Year 1 parents evening - disappointing

[bdot86]

Feeling really deflated after Year 1 parents’ evening and wondering if anyone else has been through similar.
The teacher was actually very positive about my DS5 effort, determination and attitude, she said he’s a joy to teach and really tries hard. But academically he’s coming up as “emerging (lowest level)” or “developing” )second lowest level) across the board, when apparently at this stage of Year 1 he should be “secure” in all areas.
I know I probably sound ridiculous, but I genuinely thought he was quite academic or at the very least average. He reads fluently every night (and is actually on a higher reading band than some of his friends who had higher assessment scores than him), loves writing his own little stories, and even chooses to do maths workbooks at home on top of homework.
It’s just knocked me a bit because none of his friends seem to have had assessments as low, and now I’m second-guessing everything. I can’t help but feel like I’ve somehow failed him, even though we do quite a lot at home.
He’s an end of April baby, so one of the youngest in the class, and most of the others are quite a bit older, I’m trying to remind myself that might play a part, but it’s hard not to compare. I know I shouldn’t.
Has anyone else had a child who was below average at this stage and caught up later? Or any advice on how best to support him without knocking his confidence? Teacher said focus on reading. But we do that !

DC1 got a 1st from Imperial College. They only started to find their way academically in year 6. Even then, if was too late to enter them for the higher level Maths SAT paper (they got an Astar in Maths A-Level).

The fact that your DS is enthusiastic about learning is very very positive.

My June born boy was ‘average’ academically at the start of senior school but now has two 1st class degrees, a PhD and works as a research scientist at a University.

Absolutely!
I trained to teach in the "child-centred education" years, children, on the whole enjoyed their first few years in school, which set them up to succeed as they got older and the learning was more challenging. Those children went on to be successful adults in a range of spheres.

Young boys often struggle with being expected to sit at a table with a pencil for most of the day. An April born child is one of the youngest in Y1.
OP, you know what he can do at home when he has your 1-1 attention. Perhaps he struggles to self-direct at school, so isn't producing work of the same standard as he can at home. So long as he isn't put off school in the meantime, he will develop that skill as he gets older. My advice is to keep on doing what you are doing, without putting any pressure on him.

I have the same quals but I wouldn't say I'm bright. Just persistent.

@Gagamama2 Absolutely loads of people use them because they are good value and my Swedish friends say the curriculum goes along at dc pace. They don’t hold back bright dc from maths and reading as is widely believed. Some get a slower introduction but some really can read at 5 because they are ready to do so and no wants a bored disappointed child? No one.

He has Easter, then a whole third term of being in Y1 and then six weeks of the summer to mature in before Y2.

You will probably start to notice huge changes in him, maybe a growth spurt, physical skills like kicking a ball, using a bat, catching, throwing, confidence in jumping and hopping, climbing, riding a bike, swimming, getting dressed with buttons zips, socks, shoes. These are the easy to see developmental changes, it’s not so easy to spot the developmental changes that are affecting his learning, but they are there and beginning to click into place. He has made a great start, remember he is not in a race with the other children, he is moving forwards at his own pace. Believe me, there will be children in his class whose parents are worrying because they are comparing their child’s reading with your child’s amazing reading!

Be patient, reinforce what he is learning in school , play number and counting games, continue to read with him , take him to interesting places, talk to him, praise him for his achievements, his kindness, his helpfulness, his willingness to try new things.