First Reception Report - not met expectations

[CoastalWave]

Just after some reassurance. DS is April born. He's a very reluctant reader but he is managing some simple books. He has a brilliant vocal, great adjectives etc when describing events and he has a fabulous imagination.

I thought his maths was good (no issues when I've sat with him at home)

His report really upset me. It says he's expected on most things but not on literacy or maths, so therefore he hasn't met the level . He's basically been told he's failed - and he's just turned 5.

I'm this close to buying every book under the sun and doing maths and English with him every day of the holiday but my heart tells me I really should just let him enjoy his summer .

It doesn't help that his 7 yr old sister is Greater Depth on everything and had a report to die for. I've done just as much with him as I ever did with her.

Please tell me some reassuring stories of your EYFS child 'failing' who is now doing really well!

He has not failed.
He is an April born so could easily be a few months behind in terms of older pupils who are in reception. The curriculum is quite prescriptive and if the teaching staff have not seen your son do somethings then that is going to count as not being at expected level.
If you feel that he is OK then I would not pay any further attention to the report but wait and see how he performs in year 1, when the teaching will be more structured.
You might want to do a small bit of work during the holidays if and when he wants but I would just let him play

Was there anything in the report which explained the bits he doesn't get?

He hasn’t been told he’s failed.
You have been told. Don’t tell him.

The maths goal is hard and there might just be one or two aspects he couldn’t do.

Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t worry about it and don’t push it at all. Don’t make it a thing.

Einstein was classed as unteachable.

pancake No, I wouldn't dream of telling him. I've told him it's a fabulous report and well done! It's me who's deflated.

Nothing in the report at all that says what specifically he doesn't get.

I was expecting him not to be up to standard on reading and writing but not the maths. His behaviour is good, he has good relationships with his peers and staff, it was a somewhat indifferent report though I felt.

My ds was all over the place in Reception. Found phonics easy at first but cba to put any effort in. He was having far too much fun with his friends to bother about work. He's in KS2 now and happily meeting expectations. He's still more about friends than sitting down and writing but he's doing OK. Lots of nice stuff about his character too.
Reception academic stuff is hard to measure and it should be about fitting in and making friends.

for you OP and a hug. Don't worry! It's honestly not important at that age. My eldest DD had a report for reception that said working below expectation for everything as far as I can recall. Her report for this year in Y1 was amazing. She's at expected levels for everything, is accelerated reading now and going up a level every few weeks and is a maths mentor for others in the class. All children progress at their own speed and it's just a guide at your child's age. My DD is suspected Aspergers, she spoke 11 word sentences (11 words - "Mummy the pussy cat wants to go out now, she probably needs a POO!" said with much relish - the day she was assessed by the health visitor foreeting the two word sentence milestone) so I expected her to excel at school, didn't happen and I panicked but now she's making up for lost time. I just don't think she was ready. Please don't worry. I was ready to have her assessed for diagnosis and given special help etc but it was just time she needed. Encourage your child by making reading or counting fun, they still might not engage but DD1 didn't either. If I read with her she closed the book or wouldn't look at the page. I was free reading at 6 so thought it was something wrong or something I was doing - it's not it's just different children have different paces and interests. If it's the same at first SATs you can discuss it with the teacher but if they think it's a genuine concern they will raise it with you. How was parents evening? That's a better guide in my experience.

Many studies show boys catch up much later than girls and anyway why does it matter that by 5 you must do this or that... he’ll do it in his own time

Did has just finished reception and wasn't graded for literacy and numeracy, there were comments about them but the tradings were about behaviours and socialisation. I've attached with all the personal comments removed

Lwmommy At the end of reception year, providers should give parents a written report which:
• states the child’s attainment against the ELGs
• summarises attainment in all areas of learning
• comments on general progress including the characteristics of effective learning
• explains arrangements for discussing the profile

Your child's school should have fulfilled this legal requirement.

Mummy2017 it's a myth he was actually top of his class in his school report at the end of his first year.

Costalwave did you get a chance to discuss his report? The teacher should be able to tell you specifically what he needs to do in order to meet expectations.

Have a look at the exemplification materials which may help you to understand https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eyfs-profile-exemplication-materials

My dd1's report at the end of reception was so utterly and completely wrong it was like reading another child's report altogether. It was so unlike the child I knew, I ripped it up and threw it in the bin.

The government suggest levels according to a fictional dart board....the teachers are under pressure to get the kids to meet these. I'd prefer an honest account rather than over inflated grades to find out they fall short then at GCSEs. Kids don't progress in a perfect flight path, although the government think they do.....your son may exceed expectations in future years. Most boys are slower then girls in primary school any how. Don't worry. Work a little with him maybe over the summer but make it fun so he doesn't see it as work.

