Worried DS has made a poor start to reception

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I had a passing comment from his teacher last week; this week I hear from a parent he was messing about during a church service.

He has only been there three weeks and I’m getting a bir worried to be honest. I can try to talk to him but without any details I’m not sure how to approach it other than reinforcing he has to listen to the teacher.

I wouldn't worry tbh. The first month of any school year, particularly reception is the teacher bonding with the children and laying down the rules for learning. Reception will be slightly different to Nursery so it's an adaptation for all of the children. You don't know the context of what had happened e.g. they might have been waiting around for a while in church and all getting restless (who wouldn't). Wait until the first parents' meeting to get come clearer information and keep reinforcing to your son that it's important to 'do good listening'. He'll get there, I'm sure!

Thanks so much. I just worry that it feels like a lot given he’s only been there three weeks! We have a parents evening soon and just worried about any ‘surprises!’

Honestly, don’t stress. Reception is about learning routines more than anything. Don’t take passing comments to heart, a lot of little ones are like this and they get so tired so quickly in the first year. I mean, I get fidgety when I’m tired!

if it is an ongoing issue, the teacher will talk to you about it. Wait until parents meeting when they have had half a term or do and see what is said. Mention that you were concerned about two comments close together. You should remember these are just two comments and they've been in school up to 4 weeks.
The teacher will be reinforcing what good behaviour is to them and starting to use various strategies to encourage it.

Thanks so much. I just worry as both were in passing and so I’m worried there’s a lot I don’t know about!

Could you ask the teacher for a quick word and just say something like "I just wondered generally how DS is settling in; I know anything more in depth can wait for parent's evening, but is there anything we need to support at home?"

I think if it was a huge issue or very urgent they would make it a priority to speak to you.

I probably should but they discourage approaching the teacher. I wondered about emailing but seems OTT!

We have parents evening the week before October half term, hopefully you will have one coming up too where you can discuss this. IME (with a DC that struggled massively in reception) if the teacher thinks that there is an issue they will collar you at pick up or call you.

Thanks, I do really appreciate that.

He's a little boy who has just started school. Don't panic

I would be more concerned that the school discourages you approaching the teacher than that a small child hasn't behaved perfectly 100% of the time in his first 3 weeks of school!

Thanks, that doesn’t really impress me either to be honest!

Children aren't expected to behave perfectly all the time. They're learning and developing.

Does the school actually discourage parents from reaching out to teachers or do they just discourage parents trying to have unscheduled talks with teachers at pickup and drop-off?