The Headmistress is being so difficult

[Monkeyblue]

DS is in year 3 He is dyslexic

TRY and keep it short this school year the headmistress has stopped parents from reading with their Dc classes as some parents were abusing the situation (reading other parents comments in homework book etc).

We were told by the headmistess if we read with other years it would work out fair and all children would be read with daily .So signed up to another year go in twice a week to read with year1

Its got to November and DS has only been read with twice by his teacher and once by a volunteer since September

Went into see DS teacher today yet again his book hasnt been changed and to question about not been read with at school only at home. She said as she hasnt a class room assistant she does`nt have the time and that there are about 7/8 kids who really need help with reading .She wants help with the reading
3 parents of the class have offered to go in and to listen to those reading but the headmistress has said NO not for your class BUT will not put anything else in place

DS is not alone on his reading level but is a good 18 months behind in his reading
He gets 4 SN lessons a week

Children need to be read with daily until they are able to understand and read without any /little help

Just feel the school is letting DS and other class children down

Do I except to much from this school
Is it like this at other schools ?

Is this a state school? I believe that under the wonderful National Curriculum there is no provision for one-on-one reading with the children because there simply isn't time - not saying I agree with that at all, but that's the way it is. I am therefore amazed that the head would think that every child could be read with every day. With 30 children per class, and taking 5 minutes minimum (with most of that 5 mins taken up by the child walking very slowly from the classroom, wanting to go to the toilet, wandering off on a tangent to tell you about their holiday, new baby cousin etc, deciding that they must have left their book at home) that means someone needs to dedicate 2.5 hours minimum PER DAY to this task. If two parents split it, that requires 10 volunteers once a week. I think ds2's class has about 6 volunteers not all of whom are regulars and I know other classes have less.

If the teacher doesn't have a classroom assistant I think she is doing well to have read at all with any children. Who is occupying the other 29 while she is doing this? Again, not right but the situation as it is.

I agree that children need to be read with evry day but much of the responsibility for that now seems to be with the parents. At least you care enough about your son to read with him, you can be sure there are other children in the class who are not getting that support. If his book is not being changed, just read anything you have at home or get library books. He doesn't have to learn to read from the scheme books and something he picks out himself is probably more fun anyway!

Its a private english curriculum school with 23 kids in the class

But the teacher does`nt even Know what level Ds is on???
Until I spoke to her

I just feel the headmistess is only interested with the kids that will get the good exam results for the school

Just to add, at ds2's school (he is also yr 3) he is now a free reader so gets his own books from home, library etc. Lots of people are still on the scheme and I think the books get changed about 3 times per week - they definitely get done on Thurs because I do them! I think one other mum also changes them and the TA usually gets around to doing them as well. However, like your son's class, there is no class TA and this one seems to be moving between several classes so is only occasionally available. A few weeks ago, I couldn't go in on Thurs so I assume the books weren't changed. The teacher can't change them because the reading scheme boxes take up a whole room and several dozen shelves on two floors of the school - they like their reading schemes at our school! At a guess, ds has read 2/3 times with a volunteer and once with the teacher since beginning of term. I'm not too bothered but then I know he's a fluent reader! What is happening at your ds's school sounds pretty normal (not ideal but standard) to me.

Actually you are right he can read books from home
He can go 10 days without getting his book at school changed

The teacher feels she has been dumped on with having 7-8 kids that are behind with reading writing etc
Ds is the only one with dyslexic in the class the others who are on a higher level of reading that DS have problems with the english language being their second or ADHD

She said "I have never had such a low ability class in all the years I have been teaching" WTF
Cheers for the confidance Mrs Teacher

Ok, really must go to bed but if you are paying private school fees for a teacher managing a class of 23 without a TA and with books not being changed resularly, you are getting bad value for money!

In Year 3 in our state school children are responsible for changing their own books and bringing them home. There was 1:1 reading in the school but not as often as once a day; that regular grind was something parents did.

