Help! Grouping in year 1, think DD being left behind

[stillfindingtheway]

Hello, I am new to mumsnet so hope this is right and someone can offer me some advice

Apologies too as this is a long 1 !

My DD is in year 1, after nursey and reception where she seemed to do well (not high flying but no worries) she appears to have been grouped in the lowest sets. I went to the teacher earlier in the year as DD seems to lack confidence with writing (she struggles being left handed as words come out backwards etc and she found it fustrating). The teacher was great, made all the right noises etc and I and DD were happy. Only now the teacher is telling me on the one hand she is fine and there is nothing I can be helping with at home but at the same time she is contemplating putting her in a special class for extra help although she may find a lot of the work beneath her! Parents evening is coming up and I want to broach the subject but not sure how and am not even sure what I am asking!!!! If DD really needs help then fine but feel like getting mixed signals. I feel she is doing well at home when we do HW etc but feel at school she is not being challenged but just left with easy stuff.
Thanks,

I think the teacher is being very unclear in what she means and it's up to you to ask her directly the exact help (or not) that your DD needs. I would just be assertive and ask why she's being considered for extra help classes when the work would be too easy. That's just strange. Unless of course, the extra help lessons cover a mixture of things and they don't have the resources to have all the children separately. The class teacher should differentiating the work for the class and your DD should be working at a level that stretches her a bit but that's not so hard she can't grasp any of it.

I wonder if she's thinking that lack of confidence is the biggest problem your DD has. But by working with other children where she is the biggest (best) fish in a small pond, it might be a big boost to her confidence. Does that sounds possible?

It'd be reasonable to ask the teacher the same questions you've asked here.

Agree with CS about being the biggest fish etc - they've done that with DD at swimming lessons and it worked. She's now doing demos for her class mates in the deep end!

Thanks for your help guys and for the different angle on things. The confidence thing is quite possible she did that with her spellings,she had one week where she did not do so well and DD was v upset so she gave her easier ones to build her confidence.
I am going to be assertive and ask at parents evening (although I may send DH!)and get the teacher to be more specific as to DD needs. Thanks again.

I had the same with my first child. Like you, I was at first upset at the thought of his having to have extra lessons, but it's a good thing! The school are giving your child extra resources. You will probably find that after a little while, your daughter will no longer need the extra classes, but if she does, be pleased that the school cares enough about her education that they are helping her. Good luck!

my experience is that teachers always put such a positive spin on everything you don't know what's what.
Don't be afraid to go back and speak to her again and really pin her down on the questions you want answered

Thanks Ilove, I will def try and be more positive and see it as a good thing. I do feel that DD would benifit from extra help although its more a confidence thing ie she likes someone to be with her while she does things and seems to need reg reassurance (we have been working on this some time but i guess some people are just like this). As a parent I think you do over analyse your kids although I have a 9 yr old who is doing well is it hard to sit back and let things fall into place when they are good and ready!(like the 9yr - this seems to be his year!)
I am going to speak to teacher at parents evening and see if DD really is struggling and take it from there.
Thanks all