To speak to school or give them more time?

[trickydickie]

My daughter started secondary school 1 and a half weeks ago.

She went into her maths class with the rest of her main class and 5 mins later a teacher came into the class and took her out. She was told to go to another maths class that only had 15 children in it, a teacher and 3 pupil support assistants.

I have explained she will be getting extra support in this class. She has accepted it.

I was very happy when she told me this as was constantly asking for her to get extra help in maths in primary and felt she never did.

On Friday she said her maths teacher told her that she could move back to the main maths class now as this work was probably too easy for her. He asked her how she felt and she was happy to move back. Teacher told her her parents would be phoned/spoken to about this.

So today she was still in the extra support class. She showed me her maths homeowork. It is work she was getting and able to do my about 8 years of age. She wasn't sent to the main stream class today but kept in the extra support class with nothing else mentioned to her.

I am concerned that she is missing out on the maths that the rest of her maths class are getting, so falling behind even more. Also concerned that because she is below average in Maths they have put her into a Maths class where she will be forgotton about with little expected from her.


Should I phone the school? Is it too soon to phone and should I leave it another week or so?

I haven't been told of any support she would receive in Secondary.

She has a diagnosis of dyslexia which the Primary school are aware of so would have made Secondary aware.

I know the Secondary will be assessing the kids right now. I would just like to know why she is getting such easy maths work.

Any advice will be greatly received. Thanks.

[shelsco]

No, it's not too soon. Sort it out as soon as possible as mistakes and oversights often happen. To be honest, you should be informed of exactly what's happening anyway. You shouldn't be getting it second hand from your DC.
I'm a primary teacher and 2 of my children have recently been diagnosed with dyslexia. It has opened my eyes completely. The school's procedures for passing on info and putting agreed measures in place has been awful. The more I see, the more I realise that it doesn't pay to wait. I would ring and explain that she is dyslexia and say that you are concerned about the transition to secondary and would like to have a chat about it. Then politely ask to meet and discuss the situation with the SENCO. You can ask about the situation with the change in class and explain that, although you appreciate hat it's early days, say that it's clearly below her ability and would like her moved sooner rather than later.Say you do realise that she needs support and ask what they offer to children who struggle specifically with Maths but are above this class. (There are computer programmes and resources which can be tailored to different levels and it likely that they have some of these). That is perfectly reasonable and doesn't give the impression of a pushy parent, just a caring one. IME the sooner you act, the better the response you get!

[trickydickie]

Thanks so much Shelsco. I am miffed and saddened we hadn't been told what would be in place for her.

With her being at Secondary now I just thought maybe the parents weren't included as much in decisions.

Thanks I will phone first thing.