Any teachers/former teachers? Advice please.

luckygirl
👏👏👏🥰

Mr Gove has a lot to answer for! Good luck.

You are definitely not missing anything! I am a former TA and worked with many children who were 'too young' for school. It may well be that your GS is dyslexic, but even if not, he needs differentiation and that means across the curriculum, including homework. To give what amounts to detention for HW not being done 'correctly' is ridiculous. Hopefully your DDs meeting with the school (including the SENCO) will yield results.

In the meantime, does he have a 'link' book or a 'journal' in which teachers and/or parents can write? If so, his mum could write a note that he has attempted his HW and was unable to complete it. I don't see how any teacher could ignore that and keep him in at break - at least any teacher worthy of their job!

Good luck. Do let us know how things work out.

PS Slightly off topic - the issue of very young children starting school could be mediated if they reverted to the old system of having two intakes. My two both started at age 4 and a half - one in September and one in January. That seems so much fairer to me.

luckygirl I agree.
They are little for such a short time

The only alternative to ‘conforming’ is home schooling, and that wouldn’t be an option in this case as both parents are self employed and need to work. Although thankfully DD is around for every drop off and pick up.
DGS loves the social aspect of school thankfully. DD had a message from another parent recently thanking her for raising such a caring child as her child is very reserved and finds it hard to join in. DGS took him under his wing and got him involved
What a shame there’s no targets for kindness

I will keep you posted.

What a shame there’s no targets for kindness - indeed so.

What is needed is kindness homework!

I used to teach Yr3 and I was often amazed by the levelling up that took place. That said I was also aware of the children who weren't levelling up and discussed them with the SENCO. I also differentiated in the work levels. As other's have said, book an appointment with the SENCO and class teacher. Voice your concerns and explain that your child is becoming anxious. They've obviously already picked up on the issue as they're offering extra support. Ask if you can work as a team with them. What extra support can you offer at home that doesn't feel like even more lessons? You say that he loves football. Why not buy a football magazine and read it with him? Talk about the pictures etc. Go to the none fiction section at a library and let him pick something that interests him. It doesn't matter if it's to hard for him to read. Lots of non fiction books are full of pictures to talk about. Maybe pick out one or two relevant words. Let him see that books can be fun even if you can't read them properly.

Sorry about none fiction. My computer decided to auto correct

Please do not tar all teachers with the same brush.
I have been known for handing out Kindness homework

E.g ^ Children, no homework tonight. It is a beautiful day, get out and enjoy the sunshine^

The homework I issued (school policy) was differentiated to suit pupils' needs.
One failing teacher/ school is not an indication of all teachers or schools.

Luckygirl3

*What a shame there’s no targets for kindness* - indeed so.

What is needed is kindness homework!

At the DGDs' primary school there are awards for kindness, Headteacher's Superstar awards for all kinds of activities, not just academic work.

I had a look at the website and noticed that this is listed in their important dates:

World Kindness Day – 13th November

'Encouragement' and 'positivity' seem to be key words that are included in the school's aims.

The focus should to teach to ability, rather than to age.

This was exactly the situation for my GS he was struggling with reading, writing and spelling (maths he was good at) at age 7.

He was kept in at playtime as he had never completed his work, my DD had a word with the school and ensured this didn’t happen again. She also engaged a tutor for 1 hour a week
, this has been totally life changing,

18 months later he has now caught up to standard in all the difficult areas but the main thing is he now has confidence whereas he used to say “I’m too stupid, I can’t do it”.

A good personal tutor can really make a difference.

Dyslexia isn't really diagnosed before Year 3 and as your grandchild is the youngest in that year I can understand the teachers are setting him some fun games in Maths and English to see if that helps and he starts to make some progress. Some children are just slow readers.

As for the punishment for incorrect homework I personally find that harsh. If he is attempting the work but he has made mistakes then surely that gives a marker to his teacher where he is struggling. He doesn't need to be punished for trying. His parents need to see his teacher about this before he is upset and stressed about missing break time with his friends. What benefit will that have? Only negative ones that I can see.

Mainstream Primary schools have a wide range of abilities to teach without the money or resources. If you don't get any help from talking to his teacher then ask to see the SENCO at his school. He or she will be the one to set the ball rolling should you need to go down the assessment route.

Having experience in this I wish you all the best but time is of the essence, especially for your grandson.

My DGD when in Y3 got a bee in her bonnet that those who didn't do well in a test the following week wouldn't be allowed to go into Y4.
"But they haven't told us what WILL happen to us"
Nothing we could say made any difference
As has previously been said, make a proper appointment with his teacher (not 90seconds in the playground), ask what was actually said re. homework, explain how stressed he's getting etc etc. Good luck

DD saw the teacher after school. She was lovely (job share teacher) and very understanding.
She says DGS is on a table with an LSA as they recognise he needs support. She advised against getting him tested as he already has the support he would get anyway, and feels that it would be wasted money at this stage.
Apparently, the after school extra support club that he is now part of is run by two teachers who have had great results.
The ‘detention’ at play time is more for children who have no home support or access to online support, rather than as a punishment.
DD explained about DGS passion for football and that she wants to encourage this by playing with his friends at play time. The teacher seemed supportive of this.
Everything seems positive for now but DD is on the ball and will monitor things closely.
His homework is going to be adjusted to his ability.
We both feel happy with the teachers explanation of things.
DD knows I will pay for assessment or extra tuition should he need it, but both of us are happy for now.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread.

Perfect outcome

Yes. Well worth having a talk with his teacher and I hope he continues to get the help he needs and makes good progress.

That all sounds very positive. Your DD definitely did the right thing. Communication is so important, especially when our DCs and DGCs are involved.

Sounds good flaxseed