Is this a problem

[mimmum]

I have been a little bit concerned about dd for while. I need some opinions and a bit of perspective on whether this really is a problem. Dd is in reception in a relatively pushy school, she is the youngest in her year but having said that there are other August born children who are not struggling in the slightest. She can form all her letters and numbers though it is often a bit of a mess and recognise 15 or so keywords and decode CVC words, so not too worried about this as I can see progress. Although most others in class are reading much more and writing sentences. But am more worried about maths in class they are counting to 100, addition and subtraction to 20, counting in 10s and 2s amongst other things. Dd can rote count to 20, and count objects reliably to about 4, after this she double counts or misses objects out altogether. We practice counting at home and when out and about, not as work just as play, but it just isn't clicking. Could this be a problem or is she ok for age 4 and a half? Thanks

I think that in foundation you will find a huge range of skills, depending on the kind of nursery previously attended, the parents, the children's own ability and most importantly the child's own level of interest and development/maturity.
There will be all sorts of different levels of learning going on in the classroom as the teacher tries to ensure that each child achieves their own learning goals.

As you say, your child is one of the youngest in her class and sounds as though she is busy learning and developing at her own pace. I'm sure she won't be struggling because she shouldn't actually be being compared with her classmates at this stage. I'm sure she is doing fine, but if you have any doubts then please talk to her teacher who should explain what is happening in class and put your mind at rest.

Your daughter sounds fine. Infact she sounds like she is doing over average. It sounds to me like the school has the problem and not her. Poor little thing why are the school so pushy?

I did speak to her teacher briefly who told me I should practice writing sentences and adding up and subtracting at home. This is hard when she is so tired at end of school day and this is on top of her Reading book.

That is compleatly and utterly mad she is in reception not year 1 or 2. Does your daughter like school.

blimey it's the school that has the problem not your dd! Some children have to be average, some lower and some higher.

I've noticed at my dds school that those that were very advanced in reception were often only average by the end of year 1.

Hi minmum, it sounds from what you've written (though obv I am not an expert), like your dd is doing fine. I really wouldn't push it too much at this stage. The main thing is that your dd enjoys school and is making some progress, which she is. I'm not a big fan of homework in infants, it's a lot on top of an already tiring school day for little ones.

Fortunately she loves it, but this also makes it harder for me to think about moving her.

a reception child should in maths:

Estimate how many objects they can see and check by counting them.

Select the correct numeral to represent 1 to 5, then 1 to 9 objects.

Begin to represent numbers using fingers, marks on paper or pictures.

Begin to count beyond 10.

Count aloud in ones, twos, fives or tens.

Recognise numerals 1 to 5.

Know that numbers identify how many objects are in a set.

Count reliably up to ten everyday objects.

Count up to three or four objects by saying one number name for each item.

Count out up to six objects from a larger group.

Use developing mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems.

Recognise some numerals of personal significance.

Say and use number names in order in familiar contexts.

Count actions or objects that cannot be moved.

Match then compare the number of objects in two sets.

Count an irregular arrangement of up to ten objects.

Recognise numerals 1 to 9.

Use ordinal numbers in different contexts.

nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs/taxonomy/33660/33694/0/46384 this website explains what a reception child should know by the end of recption

Cloudhopper the list you posted seems to contradict itself, I'm a bit confused.

I can reassure you that my dd was one of the youngest and was towards the bottom in achievement yearR/1 but by Year 4 is in the top 5 so caught up and overtook most.

If your dd isn't ready you will probably just make her feel maths is 'hard' by pushing her whereas in a few months it will just click.I'd just carry on doing odd bits with her as fun as possible so part of shops/hairdressers/restaurant games.

Here are a few sites you could try at school,count us in,up to ten,primary games,primary resources.

My DS is young for his year and is in a class with mostly confident, autumn born children. There was a huge disparity in ability when he started reception. My DS couldn't form a letter when he started school - much more interested in bricks than pencils! We were told by his teacher that unless we worked with him at home, he would probably be classed as "remedial" in year 1. My DH and I really pushed him at home to write legibly. He was absolutely miserable. When I saw my 4 year old DS sobbing because he wasn't physically able to form letters, I decided to ignore the teacher's advice and to let DS progress at his own speed. No more writing home work - lots of fun games to build up his fine motor skills! He was much happier and by the beginning of year 1, his writing had clicked. By the end of year 2 he had scored 3s and even a 4 for literacy in his SATS. He is in year 3 and is in top group for all subjects. I don't say this to brag about my son, but to reassure you that how they are performing in reception isn't necessarily an indication of their ability. If I were you, I would smile and nod at the teacher but ignore all suggestions to push your child at home! She sounds as if she doing great on her own!

Hi there
I can only go by my limited experience of my DD1's reception class and say that there is a huge range of ability. There are children who can still only count up to 5, are still learning the letter sounds and can't write the name properly and there are children who are reading pretty well, counting to 100 and similar stuff as described. The teacher will always advise you of additional stuff you can do if you go and ask, as they did with us, despite our DD1 being at the top end. I would say just do what feels comfortable, I know that my DD1 is so tired on a night that I struggle to get a reading book done sometimes, which we only get twice a week anyway. It's important that they keep seeing school as fun at this point and that you can see progress x

Personally (no disrespect to thecloudhopper), I think you'd go nuts with these lists of things to do by a certain age. She is 4 and a half. My son is the same age and sounds like he's about the same as her- howeveer, in his school, he is one of the brightest, and they're doing learning through play, which may mean they take a bit longer to do things, but they'll understand them better when they do.

I am a firm believer that the first year or so of school should teach more about social aspects of life, how to get on with peers etc, than anything else.

Your dd is doing FINE.

If you want to compare her, do it with the 'average child', not with the oldest, brightest children in a school where parents are ready to push support their dc a lot.

As for 'additional' homework, well, you said it yourself. At the end of the day, she is tired. Does she really need to do that? Follow her lead. If she is ready and keen, go for it. If she isn't but like the games around counting, do these instead. If she is having none of it, let her play.

It sounds like your daughter is doing fine to me. Remember, the 5yr olds have been alive for up to 25% longer than the 4yr olds (particularly the younger ones). So there is bound to be a wide discrepancy of abilities. It?s important that she is happy at school.

Good posts by BessieBoots and SailAway

I would add ? make a point of reading to her every night, let her choose the story herself! but read to her. A lot of research has been done and those children that are regularly read to, do better.

Various links:- here , here and here.

Thanks for all your responses they have been very helpful and reassuring. So I am just going to continue with the counting for fun and perhaps introduce a couple of other games, but not push it.

I would like to point out that I work in Wales where our curriulum is play based and based on the skills that you want them to learn. Wales has a muh better system in my opinion

You are doing all the right things.