Why do schools (or is it just my child's school) want parents to take responsibility for this ?

[indignatio]

It's all in the title.

[piscesmoon]

What do you mean?

[seeker]

No it isn't.

[2pt4kids]

for what?

[TheFallenMadonna]

Do you mean that the school doesn't do anything?

[southeastastra]

gifted and talented.

why what do they say about it

[indignatio]

More reasoned title then (if considerably longer):

Does your child's school expect the parents of a G&T child to stretch the child sideways (but does provide information of websites and courses which the parents can visit/go on) or does your child's school stretch (sideways obviously) within class ?

[cory]

Our primary schools set for ability and if you are in top set, then the level is really quite good. In Year 6, the top set dd was in were doing maths at what would normally be Year 8 level.

At junior school, there was also a G&T club at lunchtime which dd was invited to join (she declined).

There were also the usual music lessons and an art club- any of those could count as stretching sideways whether you are G&T or not. Some gifted children make great progress in music. And there is an IT club.

Dd had her own library card at the local library very early on, so I can't exactly say I had to take reponsibility for stretching her: she did a lot of that on her own.

Now she is in secondary school, again there is setting for different subjects.

Also, there are all sorts of after-school clubs (though dd can't join as has to be in time to leave in the disabled taxi).

Also a lot of secondary school work is in form of projects, so those can be done to any level of difficulty: she is using books written for adults for her history projects and is doing a lot of work on her own. My only contribution is offering to get books out of the university library for her as and when needed.

SO there are all sorts of ways of getting yourself stretched sideways, even if they're not necessarily labelled G&T.

[cory]

I'm afraid I've never really known about websites and things- but I find dd is very handy in telling me about good websites.

She's just set me up with a powerpoint presentation for a conference I'm attending on Monday: you don't suppose I could take her as my technical assistant?

[twentypence]

I would have had to at ds's old school. His new school takes care of it.

[indignatio]

I honestly don't give a flying #### what the label is, I just don't think that being bored in class is fine, beacuse the parents can (should/ will anyway) provide the intellectual stimulation outsided class.

[TheFallenMadonna]

But you're talking about appropriately differentiated classwork surely?

[smartiejake]

At DDs school they invite the G and T children (identifies by way of an IQ test at the beginning of year 3) to attend "Master Classes" on Saturdays usually about 2 a term.

They cost £25 for the day.

[indignatio]

TFM - yes, and homework (if it has to be given)

[indignatio]

SJ - THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN ( shouting only because this is a subject close to my heart and it is not that I begrudge my child £50 per term (and would find it if appropriate) but just that i would like my child to be properly stimulated at school so that there is nor obligation (although I would do it anyway) to provide G&T provision at home).

Here endeth the rant.

[TheFallenMadonna]

But is that stretching sideways? I do see that as my job TBH. And I'm not fussed about homework.

[seeker]

Stretching sideways is my job.

Providing properly differentiated class work is the school's job.

[SoMuchToBits]

Our school do do some different levels of work for different abilities - e.g. ds and one of his friends get given different things to do in maths which are harder (he is year 3 btw). But the homework all seems to be the same for the whole class. This seems to be the particular teacher rather than a school approach though. In year 1 the spellings given were different for different groups, but now in year 3 they are all the same (so ds is getting easier spellings than he was getting in year 1!). I have mentioned this to the teacher, who has said she will give them some different ones, but it hasn't happened yet.

[MadMazza]

I don't think the school has a right to place all the responsibility on the parents - children are at school for 30 hrs a week. During this time I think they are most receptive to learnng because they are with teachers who have been trained to teach, and because, in my experience, children allow teachers to help and guide them. My son has never been receptive to any help or guidance from me because I am his mother. When they get home in the evening, and for the best part of the weekend, children need to chill out, experience new things, go to new places do sport,or hobbies. They cannot be expected to do more work and it's unfair for parents to be expected to force this on them. IMHO the school should identify needs and stretch a child to their best ability - whether state schools have the facilities/ staffing/money to do this is what it is all about. Parents should not be made to feel guilty for the state education system's shortcomings. There is room for improvement.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I'm thinking it all hangs on your definition of stretching sideways

[MadMazza]

Surely it's not just stretching sideways - isn't it about stretching vertically as well? Within an ordinary state school year group teachers encounter all abilities from SEN to G&T and everything else inbetween and beyond.. How can one teacher of 28 children cater for every child's needs in these circumstances?

[TheFallenMadonna]

I was referring to the OP's question.

[cory]

What age is your child?

My dd has seldom been bored in class because subjects like literacy involve a certain amount of self-differentiation: you can often write your story to as high a standard as you like.

Does your school not set for maths and literacy? Or is the level low even in top set?

[cory]

To me, it's not about an obligation to provide G&T provision at home: it's more that my dd is such an interesting person to talk to. It's not a bloody obligation to talk to her: she's just got one of the most interesting and original minds I know.

And she is always finding things out for herself; again it's not about obligation; it's a joy to her to do what she is best at; just like somebody with a great singing voice is likely to keep humming whether you tell them to or not.

[lijaco]

NO CHILDREN AT SCHOOL GET SPECIAL PRIVILIGES! ALL CHILDREN GET BORED AT TIMES. YOU HAVE TO BE GIFTED AND TALENTED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR THREAD IS SAYING.
YES PAY FOR EXTRA TUITION IT WILL GAURANTEE YOUR CHILD TO STAY WITHIN THE G & T PROVISION. IS THIS YOUR ONLY PROBLEM. WHY DO YOU EXPECT PRIVILEGE TREATMENT GET A GRIP!

I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE KIDS WHO ARE NOT G& T WHAT EXTRAS SHOULD THEY GET DUE TO THEIR MISFORTUNE!

[mimsum]

stop shouting please