Alex's Parents Evening.

[Jules]

Shell, hun, I wouldn't worry too much about the time off - it really won't make that much difference so I'm not sure why the teacher mentioned it. My class are still playing a lot of the time in a similar way to Reception so Alex wouldn't miss a huge amount.

As far as the writing goes, that's really down to the school making him feel confident at spelling words. You can give him rewards at home but unless he feels happy that he can write at school, he's not necessarily going to have the confidence he needs in the classroom. You can get him to write simple sentences at home that he could take into school so that he feels happy that his teachers know how good his writing is. If he was in my class I would be asking him to write a little bit every day, I'd be working on his confidence and I'd be doing lots of phonics work to help him to know how to spell.

If I were you, I'd want to know what the teacher is doing to support him so it may be worth asking another time if they didn't tell you this evening.

Jules

[Shell]

Jules,

You know what they did mention his time off and thats got my back up, and I just dont think it went as good as I expected it to if I am honest. They have sent me home with books and told me to get him to write sentences they are paid to do this job and whilst I do things with him they could of supported him when he was first going off ill but no and now they are saying its going to take time for him to get back into it.

I just feel a little peed off with it all, they said it didnt help that I took him on holiday but then I said to them I went and I provided you with a covering letter and my reasons and I was allowed 10 days holiday, I wont be the 1st to take him in school holidays.

I am going to get some bits together and I felt when I saw Alex do them sentences without my help to take them into school but really it proves nothing, maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill here but its how I feel.

Shell xx

[Mum2ollie]

Shell -

1. STOP! You haven't done anything wrong so stop beating yourself up! :0)

2. when schools start whinging about attendance it's purely to do with Ofsted and NOT your child (although they will put it across like it's all about Alex!) Basically, so many days off for one child = a drop in % in their attendance figures which Ofsted will pick up on. So don't take it personally, they are simply looking out for their data first and foremost!

3. There are loads of things you can do with Alex to boost him a bit more at home. I spent ages feeling really frustrated that Ollie's teacher wasn't pushing him this year. His reception teacher was briliant, had him learning Spanish, writing, reading full sentence but this new one in year 1 is crap in comparison and he seemed to slip backwards. I put notes in his home/school book which were ignored so in the end I took matters into my own hands. For reading, I bought the Biff & Chip Oxford Reading Tree books which are in line with primary curriculum. Then I went to WHSmiths and Amazon.co.uk and got some writing books. Ollie does a bit each night as part of his routine and it's really helped him. I know that whatever he is doing at school is being topped up at home. From a teaching viewpoint, yes, it's the teacher's job to teach but parents doing something at home too also makes a huge difference to confidence and ability. I know it's hard when we work and run a home too, but even 30 mins (15 reading, 15 writing) will help him loads!

You are a fab mummy, and Alex is a lovely lad who will go far - he's just had a bad time with his Op and as you say, that's beyond your control.

Here are some links to things that might help...

Oxford reading tree books - I don't know Alex's ability but stage 3 - 4 is about right for reception/year 1 pupils, then they can move up if they find it too easy. I think the library does these books too so worth looking there as well:
Amazon.co.uk: oxford reading tree stage 3

For writing - any of the following might be useful:
Spark Island: KS1 Writing: Amazon.co.uk: Karina Law, Spark Learning Ltd: Books

Imaginative Writing KS1: Key Stage 1 IMPACT Writing: Amazon.co.uk: IMPACT Project Uni Of N.London: Books


Sam
xx

[Karen]

Shell, you are not a bad mum, so dont beat yourself up over it, like sam said the teacher should tell you what they are doing to help support him.
Benjamin has to practice writing at home as he doesnt like writing...fab at maths though. I bought the biff and chip books when benjamin was in reception/year one, and he still enjoys reading them to me now. Benjamin had issues with capitals, full stops and even finger spaces but he is ok now, so Alex will get there.
x

[Shell]

Thank you Sam and Karen, I have had a look at those books Sam and they are a good price so I am going to study more later and decide what to do.

I have brought some books home and will help him and brought a book today and some more reward stickers so going to continue writing with him anyway.

I just felt a little down yesterday but then any normal Mom would especially them saying about being behind with the time he's having off, the joys of it !!

Shell xx

[Clare]

Shell I wouldn't worry about the time he has had off and with bringing up the holiday they did that when Chloe had a week off to go to center parcs and she hadn't had any other time off and there was nothing else for them to say about her as she was doing brill so they said it was a shame her attendance was not 100% I made a joke of it and said the holiday was worth every % of her attendance mark..... funny they never said anything the following year

I know other people that have holidays in school time and they all said there attendance was brought up aswell. xx

[Shell]

Originally Posted by Clare

Shell I wouldn't worry about the time he has had off and with bringing up the holiday they did that when Chloe had a week off to go to center parcs and she hadn't had any other time off and there was nothing else for them to say about her as she was doing brill so they said it was a shame her attendance was not 100% I made a joke of it and said the holiday was worth every % of her attendance mark..... funny they never said anything the following year

I know other people that have holidays in school time and they all said there attendance was brought up aswell. xx

I told them straight that finding money in 6 weeks holiday is crazy and way too expensive but it wasnt just about his holiday they said about the time he is having off now, not in a nasty way but said that it all counts. Wel if they was that interested they should of made sure he had some books to bring home because they had ample enough warning.

I sat down with him today for an hour and he did sentences without any problems, I am going to see how he gets on and gonna bring it up because if he can do it at home what is the difference at school, my mind boggles.

Shell xx

[Lyn]

Shell take no notice they have nothing else to moan about than his absense then ignore it you do what you have being doing at home. like you say they had amble notice about his op so they should have sorted some stuff out xxxx

[Dancing_Queen]

Aww Shell, don't worry about it. I agree with what the others have said, they have had plenty of notice, so just ignore them.

You are a terrific Mom, keep practicing with Alex at home and he will be just fine.

Louise and Charlotte seem to be obsessed with writing and do it at home, I always find scraps of paper lying about.

[mom2]

Hi Shell , as long as he has an interest in trying his writing and spelling etc i wouldnt worry.I have books at home for my kids and they love practicing and getting stickers , i do think it is as much the parents job as the teachers though if not more so . As long as they let you know where he is at and where is weak points are , you can help him along as you are doing.. dont beat yourself up xx