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AIBU?

To ask what your child learnt in Reception this year?

80 replies

helipadded · 27/07/2013 21:40

Hi, my eldest child has just completed Reception and I just can't seem to shake this feeling that the school aren't as good as I had thought.

Please tell me about what they should be learning in subjects like Maths and English, and how much PE they should be doing.

I looked at the National Curriculum but I find it quite overwhelming and difficult to understand in broad terms.

For example, is 1 or 2 sessions of PE a week enough?

Should they be reading fluently at the end of Reception?

How should handwriting be?

Should they understand adding, subtracting, multiplication (times tables), and division?

I'm also really questioning the end of year report. Should my child be coming home with a report that gives her a ranking or mark in each subject?

Thank you for your feedback and help. Wish I didn't feel so worried and concerned about school when my little one is still so young.

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kim147 · 27/07/2013 21:43

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fakebook · 27/07/2013 21:45

My dd learnt how to read and sound out words so she can read independently. She learnt how to write letters correctly and to write short stories with added detail. Most of the words she spells are spelled phonetically so a lot of mistakes. She also knows about halving and multiplying and which numbers are more than and less than each other. She learnt about wildlife like frogs and butterflies and dinosaurs and famous fairytales.

I'm really pleased with her reception year. I can't believe she couldn't read this time last year. It's amazing.

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Jojay · 27/07/2013 21:51

My DS has just finished yr 1, but at the end of reception he could add and subtract but hadn't started multiplication or division. He ended reception on yellow book band, iirc, and was reading fluently AT THAT LEVEL but couldn't pick up any old book and read it.

I think they did PE once a week in Reception, but they've had it twice a week in Yr 1.

Ds is deemed to be doing pretty well, not on the G&T list but the next group behind that iyswim.

Your expectations seem to be a bit unrealistic.

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ShirazSavedMySanity · 27/07/2013 21:52

What fakebook said. My DD did exactly that.

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PleasePudding · 27/07/2013 21:54

My son learnt to read fairly fluently in basic books (biff, kipper, chi) he has been tested and basically learnt 150 sight words. He has some understanding of adding and subtracting and can do simple sums. He does not understand multiplication or division. His writing is really not good apparently, he can write the letters but not necessarily forming them the correct way and they are quite big. He has done PE twice a week plus music and French once a week.
His colouring in has improved a bit but is erratic.

However, this might not be helpful, but he enjoys reading, he'll be able to write eventually and he seems to like school and like learning and I definitely think this is by far and away the most important lessons.

Our end of term report was in various areas marked emerging (1), expected (2), exceeding (3). DC1 got mainly 2s with a few 1s - writing being one- but no 3s.

I felt a bit worried at first but they are still so young, I genuinely think keeping them interested in learning and confident in reading must be more important than attainment until at least they are 8 years old or so. But I am no professional and this is my first too.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 21:54

Thank you for your replies. Did you receive an end of year report and did that have any marking or grading of your child's ability? I ask this because I think I remember reading somewhere that they should be given this format of report at the end of Reception. Or perhaps it's Year 1 as Reception is still Early Years??

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Talkinpeace · 27/07/2013 21:55

Year R is for

  • learning to listen
  • learning to observe
  • learning to share
  • learning to obey adults other than parents
  • learning to mix with new people
  • learning to play nicely with others
  • learning about learning
  • learning the beginnings of reading, writing and numbers


in most countries, 4 and 5 year olds are still in nursery
learning exactly those things

it is about building the foundations for later years of learning
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fakebook · 27/07/2013 21:58

We weren't given a grading, there were different "subjects" or "areas" of learning and they were given either an "emerging" "expected" or "exceeding". Dd got a majority of "exceedings" and a few "expecteds".
We've nicknamed her Mr Kipling because of her report Grin.

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kim147 · 27/07/2013 21:59

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PrettyKitty1986 · 27/07/2013 22:06

Ds1 has just finished Reception. Starting reception he knew most of his letters and that was it...now he's reading actual books (OK short ones, but still). Like the pp, I find it amazing how quickly he's come on. They use the Oxford Reading tree and he's left Reception on Level 4 which I think is in the mid-range. I know that there are two kids on Level 7 but still a couple on Level 1.

He can write many of the words he recognises from his books but now also attempts to write anything else...but like the pp, phonetically, so lots of mistakes. The best one recently was when he drew a picture of a car and wrote underneath it 'this car gos 100 myls an awaar' (this car goes 100 miles an hour) lol. I just love that he has the confidence to try, which he wouldn't have even a few weeks back. His handwriting is the same as most five year olds...can be neat but gets messy if he's rushing.

Maths I can't really comment on as ds is g&t in numeracy so currently working at around KS2 level. I think generally the aim is for them to be able to add and subtract numbers to 10 or 20 and count in twos and fives (simple sequences).

General learning...it's so hard to make a list. He's learnt about animals, countries, plants, the weather. They've had a guest speaker in to talk about life under the sea (all I heared about was sea anenomies (sp) for ages. Just far too much to even write.

