Milestones in reception? Am I wrong?

[Louiselouie0890]

My son is the youngest in the year. Ive just had his term assessment and his reading writing and math is at the age of a 2.5 year old apparently? Maths he can count to 20 and recognise numbers easily, writing I know hes behind maybe not 2.5 year old behind but were working on it. His reading, he can recognise some highly used words and can spell out words with the alphabet all day long although sometimes he struggles to put the word together he recognises his name and words like mum dad etc. Would you say this is 2.5 year old level or am I going insane?

That sounds a bit nuts, because surely 2.5 year olds cannot do any reading, writing or maths? I have a 2 year old and he can count to 2, and even that’s a bit iffy.

My dd started reception able to write her name and maybe a few letters. They didn’t even give them books with words in them until close to the very end of the autumn term.

I would ask to speak to the teacher to ask some questions.

Seems a little odd to suggest your DC is so behind. Given what you have said they seem perfectly normal to me. Is your DC at a private prep or a state school?

My 2.5 yo knows some names of numbers and can sometimes put some of them in order but not securely. He's clearly learned things like 1,2,3,4,5 by rote not because he "can count" or really knows what this means.

He knows that numbers have notations but does not get them correct. I.e he can point to a 7 and say "that's number 5"

He can sort into colours but cannot name the colours consistently.

He can remember and pre empt bits of a basic, familiar story by looking at pictures. He enjoys listening to stories. He cannot recognise words.

I use this sometimes to see how my DS is getting on. It's probably a little out of date now but it gives me an idea of what he should be able to do at his age https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EarlyYearss_Outcomes.pdf

So what does the assessment actually say?

Saying "the age of a 2.5 year old" sounds unlikely as the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) usually assesses them as being in a certain stage e.g. 22-36 months or 30-50 months. If they said 2.5 year old perhaps that's the 30-50 months bracket?
Have a look at the link above www.foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Early_Years_Outcomes.pdf to see what I mean.

I wouldn’t be worried at reception age at all to be honest. See what he’s like at the end of the school year.

Although for context my 2.5 year old can count to 20, recognise most numbers written down (gets 6 and 9 mixed up) up to 10, knows most letters and can recognise some frequently used words. Can “write” all the letters of her name (forms them correctly but they’re unrecognisable if you just saw the writing and hadn’t seen her doing it). But she was behind with her speech and it suddenly just clicked. If I’d have compared her to other children I would have been worried but I knew she was developing ok really.

Are you sure it's not an age range of 30-50 months? So, if he was at the top of that bracket, that would be just over 4, and about where he is chronologically?

Magpie, your toddler sound fab, but miles ahead of my oldest at 2.5!

My daughter is August born and in Reception. I’d say she can read basic books and write basic sentences but with odd spelling. She can count much higher than 20 but occasionally gets it wrong and she can do simple maths. But her ‘best friend’ can’t do many of those things yet, though I’m sure he will get there.

2.5 sounds silly as she certainly couldn’t read or write then!! Maybe they meant 3.5?

My nephew was able to count to 100 and do basic sums, and read small books, by 19 months old. Every child is different. It does all somewhat even out over time.
I wouldnt pay TOO much attention to what any teacher says about your child at this time of year.
They play down their abilities now so come the end of the school year they can big up their abilities and claim it was their wonderful teaching that got them there.
Its the same every darn year.

My 2.5 year old mostly yells, "POOOO" at the top of voice and cracks up. He can count if random numbers going both up and down counts. He can't recognise a single letter or number and will not accept that his favourite toy is green, not black. So I reckon your son is doing fine.

My little boy is the youngest in his year. He was always behind and he got quite anxious as a result. I never pushed or made a fuss and when the teachers showed me their attainment expectations I didn’t worry because he’s almost a year younger than most of his peers. He’s very bright and now in year four where he’s finally caught up.
He’s a very happy little boy and all his school related anxiety behaviour and ticking has stopped.
I’m really glad I never pushed him or panicked as he was under enough pressure from them already.
If you believe he doesn’t have any educational special needs then maybe don’t worry either?
Ask the teachers directly if they think there’s a problem and if so how is the school going to help?

Every child is different and they can come on rapidly in leaps and bounds, and then seem to plateau, so I wouldn't be too worried.
My daughter was given a book bag with nightly reading (mostly books without words, and then basic satpin stuff), when she was in nursery. (Attends a 3-18 school.) By reception she was confidently reading with decent spelling when writing. Any spelling errors were still correct phonetically, and her maths was decent, but she was always ahead and rated as having the reading age of an 8 year old. The classes for the week (throughout the year) were still focused on colours and numbers 1-20. I thought this was terribly basic, as my daughter knew all of that before age 2, but there were actually many children in her reception class who didn't, so I think my expectations were just wrong.

With my youngest, he has known numbers 1-10 visually since about 2, but could count things up to about 15-20 at that time. He has known letters since turning 2 as well, and his vocabulary is very advanced, but he has no interest in writing or reading, will not attempt to blend letters, and doesn't want to hold a pen, even for colouring. He is 3.5 (summer baby), at the school nursery and starts reception in September.

Both my children are so different. The eldest will show off everything that she knows. My youngest isn't inclined to at all. He just has no interest, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know things. I.e., he's not attempting to write his name, which some of his classmates are, but he knows more letters than them, so on the one hand he seems behind them, and on the other hand, ahead.
As long as you are spending time with your child to help them, without forcing the issue, they will be fine and have plenty of time to catch up/want to do it for themselves.

DS is also youngest in his year, (end of August) and had glue ear that didn't clear until Y2 which meant he basically missed phonics because he couldn't hear. He went into learning support the Christmas of Reception and stayed there until Y5, he's been assessed for dyslexia by Ed Psych and we were so worried there was talk between us and school about moving him back a year.

He started Y6 in Sept and has just passed the (tough) entrance exam to move into his Senior school, and whilst he was nowhere near the top of his year, he was a good, solid average. It is really worrying when they seem behind and are struggling versus their peers, but it doesn't mean they will always stay that way.

My 2.5yo can't do any of that and was assessed as being advanced for her age at her 27 month development review.