Year 4 - How to improve writing and drawing quality?

[ArcticArchitect]

Hi all,

Just looking for advice really. DS draws and writes a little messily. The teachers don't offer advice - as they're too busy to talk to parents at school drop off / pick up

It's now causing lots of anxiety and tears at homework time as he's worried about upsetting his teacher. The class TA binned his work last week and he now he lacks confidence.

Strangely, when he's at home doing home stuff - his writing, colouring and drawing are lovely.

Thanks :)

You mention that he’s on the waiting list for another school, but I’d put him on the waiting list for all other local schools. Staying where he is sounds like it will zap his confidence until he’s totally disengaged. The school sounds like a disaster.

Only other helpful thing I can think of is to make sure you’re following the correct complaints procedure at the school. At my kid’s school they like you to talk to class teacher first, then head of year before the headmaster. It’s harder for them to fob you off if you can show them you’ve jumped through the correct hoops.

@ArcticArchitect sorry for slow response! Yes they're online - email Tayberry Tuition and Consultancy through the website and they'll get an assessment and sessions set up to help. Sending lots of support your way!

Sorry I've only just seen this - yes they're online! They're called Tayberry :)

This is awful. I don't know if there'd be any coming back from this. I think the only way I'd even consider keeping my child there is if whoever threw the work away had absolutely no more contact with my child again. I think I'd simply have to change schools or at least move to a different class if possible. I think meantime all you can do to reverse the damage is try and encourage them to draw/write at home and really 'big up' his work. I hope you can get him back on track xx

I would write and say

on x day my son was upset when coming home from school as I understand the TA had binned his work for being too messy. This was informed to me by a third party. There is no communication from the teacher as drop off and picks up times are busy. I asked the receptionist on y date for a meeting with the Headteacher and was told ‘the headteacher was far too busy for appointments’.
If this is the case and having tried to address this informally and been unsuccessful and asked for the HT meeting and been effectively told to go away / can I asked who I raise my now complaint to? And a copy of the formal complaints office.
I appreciate everybody is busy and so are parents - but binning work is not acceptable (if that is what happened), a child distressed should not be the aim of any schools health and well-being policy and neither should be discouraging parents for communication.

most parents are in the same situation as myself we want to work with the school - but we can’t do that if the above is happening.

so will the HT meet with me and if not as they are too busy - who is the chair of governors and head of the trust?

Many thanks

mini parent

Ps my son is year 4 and he does the cgp handwriting every single day. Started the books two years behind etc doing year 2 books at end of year 3. Now in year 4 and just finishing summer term year 3 - don’t worry about going back. We have nice mummy and me time. We brought lovely pencils, nice rubber and he has a hot chocolate. We do a bit more than a page 7 days a week and he is catching up quick !