Ds1s report did not grade him in anything - there was just a write up of different areas.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 22:08

I have just found the 'emerging/expected/exceeding' report! It was in with her end of year pictures and work from school. Must look for it next time!

It's all 'expected'. Every single one. Which is great but am I alone in wanting just a bit more info?

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NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 27/07/2013 22:09

My Dd is slower than she "should" be with literacy...she can sound words out and also write words down with odd spelling. She has learned all this at school in reception as I never taught her any reading skills.

School are now happy with her progress but she will continue in a focus group in September.

She could already do a lot of physical stuff and converse well. She's learned a good amount of sciency things....

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kim147 · 27/07/2013 22:11

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NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 27/07/2013 22:11

Heli do you speak to her teacher regularly? It sometimes takes a little push from parents to get more info. I went in a few times to talk abour DD and how I could help at home....my DD is emerging with reading and I'm not worried...you perhaps need to be more pushy in terms of communication.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 22:16

I have talked to the teacher quickly at drop off about 3 times over the year.

I always felt as though I was perceived as a pushy parent! I don't think they wanted me to do anything at home with them! Maybe they thought teaching them the wrong way would do more harm than good?

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ClayDavis · 27/07/2013 22:17

You should have been given a report with the 17 ELG and each of those should have been marked as 'emerging', 'expected' or 'exceeding'. That is a requirement for the end of Reception.

There's no requirement for specific weekly PE sessions in reception, although one of the areas of learning is physical development which includes gross and fine motor control.

I wouldn't expect them to be reading very fluently but I would expect children to use their phonics knowledge to sound out unknown words, not just guessing. At least Yellow level would be ideal but anywhere between pink and lime is not unusual.

Handwriting - can vary a lot but I would expect children to be able to form all of the letters correctly and write words and preferably sentences with finger spaces between words.

Maths - counting to 20, counting 20 objects, 1 more, 1 less. Addition and subtraction using objects to help them. Wouldn't expect multiplication and division as such but counting in steps of 2 or 10, counting a small number of groups of objects with the same number in each group and sharing objects into equal groups.

All of this is hugely variable. Some children will do all of this and more. Others will do some bits but need more practice for other bits in year 1. Both of those are completely normal.

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wigglesrock · 27/07/2013 22:18

letter formation

writing short sentences eg At the beach I like to .........

they get a reading book or 2 home every week. Dd2 finished P1/reception in June - she can read. Her older sister couldn't at the end of P1 but flies through books now

Basic mental maths - if I have 4 buns and eat 2 - how many is left?

2 and 3d shapes

topics like space, dinosaurs, under the sea

PE once a week

At the end of P1 in June, we got a really detailed report of each topic covered, with hints or attention drawn to anything she could work on/found difficult but no "rankings" or marks or anything. We also got all her workbooks/jotters Smile home which was lovely and fascinating.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 22:18

Just to add, I was always told my child was 'achieving as they should be'. That is wonderful but if I'm going to spend time with them and my little one does like to do art or numbers or letters, then I would like to know which I could focus on more for their benefit.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 22:19

Where can I find out about the Yellow, Pink and Lime reading levels?

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PoppyWearer · 27/07/2013 22:23

Have you had a chance to go into school at parents evenings or other times and see your DC's workbooks and examples of their progress?

I've seen my DC's and they have collected dated examples of each area of learning (reading, writing, numeracy) and the progress is quite clear to see.

Maybe ask to see this?

Plus we get regular letters home to say what they've done.

I'm extremely impressed by their progress in Reception. From nothing to reading/writing and basic sums is just mind blowing!

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 27/07/2013 22:23

Maybe slightly different as we are in Wales and our ds attends welsh school.

He can now read simple books (level 3) welsh books and can write all of his numbers and letters (cursive) but not really write whole words or sentences that I can understand , though his teacher seems able to!

He can do simple addition and subtraction and understands the concepts of half and double.

He works well in groups and as an individual and has performed in 3 class assemblies.

We are very pleased with his reception year in school - he enjoys going and enjoys what they do there.

At our school, actual levels of achievement aren't reported on until the end of year 2.

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ClayDavis · 27/07/2013 22:24

I probably shouldn't have referred to those. Not all schools do. Do you know what reading scheme the school does use or is it a mixture of schemes?

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PrettyKitty1986 · 27/07/2013 22:26

Just grabbed ds1's report to check - he definitely has no 'emerging/expected/exceeding' wording in there - maybe it's different in Wales?

There is a write up on these areas -
General Comments (Relationships, personal qualities, attitude etc)
Headteacher's comment
Language, Literacy and Communication skills (Oracy, Reading & Writing)
Mathematical Development
Personal and Social Development, Wellbeing and Cultural Diversity
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Welsh Language Development
Physical development
Creative development

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bearleftmonkeyright · 27/07/2013 22:29

My ds has just finished reception, my third child. Plenty of his areas of learning are emerging code for he can't do it his social skills are excellent, he will sit and listen. He has made some progress in reading and can manipulate and count numbers up to ten.

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helipadded · 27/07/2013 22:31

They use a mixture of schemes, but I think I've just looked it up actually - - thanks.

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