What do you do with the informatrion in your DC's monitoring report?

[ClubName]

DS1, yr8 gets a monitoring report sent home each H-T. It tells us what NC level he's currently assessed at, what his target is for the end of the year and gives a mark of 1-4 for effort and conduct in each subject.

To be a good, supportive parent what should I be doing when I get this report? Please explain from the very beginning, as I think I'm getting it horribly wrong.

just look at crap ones and work out why ? Ring school if an issue

think you are over worrying

I work on the assumption that if there is a real problem the school will contact me (and they have done , regarding behaviour). I really wish these reports were clearer, I had to go on to some website to work out what all the levels meant and where my Y8 DS should be 'expected' to be IYSWIM.

Then I just file the report .

Well yes, up to now I've been doing a bit of both of those and I think I'm coming over very negative to DS.

I have a look down for anything that's not right (a low effort grade or no progress in 6/9 months) and tell him he needs to pull his socks up. I don't often seem to have anything positive to say.

His effort/conduct grades are generally mostly 2s with a smattering of 1s and his NC levels are at or slightly behind where he needs to be at Y/E, so there doesn't seem to be anything great I can say. Also, I find that the subjects he achieves most in at the ones that don't count as much (RE/Drama) and the ones he does least well at are things like Maths and English.

I too would hope that if there was a problem someone would contact me but he apparently hasn't made any progress in Maths since this time last year and no-one's been in touch.

For a start, you need to make sure that he doesn't know that you think the things he does best at don't count for much!

OP

you need to relax a bit

When they get their tracking report they set a target for the next report, If they meet that target they get a reward when the next report comes out.

They praised for any subject in which they are making faster progress than expected, I contact the appropriate person with any concerns. If there are concerns I make sure that I check the exercise book of that subjects and monitor the homework more closely in the future.

Praise him for the 1s, discuss how to improve the 2s and 3s, sanction the 4s and be concerned if there are lots of 3s and 4s. Have a conversation re the subjects where he is making good progress and wha he could do differently in the ones he is not. Look for trends e.g issues with punctuality or equipment. That's what I'd like parents to do with the reports we send home anyway.

We get the same (DS2 in Yr9) system with 6 updates per year.

TBH if effort is 1 or 2, and progress on or above target not a lot to worry about, plus the school has an effort focused rewards system.

We had a few 3s in the autum term which we spoke with DS2 about, the more galling ones being where attainment is above target, but effort poor. Touch wood only 1s and 2s since.

DS1 went to same school, so mildly interest to compare like for like progress which in attainment are remarkably similar so far, although DS1 has perhaps a slightly more consistant work ethic. The comparison however is strictly for myself and DH.

DH and I focus positive praise on effort over attainment - DS1 for example was pretty hopeless at Art but always scored high on effort. We've not had the issue of attainment slipping on key facilitating subjects (yet). We pick up on lower effort and gentle push in the right direction seems to be working so far.