Any teachers/former teachers? Advice please.

You’re not missing anything.
Ever since I’ve had grandchildren I’ve realised how the whole education system is failing our children.

I'm not a teacher, I'm a TA

But I think mum needs to ask for a meeting with the teacher and the SENCO too

In Y3 I see no reason why the homework can't be adapted to his level... It is important children do not miss out any stage of learning, education is like building a wall, if you want to build higher those foundations have to be in place.

It's good that extra support has been offered, that extra support may flag up any issues

However you must go into this with the understanding that, a year is a little if development for a child, it can be normal that children in the same class do not hit milestones at the same time..

Ask for the meeting, make a list of your concerns to take with you so that none are forgotten

Add to that list that he is being supported to complete homework and spending the appropriate time on it and that interventions should not be during a child's break times unless that is what the parents and child agree too

I remember when DS started school many years ago, summer born children did not start in reception until after the February half-term, so not only younger but disadvantaged by missing half a year of reception.
They all moved up to Y1 at the same time.

At least they wrote 'Summer Born' on their exercise books but it was a hurdle for these younger pupils to overcome.
Now his DD is even younger in the year (similar to your DGS) but there was no chance of delaying school for a year because the policy here is for them to join in Y1 anyway!

They seem to be such little tots when they start at just 4 whereas others in the class may be nearly 5. It does make a difference.

At least the school has recognised his struggles but I really don't agree with homework and such pressure at 7.

Is there another primary school he could transfer to which may not have such a rigid approach and may be more helpful with investigations into possible dyslexia?

I’m a retired teacher/SEN advisory teacher.
VioletSky is right to advise a meeting with the SENCO.

Lots of schools have screening for possible Dyslexia. He may need an Educational Psychology assessment.

You could pay for a private SPLD ( specific learning difficulty) or Dyslexia / Dyscalculia screening but it would probably cost in excess of £500.
School should be exploring and meeting his individual needs. There will probably be limited EP time in the budget.

Learning and any related homework should be differentiated. Punishment in terms of missing break times should absolutely not be used. This would impact negatively on his ability to concentrate.
Spellings can and should also be differentiated.

He would benefit from clear expectations, chunking and modelling learning followed by some movement breaks or opportunities for success.

Multisensory learning would be beneficial and some computer based learning e.g. Dragon software ( types when you talk) or a supportive writing package ( helps with sentence structure suggests or provides vocabulary)
On the iPad something like Writing Wizard may help. You can make your own lists of words and also helps with letter formation. Fun and interactive.

See how you get on but there will be local support and advice for parents in your local authority.
You do have a right to request a parental assessment of needs from the LA but I would see what school intend to do.

Ask for the meeting, make a list of your concerns to take with you so that none are forgotten

Yes, do this as a first step.

Missing breaks and sport seems quite punitive at his age.

PS. Clicker by Crick software is good too. Couldn’t think of the name! Ask if school have anything like this

I used to use Twinkl when the DGC were set projects to do and found it very helpful.

www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/parents/age-specific-resources-parents/parents-ages-5-11-year-1-year-6

Learning and any related homework should be differentiated. Punishment in terms of missing break times should absolutely not be used. This would impact negatively on his ability to concentrate.
Spellings can and should also be differentiated.

As another former SENCO, I totally agree.

I wonder if it is not a school problem, but his teacher lacking the expertise and experience to support your grandchild.

Thanks everyone.
DD told me that the children in the extra ‘support class’ are mostly late summer born children
Allira Same here. My daughter was desperate to defer him starting aged just 4, as she knew he wasn’t ready, but had he started a year later he would have gone straight into Yr1. She understood the importance of reception so sent him.

She’s not at the stage of wanting to move schools. I think that would be quite upsetting for him as he’s got lots of friends, is popular and for the most part, enjoys school.
Sorry I can’t remember who advised what, but I will give DD all of this advice and get her to push for assessment.
I will pay for him to be tested privately if she would like me to. I have offered before, but I think she wants to see what the school will offer before it comes to that.
Thank you for all your replies

Thanks for all the links to available resources and to those with experience who have given great advice.

If only there was art or football homework!

The school year is crazy for some children and always will be. If it went Jan-Dec some children would still be the youngest/oldest in the class.
I taught the last year that there was a split entry, and as Allira says, some children moved to year one after only two or even one term.

As has been said, take a list of concerns and ask to see the teacher or the SENDCo.
A lot of training for Dyslexia has gone on in many schools, and there are ways of teaching which benefit all children not just those with dyslexia.
Hopefully they’ll be able to explain what, if anything, they are doing.
Re the homework, again I’d have thought there was differentiation, so if there isn’t, it’s worth asking about.
Missing breaks? What will that achieve unless he has support, now they’ve decided he needs it.
Good luck

Flaxseed

Thanks for all the links to available resources and to those with experience who have given great advice.

If only there was art or football homework!

Footballers can earn very high salaries 😀
I must admit DS was more interested in football than homework but did get a degree - although he was a mature student. He did it when he was ready.

