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.

Buy her a subscription to reading eggs and math seeds. Computer games that support reading/spelling maths up to about year 3 I think

If you feel she is behind, I would help her at home with basics, few minutes a day for everyday if you can. Read daily, do some maths a bit, encourage her to write sometimes, etc. But it will be enough to catch up academically imo. Yr2 sats are nothing to worry about. Many children who didn't do well on them are thriving now in ks2. What makes big difference later on is to foster the love for learning at young age, rather than worrying about what she can do, where she is at, at the early stage of her school life.

In many countries she wouldn't have started school yet and they catch up so I wouldn't worry - if she's bright and supported she will make progress. The gap between summer and winter borns narrows as they progress though. If you're still worried one thing I would consider ahead of a tutor is whether repeating a year would help, if she's summer born and has missed lots. I think this is quite high risk though as it can send the message that she's failed which is definitely not the case, and if she has friends in her class it could be upsetting. One girl in my dds class did repeat though and is thriving now and much more at home in the year below.

The only thing i would add is that her teacher would want to know about her negativity about School/ self esteem. Often with littlies it takes very little to push their confidence up or bring it down. The report is a good chance for a chat about help for her generally and start of summer term is not too early to start setting up help for next year

If SATs were taken out of the equation would you be as worried?

The best thing we can do for our young children is encourage a love of reading. This stands them in good stead throughout their education.

I agree with everyone who says work on developing relationships and enjoyment in school. Play dates, trips to the park after school, if you able to, go in and help out yourself. She sounds as though she’ll be fine with the academic stuff.

It has been a struggle for her socially. I will try to arrange some playdates, a good idea, thanks.

Busythings might be worth a try too. My ds in year one seems to really enjoy it.

As a primary teacher, I’d say please avoid a tutor at this age. She will catch up at her own pace and if as you say, she’s not too positive about school, then extra school work could turn her off totally. Try not to compare her with others (easier said than done I know!) and just support her as you already sound like you’re doing.Find activities she loves eg baking, as she’s still learning but in a fun way.

AMP Taylor the report was followed by parents eve but the teacher was unable to talk to me about academic progress and wanted to focus on that once she had settled back in. The advice I had was very vague and I did not come away feeling like there was any focus on DDs learning or progress, or to be honest much support for her socially. I'm wondering whether to arrange another meeting asking for more specifics, what has she missed, how can we work together to catch her up etc but the school is not very open door and I am worried about annoying the teacher and it having a further negative impact on DD.

Thanks Lady Penelope... we do love a bit of baking!

Thanks again to everyone for all the ideas and sites. Lots to think about here.

in your situation, I would get a tutor to help. catching up with her peers will also boost her self confidence.

Definitely not. Just read with her, sing with her, talk to her, count things out together when playing/cooking/shopping etc. She'll pick up.

DS2 was very ill for first 8 years of his life and way behind in school. He's absolutely fine now, and near top of the class in his favourite subjects. Just let her get well and enjoy learning.

To be honest I would just carry on doing reading at home, practice forming letters and check she can control the pencil well, do counting and some times tables, make sure you do counting starting from different numbers as well not always from 1 or counting in twos from say 10 instead of 2 if that makes sense. do it when walking up the stairs or walking to school rather than sit down formal "doing maths", relate the maths to every day things and she won't see it as work and it can be more fun. playing number bingo is fun, can do it with maths questions so the number is 8 but on their board they have things like 4+4, 1+3 etc so they have to do the maths question to see if they have the number or not. I think you would be far better off just making sure you carry on all these things over the summer holidays rather than getting a tutor or signing up to anything. lots of children slip back in the summer because they stop doing everything and little and often/regular practice is far more beneficial. And don't worry. there was a child in my eldest's year who missed a lot of time lower down the school when he was seriously ill repeatedly. a few years later he is doing extremely well.

Thank you, some fabulous ideas.