First of all, my understanding of the current Yr3 across the country is that ALL schools are having the exact same problem. This group of children were pretty much the hardest hit at primary school. Many children failed to learn to sit still and this is now having a knock on effect. If you can't sit still, you can't concerntrate, you can't read etc, if you can't read you can't learn at your best. Behaviour is through the floor. More kids than usual are being flagged as SEN, which probably isn't strictly true. They haven't got a diagnosiable issue - they are just the victims of lockdown. This is turn is having an impact even on the brightest kids in the class. This makes the year unique in terms of the experience they are having. The advice parents of kids in previous years might not be as helpful as normal as a result.
The yr2 SAT results were significantly down on previous years. Its caused a lot of concern. The hardest hit were summer born girls - their results had declined by the biggest percentage, but summer born boys were also hard hit and boys generally are already behind girls. This is across the country.
As a result, lots of parents have been trying to switch to private schools. I know of 4 boys (and they are all boys) in my son's year of 60 who have moved in the last year. It means that private schools are also facing some of the same challenges as state schools. I remain unconvinced that its benefitted 2 of them (I'm still in touch with 3). The third its too early to tell, but my suspicion is that they will do ok, if only because of parental involvement.
My own experience (DS is in the same year but hasn't suffered as badly - mainly cos he is one of the older ones), is that the schools have a problem in that they are having to teach to a bigger range of abilities than usual. And this is to the detriment of all really. They are having to teach to a lower level than they are used to - but the teachers are finding this a difficult adjustment. The ones doing badly are struggling with the average pitch, but pitch it lower and the better kids aren't stretched. No on wins. I think a huge number of parents ultimately feel their kids are not getting the education that suits them.
Speaking with other parents I think my feeling, based on what other are saying and what I've noticed is the following:
Don't be afraid to take the iniative.
Learn what they need to learn in the next two years and work on it. Don't expect the school to necessarily lead the way, as you might expect. Its just not going to happen. I think some parents are going for tutors but tbh I'm inclined not to go down this line as a) its too much pressure b) its expensive c) I think there is a world of information out there - there are loads of work books to help and I do think its not beyond most parents at year3. You can get decent enough ones at Aldi when they put them on special, which are reasonably priced. There are other ones available too. A friend recommended the CPG series, which she used during lockdown. I would argue that its possibly time better spent than some of the homework DS has been set tbh - if your child is behind, get the book for the year/age below they are supposed to be at. Some of the kids I know doing better, were the ones who ignored the work set by school, and instead tailored to their own child using resources independently. (We actually stuck to the school work, but I don't know that it was necessarily the best course of action tbh for DS).
Don't expect the school to give the support your child might need. You need to step up too.
Schools are ALL struggling with this particular year. My feeling with private school, is yes smaller class sizes WILL help, but even private schools are struggling.
Identify what their particular weaknesses are.
Focus on the reading and the english first if they have multiple weaknesses.
If they can't read well enough, they will struggle with everything else. Try and find books OUTSIDE the banded school books that they like, which they will want to read on their own. My particular bug with the school reading programme is the books are fucking awful. You just need to find something that they WANT to read. Finding something they enjoy at their level of maturity really is half the battle, especially if they are struggling. DS and his group of friends have been really helped (even some who are behind with where they should be - thing includes one with a SEN EHCP) because they collectively got into comic strip style books together. Its given them a love of books I don't know they would otherwise have. I highly recommend Dogman or Investigators if you've yet to come across them! The Narwhal and Jelly series are also good and perhaps more 'girlie' but DS has one and enjoyed it. All three definitely could be enjoyed by girls and boys. The Dogman Series can generally be got on 2 for £7 either on Amazon or at Supermarkets. Dogman and Narwhal are both on the Booktrust pick lists. He's also loved the pokemon series (we picked up cheap from Lowplex but I think they are out of stock but The Works do have them in). Dogman has been such a gateway to other books for DS. DS is doing a handwriting book at the moment as its his particular weakness. He is doing a little when we get chance, but not every day and not if he's in the wrong mood. I also try and get him to write something - even if its just a word or two, if he draws a picture. Literally ANYTHING no matter how small to get the practice in. School aren't setting anything in this department, and I think that the class are all suffering a lot for writing (even if they did do online work during lockdown, they weren't doing anywhere near as much writting as they would in class as they spent so much time on computers).
FINALLY though, try NOT panic. As I say, there are SO MANY kids in the same boat. The year need an intervention imho. I don't think it will happen. BUT if you are on the ball, there is time for them to make up lost ground. But my real fear is I do think the burden is going to fall on parents to make it happen rather than educators because of the scale of the issue and how overwhelmed teachers are for this particular year group. I think half the battle, is realising this though, rather than just demanding even more from the teachers. They just don't have the capacity. I actually really feel for them. The attitude of some parents at my son's school is something to behold - they are utter arseholes. Indeed, I am going to stress the need to be somewhat sympathetic to the teacher and work with them rather than going into battle with them. It doesn't help, if you are at odds with the teacher.
I don't think there is a magic bullet for any of Yr3. Its going to take a long time and hard work. They've been failed spectularly.