I’m a teacher (Scotland so slightly different) but honestly, I wouldn’t worry! He’s so little & if he was here he’d just be starting school in August and would be one of the older ones.

Quite likely he’s just not quite ready for such formal learning yet (indeed that’s whole other debate.....) and I’ve had lots of children who are closer to 7 before they fully understand phonics, reading etc and quite often it all evens out anyway, the ones excelling early don’t always stay ahead & the ones who needed slightly longer catch up fine.

By all means encourage reading etc but don’t force it. We put so much pressure on children who are so young, there is PLENTY time for reading etc.

I agree that technically the report doesn't meet the requirements @norestformtrz however I can't bring myself to be upset about that. I had 3 full sections of commentary which showed an absolute understanding and knowledge of my child. Much more insightful then a load of grades. I will however ask for those, purely out of curiosity when school goes back.

There is nothing wrong with your child. What's wrong is a system that puts 4 year old children into schools, forces them to read and write at such a young age and then even gives reports.

I'm afraid I'd be questioning why they failed to give a full report. They could have provided a full commentary for all areas not just a select few which would have been much more insightful.

Fluffykins the OPs child is in reception!

Honestly, he’s still so young that it has no reflection on how he’ll develop later on. Just have fun with him, keep encouraging and learning through play. He may just be behind because he’s young I’m his year.

Also, I have serious doubt about the assessment process for young children. Most assessments completely neglect to consider the findings from developmental studies- some children simply won’t perform or oblige with the system at a young age but get classed as ‘behind’.

These links might be useful.

The first link the '40-60 months' band he needs to have met all of those statements before he can be expected in the 17 Early Learning goals. The second and third link is about the ELG's and what is required to be emerging, expected or exceeding.

There is lots you can do at home to help with the areas he hasn't met expected in.

If you tell me roughly where he is behind after you have had a read through the statements I can give you some ideas of things to try to help at home if you would like?

http://www.fulwellinfant.org.uk/downloadable/eyfs/eyfs%2040-60%20months%20curriculum.pdf

http://www.fulwellinfant.org.uk/downloadable/eyfs/early%20learning%20goals%20prime.pdf

http://www.fulwellinfant.org.uk/downloadable/eyfs/early%20learning%20goals%20specific.pdf

I don't think you need to worry but I'll go against the grain and say that I would do a little bit of work over the summer. It's a long summer and 15 minutes maths and reading three times a week won't impact on him enjoying his summer. I'll be doing a little bit here and there with my DS who has just finished reception.

I'd sign up for the library challenge and choose a few reading books there with him. I'd do lots of baking and similar to help a little with simple addition and subtraction, doubling and halving etc.

Haven’t RTFT but wanted to reassure you that my December born DS ended reception in a similar place - he was only meeting the expectations in reading and that was only just, everything else he was below expectations for. He’s now ended year 4 and is exceeding expectations in several areas and won the maths prize this year. Some children just take longer to get school. His school did call me in to discuss his progress and how they were going to help him in year 1, so his report was not a surprise. Have you spoken to your school?

My ds (June born) is emerging in maths, writing and reading. The teacher indicated early on in the year, that he was behind where he should be and put a plan in place. He's worked so hard and I was so disappointed that he didn't meet the expectations, at least in maths. I asked to meet with the teacher to discuss his report. He said that DS had only JUST missed out meeting expectations. He also said how proud he was of DS and how far he had come, in such a short space of time. I think he was surprised how much DS has grasped and picked up, considering how far behind he was. Also that he felt confident that he was ready for year 1. It made me feel so much better and we have another plan in place, to continue to support him. I was bursting with pride after the meeting.

I would say meet with his teacher, but I guess it may be too late for that. I was advised to read, read, read, we have joined the reading scheme at the library.

I guess I wanted you to know, you aren't alone!

Thank you everyone for the kind comments.

I"ve had another look at his report. It gives full breakdown on each area (couple of sentences)..all of which sound great and he's got expected for all of those. But then at the end it just says 'emerging' for all of literacy and maths (the 9, 10, 11 and 12 areas)

At the bottom is the big DID NOT MAKE GOOD PROGRESS

Given that he's got expected for all of the things that are super important - behaviour, taking turns, listening, forming relationships etc I have taken great comfort from this.

I'm genuinely confused as to why he didn't meet expectations for Maths though as I know he can do everything in the 'expected' column.