Is it unfair if state primaries offer some children 1to1 maths tuition?

[allblondegirls]

I have recently become aware of an initiative operating in primary schools in our borough offering free one to one maths tuition to certain selected y5/6 children outside of school hours. I first heard about it from a friend whose DC is in another school in the borough as it was creating a lot of bad feeling there.

As I understand it schools have been asked to select a few children who were L2 in KS1 SATS but could be tutored on a 1 to 1 basis to achieve L5 at the end of year 6. As far as I understand it it is to manipulate the borough?s value added score. I have since learnt that 5 children in my DDs class have been selected (all of a similar ability to her)but despite thinking she would have met the criteria she is not one of them.

I have been struggling this last year myself to help her with maths and have seen some improvement. Maybe she has improved too much and hence the reason she has not been selected. I am not finding it easy though, as I am not a teacher and she often makes a fuss when I try to sit down with her. I am sure she wouldn?t behave in this way if it was someone other than me or my dh helping her.

I would have jumped at the chance of some professional help, as I am sure would many others in her class. I am not bothered about the L5 but would like to see her become confident and competent before moving on to secondary school. I am not sure whether I should confront the school and find out why she wasn?t chosen or whether it would just seem like sour grapes. I can?t help but think it is unfair that some of these children will receive a massive boost before going on to secondary school whilst others are just being left without any additional help.

It could be anything then allblondes. You know the level of one of the children and your friend thinks her dd is a 4B from school assessment, but I'm pretty sure she won't have her latest SATs results.
She may have done significantly better than that, or worse even. so it could be G&T or Wave 2 (extra support) and anything in between.
It sounds very much like sour grapes to me because your dd wasn't selected. But if you feel that strongly about it, go and ask the school what it is and if your dd can participate.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is unique to the borough it is very high achieving.

It sound like it is the "Making Good Progress" Pilot scheme.

www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/schoolstandards/mgppilot/

In which case, it is a catch-up scheme, not an excellence scheme.

"The pilot involves nearly 500 schools in diverse contexts in ten local
authorities (LAs):

Bexley, Westminster, East Sussex, Solihull, Leicestershire,
Gloucestershire, South Tyneside, Calderdale, Essex and Liverpool

The pilot primarily focuses on key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils although
there are plans to have a small Early Years/Foundation Stage pilot in one LA."

Thank you lou031205 I think that this sounds spot on and reassures me that there is some logic behind it. I am only aware of it taking place for maths.

My friend's dd seems to be making great progress this year but the school must feel that there is a reason she will benefit. I do trust the school so if they are in charge of implementing the programme I am sure it will be done properly.

I certainly won't be taking things any further. It has saved me getting a reputation as a whinging mum.

I would be very surprised if anyone involved in "Making Good Porgress" is at a level 4B at the end of year 5. Prepared to be corrected, though!

The only thing is our LA is not one of those listed. I suppose it must have now been rolled out more widely.

I found this, which refers to above average children:

Update for Primary Schools
Although there are no confirmed criteria for ?coasting? primary schools the latest shared by the regional advisers is that a coasting school is one where attainment at L4+ in both English and Maths (combined) is above the national average and two levels progress from KS1 to KS2 in English or in Maths is more than 10% below national.

As some cohorts are quite small, in Essex we identify schools with cohorts over 10 pupils and where trends are downwards or fluctuating rather than for one year e.g. in 2008.

As a result of the identification, the LA has the schools on its Priority Schools tracking sheet /database and there is an expectation that we will prioritise support and challenge. For all schools on this database, we have offered the opportunity to be in the early roll out of 1:1 tuition.