How much 1-2-1 time does your Reception/Y1 DC gets with teacher/TA?

[WalkingDead99]

Just wondering if anyone ever asked Reception/Y1 teacher how much one-to-one time they spend with your child during day/week?

DS gets 1-2-1 time with either the teacher or TA everyday, if only for 10-15 minutes reading. I have nothing to compare that to as he's our only, so not sure what's typical, although he's in a class of 22 and there's always at least 1 teacher and 2 TAs (private), which I imagine makes it easier to get round everyone.

What do you mean by 1:1? In a state school, apart from reading (probably to a TA, if there is one, for a very few minutes) I'd say very, very little.

Probably very little to no time spent 1-1 with just one pupil. The school schedules are pretty packed as it is, they often do small group work, but can't say I've ever heard of a teacher spending 1-1 time with a pupil unless it was to hear them read.

When children have free choice sessions we will often call children for reading/interventions so most children probably get some 1-1 time of some sort each week but it depends on needs and what’s being targeted really. (Reception class)

At ours a child would only be 1:1 with a teacher if it was for an assessment.

General reading practice is done in small groups. Some children need extra help and so will read with an adult (usually a TA) individually for a couple of minutes each day.

Other interventions are usually done in small groups. The exception will be when a child needs something specifically targeted for their individual needs and would be delivered by a TA.

I just don't think it's a question that can be answered. 1:1 time often lasts just 30 seconds, extending the child's thinking. Some teachers keep excellent records of what was taught/discussed, but even these won't include how long it took. 1:1 reading will be more likely to be recorded, but many schools do reading within a group only.

No state school will be having children read with a staff member 10-15 minutes per day. If they did, they would need one member of staff only doing this, all day. Which simply isn't possible or efficient.

For an NT child with no behaviour issues and keeping up academically? Very little. Maybe a few minutes reading or support with a tricky bit of maths. Most classes are 1:30 ratios.

In my experience it depends on the needs of the child. There is more 1-1 time in reception than Y1. A child who needs regular reading practice either because they just do or because their parent won’t do it at home will be prioritised for 1-1 time, but even then it will only be for 5-10 minutes a day.

Some children have planned interventions that mean they will get more 1-1 time or be the focus of small groups.

You should also consider the time spend giving individual attention to children while they are working as a class. Minutes here and there add up and can often be more helpful than the child being taken out for ten minutes 1-1.

I think DS gets two 1-1 reading sessions a week with his teacher. But his school has a very high staff:pupil ratio as it's a Catholic school (2 x teachers, 2 x TAs for 36 children) so they do a lot of work in small groups too.

I'm not sure but i know yr 6 students come down to read to a small group of 4's huddled up weekly.

I’d expect hardly ever. My kids don’t have SEN or behaviour issues.
They got attention when part of a small group though eg guided reading.

You're wondering if anybody ever asked their child's teachers that?

Well no I didn't because I didn't want to cause them more stress than they're already under but I'd estimate:

Children who struggle with their behaviour will get a few minutes a day discussing/reflecting on this.

Most R/Y1 children should read 1-1 with somebody once or twice a week but that could be a volunteer.

Children who are behind in this area should get more.

Mostly children if this age will do their work in small groups or certain activities as a whole class.

It's how long is a piece of string really. A child who is doing well does not need loads of 1-1 time and independence and interacting with peers will be encouraged more.

Realistically if you're asking this question and your child is in a state mainstream with 1 teacher and 30 kids...you probably won't much like the answer 🤷🏽

Not how schools work.
If you calculate the amount of minutes available of teaching time per day and factor in the amount of pupils, SEN, behavioural needs, curriculum areas to be covered, admin + registers, break time and support staff timetabling you'll find out 1:1 is very rare with a teacher in a mainstream school. During the imagined 10 minutes 1:1 who is managing the rest of the class and teaching the rest of the class. They don't just meekly sit waiting! Even in an ASN school with a class of 10 and 2 permanent support staff 1:1 is very difficult due to the complex needs which need so much management. Work on developing your child's basic skills and expand general knowledge at home.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.
I am just trying to understand if there is an advantage of going to a small and/or private primary school in terms of 1:1 time.
My YR DS's reading record shows that teacher/TA reads with him once a week. I cannot see how much time they spend practicing writing but I saw his classroom notebook and the amount of reading he did in the class is considerably smaller to what the school gives as homework.
In my DS's school I feel that parents are expected to teach DCs at home (which is after 6pm in my case) and all the teachers do are to assess the progress.

Some private preps quote prices for 1:1 with a teacher. Does it mean the pupils do not normally have 1:1?
Shall I just talk to the teacher and offer payment for 1:1 time with my DS because after 6pm he is too tired to practice reading and writing.

The other thing I heard from a friend who teaches in a private prep (outside London), that some teachers spend time with their pets and neglect other children. Not sure how common it is in private preps.

We just don't practice (school) reading and writing at home. Speaking to the other parents in Reception, a lot of other parents don't bother too. We read other books so DS reads a book to me at bedtime or we do alternate pages. But mainly, I just let school get on with it. He seems to be exactly where I would expect for this stage in Reception.

The biggest difference you can make to your child is to read with them. Read to them, let them read to you. There isn't a point where the reception teacher would sit down one to one with your child to teach them to read other than hearing them read, they will have phonics in groups.

You aren’t expected to teach your child, but you are expected to practice reading that the child has been taught at school. Expecting parents to do worksheets and that type of homework is pointless, but practicing reading is a basic and fair expectation. Unless your child is one of the most highly able in their class, they will be disadvantaged if they don’t do reading practice away from school.

State primary teachers/TA’s occasionally offer private tuition, but you can’t pay them off to prioritise your child in the school day.

Good quality wrap around care might offer to do children’s reading with them if that’s an option for you.

The homework may be stuff you can do with your child as a guide rather than actual homework. If that makes sense.

My experience of private school is that your child is still only 1 in a group. Maybe a smaller group but still a group.
TA are less common in private schools in my experience also.
I have no experience of teachers having ‘pets’ either. That would be very poor practice. I’d be interested to know how your friends think they know this - are they in the classroom during school hours?
In reception much of the time with a teacher will not be obvious, it is primarily play based and child-led.

And you cannot pay your child’s state school teacher money to spend more time with him!! What an extraordinary suggestion!

If the private is selective then the spread of abilities will be less so I’d expect the time that my child spent with the teacher to be in groups too.

I’d expect the 1:1 price to be for a TA (special needs)

In your case can you spare 10 minutes in the morning ? Otherwise I think that you should practice reading at the weekends and school holidays/annual leave days if you work term time.

Whatever school your child goes to, you’ll be expected to practice reading, spelling etc with your child. At state there’s no repercussions for not doing homework but a private primary (especially selective ) might shame you for doing less than the other parents as they will assume that paying for school means that you will support with things like homework. Does the after school care at the private encourage kids to do homework ?