DS has regressed completely in Y5 - what else to do?

[christinarossetti19]

Ds has been at the same primary school since nursery. He's summer born and left-handed, so I knew his handwriting etc would take time to develop. He's always finished the year either meeting or exceeding expectations, and got exceeding in Reading, and expected in writing and maths in Y1 SATS.

All fine.

His report at Easter said that he was 'working towards' in everything. I arranged a meeting with the phase leader, who said that he needed help in maths but English fine. I asked for a bit more detail and she looked shocked as she went through the data on the computer. He was way, way behind 'expected' in English and Maths. She said that he can go to booster classes in Y6; I kept trying to bring the conversation to what was happening in the six hours a day that he was at school and what I could do to help, but we didn't really go anywhere. Ds does music four nights a week after school, and I really can't see the benefit of him missing this to spend more time in the classroom, if six hours a day in the classroom isn't working.

Next, I met with his class teacher who said he was 'just behind' where he should be. I fed back that ds said the classroom was noisy, although she disagreed. Ds does sometimes have problems focusing and concentrating - I agree with this, but he's always been like that and never failed at school before.

I said that I would help him at home with maths, which I have been doing. My (non-expert) opinion, is that he immediately thinks that he can't do it, but with encouragement, is able to.

Ds came home with his books from Y5 yesterday and they are shocking. He has hardly done anything, and everything is worse than it was this time last year.

I am shocked at how badly he has been doing, with nothing put in place to help him. Also, I don't understand why this has suddenly happened. I know that children don't progress in a linear fashion, but regression isn't usual, is it?

I'm expecting his report to be very different to the previous 5 that he's had from the school. There is a quick 5 mins parents evening on Thursday. I don't feel that I can just leave this over the summer - he has one more year left at primary and it feels like the school is just leaving him to fail. I don't know why as they're quite keen on their SATS results!

What do I do? Look at other schools? Pay to see an ed psych privately in case he does have ADHD or something? Work with him over the summer and hope for the best?

I'm honestly at a loss - all advice or suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

He hasn't broken up yet? Friday?
But you haven't had his actual report yet?
I had Ds1 and Ds2 report, on Friday. When are yours due?

I suggest acting now. You've got 2 days. An email today?

You've had good advice already on this thread. No report should come as a shock.

Thanks oblomov. Yes I have a paper trail with the school but given that he's only got one more year there, I think my focus will be on close contact with his Y6 teachers and pursuing an ed psych assessment privately.

I received his report yesterday (see my previous post). Secure in writing, reading and science and not meeting expectations in maths.

Better than I was expecting tbh, but 'exceeding' to 'not meeting' in a year is a bit of a concern!

They break up next Tuesday. There's nothing to be gained now, so I will support him over the summer and pursue ed psych assessment in the autumn when services are back.

I still think an email now wouldn't do any harm.
Get your feelings, points on paper, let them chew the fat over the summer months.

Ask them what they are going to put into place/ how they are going to address it? To correct the dip?

Email the y6 teacher and cc in the Senco, and year 5 teacher?

What have you got to lose?

The diagnosis is irrelevant in a way. Unless your child is so severe that require the old fashioned 'being statemented', having or not having a diagnosis doesn't make that much difference for most SN children.

It all comes down to attitude - do the school care or could they really not give a shit?

Do they care that you are unhappy? do they care that your child is struggling? and some very easy to put in place things could be done that would cost literally no money - all you really want is just a bit of care attention and help some support some extra this and that.

could all easily been given at minimal cost.

This is what happens to most SN mums. You question why these free basic things aren't done?

If you wait over the 6 weeks holiday then things may ( might) start to happen in 6 weeks. If you can get on waiting lists now then your child might get seen by someone next term?

I’m only saying this because we’ve just done something similar for DD. She’s just gone on a waiting list to see a specialist through school. We were told there is an 8 week back log so now she’s in the system she should (hopefully) see someone in the beginning of next term.

I also think it’s worth while letting everyone at school know the issues, what you’ll be doing, and what you’d like from them. Can you imagine the Y6 teacher having to get up to speed in September? At least they can realise there’s an issue and they won’t have a surprise?

I’ve been told that lots of children are struggling mentally or academically in Y5 with the new curriculum. It seems y5 and y6 content is taught in y5 and they go over it again in Y6. So they’re getting work at age 9 that would have been in the Y8 curriculum? That might not be true but I’m using it as a comfort.

to be honest if you can pay privately then I would go privately, I would also get the ball rolling now as when schools go back in September they will start a huge number of referrals, always happens in the autumn. Remember you don't actually have to know what the problem is due to to get your child seen, you only have symptoms at the moment and they may or may not add up to different things, YOU aren't expected to know what it is. will PM you

Go and see your GP and ask for a Paed referral. Do it now.

