Private prep school not disclosing information/ keeping us in the dark

[regretnot]

The teacher is hostile for whatever reason.

I do believe my DC has been somewhat left behind and not encouraged nor pushed.

he has been placed into the lowest set for year 1. He really isn’t. I am not just saying this, honest.

do we get end of reception results profile assessment results?

No school (private or state) has streamed sets in reception / Year 1. Streaming doesn’t kick in until Year 7 minimum. From a private school teacher and mum.

Sets for year 1?

What does hostile mean? Examples?

You’ve given no info. How are we to know what results your particular school tally and give out?

We need more context. Have you requested a meeting with his teacher and she has refused? That would be most unusual if so. Do you think he has been falling behind but the school has not raised this with you?

How do you know what his peers abilities are?

Wrong. Streamed sets from YR3 at our DC's school.

My DC were streamed for reading/phonics in their indie at reception. It was done quietly, but it was done.

You have no idea how his peers are doing, so you don’t know where he should sit.

Am surprised. I’ve taught in 3 Indy prep schools and whilst yes it’s known within the class which kids are better readers etc etc by no means have they been physically put in different sets to ability. How odd!

Why do you think your dc has been put in a lower set?

You don't know the level of achievement of the other children, so how can you place him/her? It's all comparative. And are there really other sets? The most our school managed was different tables for those who were slightly ahead with the phonics or their numbers. Children used to swap around all the time.

Why would you want a child pushed in Reception? You're just likely to put them off learning at an early age. Encouraged yes, but not pushed. In R it's meant to be fun, learning through play.

It isn't a competition.

DS's school is stream set from Year 3 too.

I agree re streaming. But when my DC were in primary school, they were on "Chestnut" table for reading or "Tulip " table for maths. There was definitely differentiation for those subjects from Y1. This was at an ordinary state primary.

Our local state school is 3 form entry and streams the entire year into 4 classes for English and Maths from Y1 so those who need help get intervention in smaller groups - this continues until Y6. It was one of the things that drew us to the school as it ensures the curriculum is tailored to the ability of the child

We also viewed multiple prep schools and every prep school which was not academically selective at entry streamed from R/Y1.

Normal to stream from year 1, it helps identify and give extra help where needed... the issue is that you believe your child is in wrong set? Then email politely and talk to the school don't get angry, for all you know your child may be struggling but you don't know

Could you elaborate on hostile?

Lots of schools stream from Reception class.
Lots of schools move children into intervention groups including children from other years at the same level for a particular subject. This might be based on lower ability or higher ability depending on the lesson and the child's needs.

They may have children on different tables (with names of colours or animals perhaps) and completing work at the same level or they may have a random process. The work may have codes on the page to indicate whether it was assisted or independent. There will likely be floor books with a range of work that clearly shows where a child is working at.

You will get a report at the end of the Reception year.

Apologies you will get a report end of year 1.

I work in a school that's sets from Year 3

Really.

I looked at an independent for my DS and discounted it because they told me that they streamed from year 1. They were quite open about it as well.

They said they didn't call it streaming so as not to upset the kids but instead put them in groups named after birds.

Sent him somewhere else... but it was a very popular school - until kids were managed out in year 4 that is. DS's school alone took 4 or 5 extra into year 5 - presumably the poor kids who were puffins not owls!

How does ‘managing out’ work exactly?? New to all this!!

@regretnot Sadly some schools will start gently suggesting that the school is not suited to your child and you should find somewhere else. Some will become more assertive than that and actually ask you to pull your child out. It's especially common in our area because there's 11+ and obviously they want to be seen to have really good outcomes but in any area some of them are more concerned about getting kids into the best senior schools than anything else.

It's usually kids with special needs, kids who are struggling a bit and not quite keeping up, kids who are a bit more emotional - you get the picture