I also found at this age, even ds (who is a bit of a babyish dreamer) was responsible enough to remember the days he had to do his own homework; my job was more a supporting one. He knew he'd get detention if he didn't do his homework and that seemed to be enough of an effect.

I agree that this school seem to be doing very badly in supporting the SN class. But unless he is actually prevented by the teacher from changing his book and from bringing it home, it may simply be that they think he is old enough to be responsible.

cory this is not a sn class

Yr3 which according to the teacher has 7/8 kids below the average reading level

They are only allowed to change their reading books when the teacher knows that they have finished it.Which she won`t as they are not getting read with that often

And she is drowning under it all which the headmistress seems to think is fine

Sounds a bit crapola...If other parents feel the same can you write a letter / get class rep to have a meeting with the headteacher. She'll have to do something if you complain en masse.

Sorry, typing without thinking, too early in the morning . I meant, the lower set, support group, whatever your ds is in. I ought to know what it's called because my ds is also receiving support and is on the SEN register .

Seems like the teacher is being deliberately awkward. If they're not allowed to change the book without her permission and she won't give it, then there is clearly little your ds can do. I would complain! Ask to see her in the first instance, if you get no joy, see the head.

Either she needs to hear them regularly, to let them change books, or she needs to introduce a system where they monitor themselves and then change books. Doing nothing shouldn't be an option.

I would also ask to see the SENCO to find out what support your ds is getting with his dyslexia.

The situation you describe is unacceptable.
I would speak to the teacher, the Head and the SENCO. If you get no joy - move schools.
The whole point of paying is to have choice.
You can chose not to put up with this.

Went it to complain to the teacher yesterday and offer to read.
She blames the headmistress who is being awkward about not letting parents read with their class.and not having a TA
But then the children don`t get read with

Also the headmistress says if you don`t like it leave.she has said it to other parents who dare complain

The SN teacher does`nt feel supported by the headmistess to

Ds loves this school and would be gutted if he left I want to take him out but DH says no as

While it's not a great situation and there isn't much that you can do for the other children in your ds class who are struggling with reading, you can at least continue to support your son's reading, so he shouldn't miss out in that respect.

If you are happy with all other aspects of the school and your son is happy there and you are reading with him, then there would seem no point in moving him.

If there are other things that you are unhappy with, then maybe look around for somewhere better for your son.

"I believe that under the wonderful National Curriculum there is no provision for one-on-one reading with the children because there simply isn't time - not saying I agree with that at all, but that's the way it is"

What??

In DS's state school there are two classroom assistants in every KS1 class, one of whom is dedicated to 1 to 1 reading, and one of whom also supports those needing extra attention! And this was in addition to volunteers. DS did 1 to 1 reading at least three times a week until he was fluent. And bokbags were looked at dai;ly and books changed immediately they were finished!

That sounds really crap. 23 children in a state school would be considered an absolute dream by most year 3 teachers. I think the teacher must be a bit crap - sorry.

Cat - Lambeth!

I would recomend you order "Toe by Toe" from Amazon. This is a way of learning to read that is designed for parents to do for just 10 minutes each day every day with thier child. It is designed for dyslexic children and is brilliant and very easy to follow. If you dont want to move your son from his school at least he will learn to read...

My dd YR2 reads daily in class and has new book each day (she usually reads pages 1-16 in class and 16-32 at home then new book next day), children are responsible for changing their books. They are colour coded/numbered and every child from Y1 changes there own books.

The class has 1 TA fulltime and 1 volunteer one day a week.
If the Head is being unapproachable ask for a governors meeting. (not sure if they have them in private).

Hope you get some answers soon.

oh dd is in state school and its fab..

My dss are in their late teens, I realised by the time ds1 was about 7, that it was up to me to teach them to read and write myself. I did work as a volunteer classroom assistant for 3 years, and it was clear to me that the children whose parents didn't have the time, or sometimes the inclination to do this were at a real disadvantage.

It seems not much has changed.

Thanks for your advice everyone

Dh and I are going into school next week as it is parent evening so will speak to the teacher again

I am not going to let her write DS off

Will carry on reading with Ds at home