wanting to know how he’s doing against the class, but it shouldn’t really matter, and the teacher may not tell you. The thing to ask about is how much progress he has made since last year.

Yes. He's in Year 2. Should have said. Sorry. Good question LetItGoToRuin

I would ask about what progress he has made and how the school judge this. Your first two questions are fine. What he needs to improve is a key bit of information. Children don’t progress at the same rate so he could be finding parts of the y2 curriculum more of a challenge.

I’m afraid that most schools won’t rank your child against others and give that information to you. The progress of others is not your concern. It won’t affect your child, so I wouldn’t ask. If all the others are making stonking progress, would you be happy? Ditto if you were told they are all not meeting expected attainment.

Try and stick to your child and focus on his needs.

I agree, you want to know how much progress he has made. Don't compare him to the rest of the class.
If child A scored 55/70 on a test in Autumn then 60/70 in Spring they have not made as much progress as child B who scored 20/70 then 40/70.

Is the gap between where he is and where he should be according to ARE getting bigger, smaller or saying the same?

Does the teacher think that he is currently working to his potential?

Is he receiving any extra help or support to help him to reach ARE?

Does the teacher think there is any particular reason why he is not meeting ARE? Additional needs/ difficulties in a particular area?

I would refuse to discuss where he is in comparison with the class with you, but you can discuss where he is in regards to curriculum expectations.

I'd make sure to ask what you can do at home - are there any resources the teacher would recommend?

As he seems happy this wouldn't be a huge concern for me, but I might also ask about his confidence with tasks set for him.

No harm in playing with a general group rather than one particular person. Ask away about it if you like.