Year 1 and ELS Programme.

[rusgirl]

Dear Mums,

Would be grateful if you could share your thoughts on my frustration. My 5 year old son is a June born child,so is the youngest in his class,Y1.All kids are 6 and obviously read better, some are on black and cream books. DS is on blue books at the moment. Last Friday the teacher told me that DS has got to attend the ELS Programme although he is not exactly struggling at school but it will help him reach the other kids' level. He feels very upset over it as he says he has been sectioned out to the TA's room for 30 min each day for the ELS.
I've tried to speak to the teacher saying how bright he is for 5 year old,how eager to study, but she is trying to convince me that he is not struggling. I know that the programme is for underachieving children.
He brings sheets with ELS homework to write words like '' and, the, to'' although he is capable of far more. Can't the teacher understand that he is only 5 and it's detrimental for children to be put labels like that at such early age as ''underachieving''. I feel under constant pressure and in total despair. Do you think we should look into changing the school?
Thank you,
Elena

It is for underachieving children, but not quite in the way you seem to feel. It is about them achieving their own potential not merely that of the group. You seem ot have a negative view of this and I wonder if you and the teacher are doign a positive sell to him . He gets one to one attention , probably a fun time with games and activities, and most kids really enjoy and benefit from that regardless of how well, or not, they are doing. If he is bright and keen to study he should readily respond and I'd go down that route before changing his school, unless you have other concerns. Resources are so valuable that they would not have chosen your child ahead of another of they didn't feel it would be of benefit.

Agree with Liz. They would only be doing it for his benefit, although in our school it's seen as 'special work' and nothing negative is attached to it. In fact all the children enjoy it.

We use ELS for children who are the older ones in the class and are underachieving but obviously schools use it differently.

Us TAs who deliver it say that the first few weeks are a right yawn but it is making sure the basics are secure.

my dd did ELS in year one and really liked it and it REALLY helped her

she's now on one of the highest book boxes/spelling groups in the class (y2)

honestly, it's not labelling them, it's to help them

Most chn love going out of class to work with the TA as they like the one to one attention. ELS is really for chn who need a bit of a push rather than chn with true difficulties. Nothing at all to worry about.

My son was older at the time (in juniors) but needed to be taken out for extra help with the TA. He like your is very bright (now top set in secondary school) and he loved learning, but he needed help to reach his full potential. There is nothing negative about and ds didn't feel that he had been singled out.

Thank you so much to all of you.
I will try to look at it positively and explain to Harry that ELS is not a bad thing.
Thank you for your reassurance,really grateful!!

Love,
Elena

My DD in yr 1 has just started ELS. If I am honest I sort of bridled when it was suggested because I obviously, like all mothers, see her skills and attributes and not the things she's struggling with. I also disllike the target setting of schools and the need to fit cjhildren into boxes. Oyur son only could read 70 words at the end of yr 1 and i swear that at the end of the summer hols. he turned around and said he didn't want to be the last child to read in his class. Something must have clicked or switched on, because wiothin 2 wks. he had become a fluent reader. In yr.3 he is now one of the most literate in his class, after such a slow slow start - when we were asked byu school to refer him to a paediatrician due to his delays...Our DD is 2 terms into a new school havong recently moved. She is clearly behind her peers with her literacy. But I have to say that she LOVES her ELS. She lacks confidence in the classroom and erforms much better ina samll group. My understanding is that ELS akkows them to unlock their own potential and that they need some litercay to be able to access it. I think they have fun and games and it enables my DD to enjoy school,m which she has done less since the introduction of formal learning in yr 1. I do think that we put far to much pressuree on young children and set to many ridiculous targets in schools. Personally I would opt for a more German system where formal learning starts much later. But that is what would have suited my 1st two so perhaps I'm unusulal? I have overcome my hesitiationls about ELs becasue it reakky seems to help her klliteracy and her enjoyment if school.I t sounds to me as if yr. school has poor communication techniques about the purpose of ELs and how it might hekp.

Mackerel, I was exactly like you when the letter came home saying they wanted dd to do ELS

it did loads for her confidence too

totally agree about starting later better - my children are definitely not early achievers

Rusgirl, here is a link to something I posted a while back (see below)

I can honestly say it is nothing to worry about, not only did these mnetters reply but then I managed to hunt down my sister who is a NQT for her opinion and she said the same as these replies.. these children are not failing, they are doing well already, their understanding is good but with a little extra focus/time this scheme can give them a boost, it is a very common scheme and is nothing to worry about. Also she confirmed that the children wont feel isolated by their peers (my other worry) because at this age there are groups for all sorts of things.

My ds loves ELS, he came home and told me about it (though he couldn't remember what s meant and he said it was Early literacy Sandwich time!)

I am glad to see you feel less panicky about it now, if anything I am glad that my sons school are offering him that time (30 mins a day for 12 weeks) I have already noticed though I thought he was confident his confidence has increased around writing etc, so it must be beneficial.

I feel perhaps not all teachers are making sure this gets explained properly though to parents because I then let another mum in his class know and she felt happier about it too.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/643560-Early-literacy-support-program-any-teachers

Hi, I'm a TA and teach ELS in year 1 to a group of 6 children.

Can I just clarify one thing. ELS is for children who are only slightly below average, the idea is that it gives them a little boost so that they can reach their full potential.

ELS is not for the children who are really struggling so actully the teacher must think your daughter is quite bright.

My group love doing ELS, its very much a scripted programme and so your DS's TA will be doing exactly the same stuff as I am. Its all based around lots of fun activities and A Naughty puppet called Pip.

I tell my ELS group that they are really special and lucky to have been chosen to come and play with Pip

I'm very grateful for your time replying to my message. I felt so frustrated last week and now with all of your help, look at ELS as a benefit in terms of helping my son reach his potential. Thank you all so much and all my best wishes to you and your families.

Love,
Elena