5 Year Old Niece - School Report

pogofish

I I’d suggest that whoever wrote that report has more negative issues to deal with than the child - maybe time to be asking the school/education authority about professional standards?

maman

Presumably it couldn't have been all negative if the report told you that she as above average in most  basic areas of learning.

My worry is that somehow the family has conveyed its own upset to the little girl which has made her worry about going into school. I'd agree with the poster who said heap praise on her for all the positive things. 

Teachers have a range of skills, knowledge and understanding that they try to comment on in annual reports. It's particularly difficult this year as normally parents would get the opportunity to discuss it immediately in person at an Open Evening. Having the confidence to speak up in a group and put forward your own ideas is an important skill both for learning and for life.  I'd suggest you talk to the child as much as possible, encourage her to discuss things and put her own views.  Conversation around the dinner table is excellent for this as are board games or games like charades. I know this isn't easy currently but encourage her to ask for things in shops. If you go to a cafe or restaurant, ask her to  give her own order to staff. That sort of thing.  Take every opportunity and then when she's at school it'll come more naturally. 

maman

Take a look at this drama technique called hot seating-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxpc2hv/revision/5
I know it's on a GCSE syllabus but it works just as well for 5 year olds.  It works brilliantly for fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters.  You can even have a special chair. Make sure  most of your questions are open ended so can't be answered with a straight yes or no. Ask Cinderella about how she felt scrubbing floors or her new dress or the prince. Or ask Jack and Jill how they came to fall down. Was it sore? etc etc.  You get the idea. Adults could take a turn too so that your niece gets to ask questions as well as answer them. 

Mojisola

Adamc said:

My sister's daughter just received her end of year report from primary school (Reception class) and there was nothing positive within it that I could see.

Some of the key points were that she struggles to interact during 'Circle Time'. She does not feel confident putting forth her own ideas but prefers the comfort of using 'friends ideas'. She finds using her imagination challenging and is more literal. And she is often distracted and reserved.  
We've replied asking for advice from the school but they haven't responded.

She is currently above average for reading, writing and maths but we don't want her to be held back.

Aren't her above average ratings positive information?  I hope the family haven't put this child off school by only talking about the aspects they see as negative.

Children have different personalities and develop at different rates.  She may always be a reserved, literal person - nothing wrong with that.  There are roles in life that she will be perfect for.

She may also develop into a confident, out-going character in a few years time.  That's fine as well.

littlegreenparrot

I also wouldn't label those things mentioned as being problems. 

If your sister is worried she has every right to request a meeting with the teacher to discuss the comments and perhaps ask if they have any suggestions as to what activities you could do at home that might help. Personally I would also ask why these things have not been mentioned before the report if they are such a concern. 
If she is above average for reading, writing and maths she will not be held back. 

You also need to take into account the state we have all been in over the last few months. The class must have been running differently, probably some of her friends weren't there. She will be well aware that something big and unpleasant is going on in the world, even if she doesn't necessarily know what. And of course maybe concerned for her mum.  This would certainly account for distraction. 
I am noticing the significant impacts of these things on my young people who are all over 16, it is affecting all of us one way or another. 

maman

This won't have been a normal year at school. Niece may not have started school full time until October then school closed at lockdown until June 1st unless nurse mother chose to send her as keyworker.. She's back now as Year R but many year groups are not because no room until schools abandon social distancing in September. During lockdown it won't have been with usual classmates. Government guidelines suggested more of a play scheme than usual curriculum. Even now only half of the class together and maybe not with the usual teacher. So child has done really well to be above average and teacher is just flagging up what she needs to work on next. I don't know but I wouldn't expect Parents Evening to take place this term. I think teachers have done well to produce an annual report for such a difficult year especially for those who aren't even back at school yet. 

wilfred30

Adamc said:

Hi all 

My sister's daughter just received her end of year report from primary school (Reception class) and there was nothing positive within it that I could see.
We've replied asking for advice from the school but they haven't responded. She is currently above average for reading, writing and maths but we don't want her to be held back.

I am shocked that you don't see your niece being above average in reading, writing and maths as a positive and you are just fixating on what you consider to be negatives.  Give the little girl a break for goodness sake, she's 5 not 15.

As you say "we've replied" rather than "her mum has replied", I wonder if you are pushing your sister to make a big deal of it when she's probably under enough pressure in her job at the moment as it is.

AnotherJoe

wilfred30 said:

Adamc said:

Hi all 

My sister's daughter just received her end of year report from primary school (Reception class) and there was nothing positive within it that I could see.
We've replied asking for advice from the school but they haven't responded. She is currently above average for reading, writing and maths but we don't want her to be held back.

I am shocked that you don't see your niece being above average in reading, writing and maths as a positive and you are just fixating on what you consider to be negatives.  Give the little girl a break for goodness sake, she's 5 not 15.

As you say "we've replied" rather than "her mum has replied", I wonder if you are pushing your sister to make a big deal of it when she's probably under enough pressure in her job at the moment as it is.

^^^^^^^^^^^This. 

Get some perspective FGS.

Jeez.

Adamc

Thanks for the replies all. 

I haven't tried to push my sister into making a big deal of it as some have suggested. I wouldn't interfere but would like to support if she requires it. I can came here to discuss so I could offer her a wide range of perspectives (not just my own) as she was so upset by it. Thankfully most people here don't see any specific problems with the comments so that is one positive, and there are some genuinely fair points made. 

I think the calling it a negative report is perhaps detracting from the advice and reassurance that was sought so I have removed that in the hope responses with helpful suggestions can be made. 

Best wishes

maman

What I would add in your defence OP is that it does matter that you take the report seriously, the positives and the 'negatives' (I'd call it advice on what she needs to develop). 
I can't really agree with posters who say things like 'She's only 5'. All school years are important, especially primary.