dd says the work's too easy - should I say anything?

[mimsum]

dd(just turned 5) has been in reception since Sept - she was happy enough until half term but since they've gone back she keeps complaining that the work isn't hard enough and that she's bored "if it was harder it would be more interesting"

She wants me to ask her teacher for harder work, but I really don't want to come across as a pushy mum

I assumed work was differentiated but she says everyone does the same stuff

so should I just talk up the play/social/arty aspects of school and let her do some more academic stuff at home, or should I ask her teacher to give her stuff which will challenge her?

Talk to the teacher and find out if she's aware that your dd is bored with the work. See what she suggests.

It's a hard one as reception is mainly learn through play, and not "formal education" as such.

However, it might be worth chatting to the teacher to see how things are going and any worries you have. Do you not have a parent's evening sometime soon?

I'd talk to the teacher. I'd also explore with your daughter what she has been doing, and how well she is really doing it. It's quite likely that she is underchallenged, but on the other hand she may also be doing work that is important for laying the foundations, but not desperately exciting (e.g. learning number bonds). If she can read and the teacher's not worked that out yet, I'd be concerned.

I'd be surprised if all the children were doing exactly the same thing. There seems to be such a wide range of abilities at that age. I know that my ds2 (also in Reception) is doing different things to some of his classmates.

It's worth speaking to the teacher though as your dd obviously isn't happy. I'd just ask how dd is doing in general and then bring up that she's been complaining about feeling bored. Hopefully the teacher will be able to reassure you.

Good luck.

my dd1 is in reception and her teacher picked up very quikly that she was ahead in some area's and sets work at her level. She has told me that there are so many different levels when children come in, some cant count to 20, some have no idea about letters. I would talk to teacher, its hard to measure 28 children's levels. Wouldnt leave it as bored children sometimes are the ones that start to cause trouble. I know i did

thanks - I'm worried she'll start being disruptive if she's bored as she's a very 'full-on' type of child and if she's not being contained by the work she's likely to be making her presence felt in less desirable ways

I will mention it to the teacher and just risk being thought a pushy mum - we have parents' evening next week, but dd keeps asking me when I'm going to ask the teacher so maybe a brief word before then would help her

sorry fumop ...

just to add her school is very relaxed in the early years - all learning through play etc which has got the school an 'outstanding' ofsted report - it suited the boys down to the ground, but as dd's one of the older ones in the class and seems to be v bright, I'm not so sure now it's the right approach for her - ho hum

I would (and have) definately talk to the teacher. ds is ahead of most of his classmates in both literacy and (even more so) numeracy, and while I don't want him to be a mathmatical genius neither do I want him to be bored and therefore either disruptive or simply fed up of school.
Last half term he was frequently saying it was boring, at parents evening (last week of last half term) I talked about what she would be doing with him in order to stretch him, she said now that she had assessed all their levels she could give them appropriate things to do.
From the things he has said so far this seems to be the case, and his reading books are definately more appropriate - and he wants to read them instead of moaning about them being boring (which they were).
On the other hand it is mostly play - and I console myself with the fact that he isn't ever bored of playing