Would you get a tutor for a 5 year old?

[Marmaladetea]

Just that really. DD has missed a lot of school due to health issues (in Y1) and school have not been helpful in giving guidance on how to catch up. Her last report (end of Feb) said she was working towards standard in all areas. She reads ORT stage 5 at school and 6 at home, writing is a struggle but she tries really hard, although she feels quite negative about school as she has really lost confidence. She's such a bright little button with great general knowledge and conversation skills. It's just so sad to see her struggle and I worry about her moving in to Y2. I'm really in a quandary about what to do, Explore Learning? Tutor? Kumon? Leave the poor child alone?! Any advice very much appreciated. Thank you.

Never kumon!! Or anything similar. A tutor is ok but maybe it's too much work at the end of the day? My class are year 2 and I know they are knackered by the end of the day.
Are school not willing to give some sort of end of year expectations? Then you can do your own fun stuff at home knowing which objectives to work towards?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/335186/PRIMARYYnationalcurriculumm-Englishh_220714.pdf

This document tells you end of year expectations for English but then you
Need to work out which ones you think she is already achieving/working towards etc

I wouldn’t. She has plenty of time.

Spend time together, build things into activities you do with her. She isn’t falling behind anything, she’s 5.

I wouldn’t worry. Let her enjoy what she’s doing.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/335158/PRIMARYYnationalcurriculumm-Mathematicss_220714.pdf

This one is maths, but again you will need to work out where your child is.

I'm surprised the school aren't more helpful.

There are phonics games on phonics play, or teach your monster to read app if they need help with phonics.

Personally I hate all the ‘age related expectations’. She’s in infants, not high school.

So do I, however as sats are looming, I know what is expected!!

SATS? Why are you even worrying about them?

Thanks all for the reality check. Yes I do worry it would be too much at the end of the day, she gets so tired. I just worry no one (other than me and DH) is really supporting her and that by not helping her I am setting her up to fail in Y2 as well.

Listen to yourself.

I mean it kindly. ‘Setting her up to fail’. You aren’t.

My youngest (I have 4 DC and am a governor of a primary school) is sitting SATs in Year 6. I couldn’t be more hands off. I am more than aware of the impact of SATS but I will not use them as a measure for my child as an individual.

Everyone hates SATS. They set up some children to fail. Teachers hate them, HTs, they cause so many problems, especially of children have individual learning needs.

Don’t listen to playground waffle either. If other parents are getting their knickers in a twist over these tests, walk away.

Thanks for the resources Wonderstar. What's your view of ORT stage 6 for a Summer born Y1? (I hate myself for asking).

I'm worried because I'm in Year 2 and have performance based targets dependent on their results...

Hopefully the school can give you info on what they need help on, if not, read lots! It's nice to see kids who have a love of reading.

Thank you Ohforfoxsakereturns. I am just really worried about her. She loves learning and is an information junkie but is so negative about school - I think because she has missed so much she feels rubbish about herself. I couldn't give a fig about phonics tests or SATs but I'm crazily concerned about her self esteem and whether she will just switch off or never be able to catch up. Apologies if I sound mad.

Could you set out to do an hour of learning most days in the summer holidays? Might help fill gaps

By this she's spot on for reading! Roughly how we work it out at our school

Totally get it wonderstar, I understand too what she will need to do by end of Y2. Thank you.

It is ok to give her a bit of help little & often if you are worried. I think you will be able to do lots of fun things that help if you can understand why writing is a struggle.

If she has trouble forming letters then I'd encourage her to have fun doing lots of things that really improve fine motor like finger painting, play dough, drawing silly pictures or wiggly lines etc in the bath with bath crayons etc.

If it is more about knowing words or being able to write a sentence you could do different games that help putting words in the right order or twenty questions that help her order her thinking.

Best of all, reading lots of books to children always helps them learn and talking all about them - did you like the character, what happened next, how would you change it etc.

But please remember that at 5 they have time to catch up - no pressure & there is really no point if they are tired or disinterested- it's only worth doing at that age if they are enjoying themselves.

Really? Spot on? I thought she was miles behind! I have no idea what her classmates are on so that is good news. Thank you.

Needtomakeachange thank you. I've been doing little and often but was worried it wasn't enough and she would always be running along behind. She can write big brilliant wobbly sentences.... very slowly.

In which case, you sound like you're doing a great job. Keep supporting her and praising her brilliant sentences. A bit of fine motor play will probably help her writing speed up but I wouldn't be overly worried.

Thank you. You've all been very kind and patient.

My ds was only on band 3, maybe 4 in y1. I had a right old panic about it. He took off in Y2 and was reading chapter books suddenly.

Just use the holidays to keep things moving and she'll be fine.

As a primary school teacher and private tutor - no! Relax you're doing a great job and she has loads of time to catch up on any struggle areas. Have fun with stuff at home, I was once asked to tutor a 6 yo and it's too much for them, it's not fair and they start to resent education. She's doing fine!

Yes marmalade tea, spot on! By the end of year of reading a 6 at school she's just where she needs to be. Don't stress.
Also there's a whole term to go!

That is such a relief. Thanks wonderstar and gg5891. Will focus on little and often, fun and building confidence. Maybe we'll try some project work or a scrap book to base all these lovely ideas around. Thank you.

I am setting her up to fail in Y2 as well.

She hasn't failed anything, and her reading and writing sound fine to me.

How is school, socially for her - do you think she might have missed out on building up friendships due to time off?

When she is negative about school - which bits?

Maybe focus on some playdates and meeting school friends at the park, so she can look forward to those when she is at school with them.

Also, what does she like doing - art and craft? Reading (or being read too)? Sporty stuff? Make believe? Hoarding shopkins?! Maybe build some stuff around those things, and it will be fun, rather than a chore.

I’ve got a winter born year 1 and he’s on reading level 4 and has missed no school.

Setting them up to fail?! Maybe it’s that school don’t think she needs to catch up, that she’s doing just fine, that she’s a 6 year old who has been ill and letting her recover properly is the only thing that matters. Maybe you need to settle down a bit.