As a dyslexia specialist I would say that 7 is a little early to be having a diagnostic assessment. But it doesn’t mean you can’t get extra tuition for him. When I was working I would have taken a child like your DGC and started him on a remedial reading and spelling programme. At that age tuition is a better use of limited resources than an assessment. If he doesn’t improve with specialist help then get him an assessment when he is 9 or 10.

The child's parents must make an appointment to see the class teacher, when they can discuss a referral to the Senco for an assessment of his abilities and problems, Avoid the private dyslexia route; it is expensive and unreliable and its practitioners are not prepared to work with school. The homework system sounds rather arbitrary and your daughter should discuss this with the class teacher; I used to have four different spelling groups, the curse of mixed ability teaching. The extra tuition sounds good and he is receiving individual attention, Don't blame everything on his age; support your daughter but don't interfere too much and stay away from parents' evening.

They shouldn’t be given homework at that age. Full stop. I would be changing his school but I don’t know the situation where he lives, perhaps there isn’t much choice.

Is there any way that the family could also support him at home by showing him how Maths, English, and Science work in everyday life as in going to the supermarket, visiting a farm, checking out mileage on motorways. One of the best ways for a child to learn is on the hoof and being enculturated into the everyday world he sees around him. Not sure what sort of a school your GS goes to but threatening with detention is a bit draconian at that age. I hate children being labelled anything and we seem obsessed in the modern world to give them a label. My father would sit with me till I got my ten spellings all right. He was kind and gentle but persistent. Is your daughter giving him the right impression that sport and art are in fact 'feather subjects' as we used to call them and that the three Rs are in fact service subjects which are key to everything. Get him out there and show him how his school and subjects work in real life, he will then see the point of why he is doing them. Perhaps art and sport could be the reward. Ask me if I know what I am talking about, yes, I do. I've had thousand of pupils go through my hands from nursery to university level from the most deprived to public school and have higher degrees in Education as a specialist study.

nanna8

They shouldn’t be given homework at that age. Full stop. I would be changing his school but I don’t know the situation where he lives, perhaps there isn’t much choice.

There is nothing wrong with setting homework, as long as it is appropriate, tailored to the child's needs and manageable.

Our pupils had homework from day one, a new sound each day, to reinforce the lesson of that day.
A reading book was also given out in the first week.

I’m not a teacher, but there is something to be said for the “levelling out” theory in my experience as a parent. My DD2 was being considered for extra support at school at the start of Y3, though her teachers did still think she’d catch up. Her writing and spelling were described as “eccentric”, and her understanding of basic maths was practically non-existent, though she was obviously gifted when it came to art. These days she’d probably have been waiting to be diagnosed and labelled, then she was just described as a late starter. Sure enough a few months later something just seemed to click and she was quickly on a par with her classmates. She went on to achieve really well academically, as well as studying at Art School. She’s a Spring birthday, so that wasn’t the issue. Our son was born on 30th August and the only problem he ever had was that he was exhausted at the end of the day when he first started school. DD1, on the other hand, was one of the eldest in her class and was bored rigid in Year 6 when all the older ones were more than ready for high school.

It’s a shame your grandson’s unhappy, Flaxseed, and to me that seems entirely due to the pressure put on him by the school’s homework policy. Threatening 7 year olds with detention for not doing it “properly” just seems so wrong in so many ways.

It sounds like the school is almost setting him up to fail. I would ask the teacher to set him homework which is within his abilities until his confidence has grown.. Encouragement is really needed here.. I simply don't agree with punishments as a way forward..

Quick reply as I am at work.

Thanks for all the advice, I spoke to DD earlier and she is going to make an appointment with the school.

We all encourage him in everyday life such as baking (incorporating numbers and reading) shopping etc and he likes a ‘football’ maths activity book I found.
He’s totally supported at home.

Although I agree that there’s a trend to ‘label’ children, unfortunately it seems that having a label is the only way to get extra support.

I don’t interfere nor do I go to parents evenings (wouldn’t dream of it unless invited!) but having been through this with DD I know how long everything takes

DD would tell me if I was interfering anyway.

Different here,obviously. A child of that age would not be expected to do homework. I think they start giving it out at around aged 10-11. Sometimes they have days with a theme and the children might wear costumes or talk about family trees etc but not formal. I am really against putting pressure on young kids, I think it is very wrong.

I agree nanna8
I hate the pressure he is under

He just wants to play football every waking moment!
He’s joined a team and everyone is very impressed with him, even other team managers, so it’s lovely that he gets a boost of confidence from that.

Classes are mixed ability and in effect mixed age - a year is a large proportion of a little one's life, so the summer born children cannot be expected to be at the same level as their older peers. And that is irrespective of any SEND.

As to homework in primary school - don't get me on that subject! When do these small humans get the chance to really be children? Childhood is gone in a flash and needs to be respected and treasured as the precious time it is - keep school work out of homes!! Bugger the national curriculum!!