Help! DS not close to his year 6 targets!

[modlady]

Hi all,

(Sorry this is a duplicate of an untitled thread I submtited in error!)

Just been to parents evening to be told to my utter shock that my son is 4 years behind with his writing (he is at Year 2 target) and 2 years behind with his maths. Unbelievable as it may sound, this was the first we knew of it.

I am struggling to comprehend this. He is 11 next month and in year 6. We have spoken to the head and she has blamed his unruly behaviour in class but why we we not told?

I don't really know what to do next. I truly feel that the school have let him down by not making us aware of this before now.

Any advice greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

Modlady

What were his levels in previous year reports? Is this a sudden dip? He will have been assessed before this.

That is appalling.

How can they have let things get this bad and not mention it until now? How can you not have been told about the unruly behaviour at the very least. I think they are making excuses for their poor performance tbh.

Did they come up with a plan or any ideas for improving the situation or are they just washing their hands of him?

This is appalling! Why were you not told? School has definitely let him down. YOu must call a meeting to demand to know why you have not been told about this before, and EXACTLY what the school is planning to do to help your son. I'd hire a tutor if I could afford it. Has he a problem like dyspraxia?

Well we had some issues last year with his concentration in class so I made a point of going to see his teacher every Friday for a progress update and so he knew that he was (kind of) being monitored. His teacher raised some issues about his targets but certainly nothing about him being 4 years behind.

I have asked the head if she will let me know his levels for the previous 2 years, but I do remember they were certainly not level 2 but varying level 3's. His new teacher showed where he is now to where he needs to be which definitely put it into perspective. He always does his homework so I am truly at a loss to comprehend how this has happened to this dramatic extent.

The head said she would put strategies in place but I am worried he is now too far behind due to his performance in year 5 to catch up and am considering a tutor.

Sorry for waffling, I am still stunned!

oops, posted on your other thread to recommend you gave it a title. But you already have.

I would be stunned too. I think this is truly awful. No wonder you are shocked. You need to know EXACTLY what these 'strategies' are. I think I'd get a tutor and be outraged that it had come to this.

I have never considered dyspraxia as this issue has never been raised in any parents evening. He has a twin sister who is in the same class as him and she is on target (and keeps an eye on him!)

It has been a complete eye opener, especially due to the weekly meetings last year where this was never ever mentioned to us.

I did ask the head how this has happened and she said she told me that he was behind last year. I agree with that but before they broke up for summer she told me how wonderful he had been and how his attitude to learning had improved! This indicated that he was improving, not going backwards!

Thanks imaginaryfriend, I am mortified I screwed up my first post!

If he has been performing at level 3 some of the time surely he is not as far behind as they say in real terms. He can do the work but hasn't been putting in the effort recently, hence the level 2s. He should be able to get up to at least a 3 fairly easily if that is the case and if everybody puts in the effort then a level 4 must be possible. I know our HT has talked of a few children who have gone up two levels in a year. There is time.

A tutor might be a good idea if you can afford one and if you think DS would put the effort in.

We are meeting again (the head and his class teacher) on Friday. Every time I brought up how it happened, the head said that we mustn't dwell on the past but focus on the future. I agree but I needed to know how it happened and why we weren't told last year when we could have done something about it!!

I feel like I have let him down.

Thanks niecie, that is really encouraging. I asked the headteacher if she thought he had learning difficulties and she said no, his behaviour has let him down.

I have never used a tutor, would anyone have any idea how many sessions he may need per week?