Step Up programme for a Year 1

[frecklyspeckly]

What to expect please from those who have experience of it; did it help - he is doing literacy one. A bit suprised as teacher told us on parents evening he was 'doing fine'.
I was suprised because I thought he was struggling a little and have been trying to help. However as teacher told us as a group rather than individually (which has upset me) that our kids were to be put on this programme I am confused. I couldnt ask her myself any questions today - not enough time and rather a personal subject.I dont know what targets he isn't meeting and how this thing will help him. his speech is not great - but school again have been rather laid back about it despite us raising it as a concern. Until now it would seem.

Can't help but bumping for you.

bump

The best thing to do is to ask for a meeting with the class teacher and perhaps the SEN co-oridnator. They should be able to give you information about the programme and why your son has been put on it. You could ask them what you can do at home to support your son in this area as well.
I received a letter when my son was in Reception to say that he had been "chosen" to go on the Jump Ahead programme (for co-ordination) without being given any reasons as to why or what the programme actually was.
The important thing to remember is that it will help your son but it will be useful for you to get further information and to show that you would like to help in any way you can.

Thankyou very much Fizzbomb (and Puzzlerocks). I have a meeting tomorrow. I arranged it today. I am rather ashamed to say I got into a bit of a state over this at the weekend but feeling better - apparently he was 'borderline'if he needed it or not. I am incredibly grateful for them noticing he needs this help- they admit they messed up the way we were informed.

Anyway, did the help your DS got benefit him and how is he now?

I was also just thinking how helpful mumsnet is, whatever problem you have nearly always someone has been in your shoes and can help you out and reply. Oh yes - forgot- he is going to get a full check from speech therapist via school which I am happy about too. We will get there.

I know this Y1 programme - it's designed for children like your ds who just need a little help with their Literacy, not for children who are struggling lots. It's a very good programme, and should provide the extra help he needs.

Thanks for the enquiry, frecklyspeckly, my son has improved his co-ordination to a certain extent but he is never going to be a sporty type! He's now doing a handwriting programme but as a 7 year old boy, that's probably to be expected.

I was irritated by how the School communicated the programme to us. Another mother felt similarly, in that the first we heard about there being a problem was the letter to say they were to take part in it.

I do remember (rather sad perhaps) an episode of Red Dwarf where the underachieving "Rimmer" met a much more successful version of himself in a parallel universe. The life changing decision that separated the two of them was that one was kept back a year at school when he was struggling. In one case the parents argued against him being kept back a year and were successful in changing it and in the other, he had been kept back a year. Of course, the successful, achieving, popular Rimmer had been kept back!

It's great that most schools do a lot more nowadays for those children needing extra help - I think that communication seems to be an issue though in some cases.

I'm sure that your son will benefit greatly from any extra help that he gets.