I’d get a tutor ASAP a couple of times a week over Summer to boost confidence - I’d not stop my child from doing something after school he loves - Booster groups should always be run in school time - I take kids out of maths for example for a maths booster group.

I’d also get a really good Educational Psychologist assessment done and perhaps a private paediatrician appointment to look at areas to support his lack of focus - could be mild adhd perhaps - my dn always looks like she’s working to task, but is often daydreaming so hasn’t listened to instructions

Thanks all. I did contact a few local private ed psychs today. They're closing for the summer now, and all booked up until November time.

I will see his class teacher tomorrow and ask her 'how far' behind ds is. I'll also catch the SENCO, tell her my concerns and plans, and see if it makes sense to her.

I'm a bit reluctant to go down a tutor path until we've either ruled out any SEND or had it confirmed. If there's something affecting his concentration and focus that he can't help or change by himself, then I'm worried that straightforward tutoring will just reinforce his low confidence.

I will do some maths work with him over the summer though. I was looking through his assessment papers today (there's a new head in the school who seems very hot on them...) and he starts well then just stops, whether because he comes up against something that he can't do and gets anxious or whether because of something else is the question, I suppose.

It is notable that he often 'loses focus' doing quite simple sums eg starts adding halfway through a multiplication sum, but then on the next page does something quite hard in his head.

I'm feeling quite positive about an ed psych assessment (yes, we will have to go privately and yes it's expensive!) as just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best as he goes into Y6 doesn't sit well.

Thanks once again. This thread has helped me clarify things in my own mind.

If he does music four nights a week I imagine he is having to concentrate for that? I’m not a musician, but I’m guessing he does theory and practice? Would you, or he, have any idea why he can focus on music but doing so at school is difficult? Is it surroundings, time, other people, enjoyment? Maybe worth a thought?

Mover, that could be a sign of ADHD - they can often hyper-focus on their interests. My ds for example could spend 8 hours straight on a Lego set at the age of 6/7 but couldn’t seem to focus in class at all (still can’t!).

When you see the teacher, OP, ask what it is DS cannot do. Most y5 maths will be building blocks for y6 so are there specific issues with what he understands that are preventing him from progressing? Eg he’s not secure with tables so will struggle with factors? I would want more of a detailed analysis not a general conversation about how far behind he is. You need detail. Then you can plan what to do over the summer and make sure you get a copy of the y5 maths curriculum too so you and the school are singing from the same hymn sheet.

I think the school has been lazy. I’m surprised because his lack of progress must have put him in an assessment “red zone” which should have alerted the school to do a lot more and involve you! Waiting for y6 isn’t good enough. Many schools assess at half term in the Autumn term and again before Christmas. I would think there was cause for concern then. What homework did he have? What consolidation work was being done at home? I think you should expect some and not think all learning will be done in school.

I would ask if he could miss some other lesson to do booster maths. Are they setting for y6? Where would he be best placed if they do? Some schools will run maths booster classes for, say, the “red zone” DC but during school time. I cannot understand why the school hadn’t tried to address this earlier but it also shouts “crap maths teaching” to me. Sorry if that’s blunt but it’s a common problem.

Have you seen the maths coordinator? Many schools struggle to get all teachers to be good at teaching maths and changes of teachers can be disastrous. I hope his new teacher will be stable and better. Over the holidays the y6 teacher should be planning for teaching the new y6 children based on their previous learning. When they arrive, they are not arriving as new children. They have been through this school and there is a wealth of knowledge about them and there should be handover meetings too where teachers discuss what DC can do and where they need more help. Let’s hope your DS has a better year.

Thanks. Yes, his class has had a terrible year with teacher changes. I shift between thinking maybe that's the reason to maybe there's something else going on. Or both.

I don't understand why the school let him drop from 'exceeding' to 'not meeting' over the course of a year and didn't put anything in place to help him. I did have two meetings and sent several emails about it. There was a change of head earlier this year, and it does seem to be all about 'booster groups' in Y6 rather than intervention when it's needed.

It's quite difficult to get a precise idea of what he can and can't do, as some days he can do things and some days he can't. Although difficult to see, it's been useful that all his assessments have been sent home (they cover the Y5 curriculum) so we can work through what he hasn't/can't do over the summer.

Music - he doesn't do intensive theory no. He sings in two choirs, has a violin lesson, plays in strings and steel pans ensembles. I sit in on his violin lesson and he often chats away nervously for a bit, then focuses. I've noticed what I've seen in his books eg he has to go through Every Good Boy... to work out the notes, but then works out by himself something quite complex.

Thanks again for your thoughts. I do feel clearer than I need to book an ed psych appt for asap in the autumn term, realistically November time and go from there. Also support over the summer. His Y6 teacher will be new to the school, although has been teaching Y6 in another local school.