Things that worry 5 yr olds..

[PeteXXX]

Yesterday we got a phone call from No1 daughter saying that Granddaughter, Faith, was getting distressed about going to school. She'd being having a few weepy moments occasionally since being in Year 1 having moved up from Reception after summer holidays but we could not work out why. She loves school and everything that goes with it and has never had a problem with school before.

We thought the worst, obviously, about bullying and the like, but after she and I lay down on the lounge floor to do a jigsaw and have a chat (she's a Granddaddy's girl ) it turns out that on Wednesdays and Fridays she has to sit at the Green Table and has a big sheet of paper with lines on it and the teacher doesn't help her much. It turns out that it is an assistant, not a teacher, at these times.
Luckily it was parents evening yesterday and I told No1 daughter what I'd managed to find out about it and the issue has been raised.

Hopefully all is now good and her education can continue

 

[Noodley]

We thought the worst, obviously...

Glad that everything seems to be in hand, but why assume "the worst"?

Not wanting to be provocative but it intrigues me - I would always start from the "what can it be?" position.

 

[PeteXXX]

Indeed, we did start from a point of wondering what it could be... and as she has not had any problems before, we did think about alternative issues. It's not always easy to find out what worries 5 yr olds when you have. 60 yr old brain..

 

[Cycling Dan]

Not all that relivent but when I was 5 the hoover scared the shoot out of me. I kept thinking it was going to eat my legs

 

[vernon]

Not all that relivent but when I was 5 the hover scared the s*** out of me. I kept thinking it was going to eat my legs

If I was a five year old this hover would frighten me too

 

[biggs682]

glad to hear one problem sorted

 

[subaqua]

Yesterday we got a phone call from No1 daughter saying that Granddaughter, Faith, was getting distressed about going to school. She'd being having a few weepy moments occasionally since being in Year 1 having moved up from Reception after summer holidays but we could not work out why. She loves school and everything that goes with it and has never had a problem with school before.

We thought the worst, obviously, about bullying and the like, but after she and I lay down on the lounge floor to do a jigsaw and have a chat (she's a Granddaddy's girl ) it turns out that on Wednesdays and Fridays she has to sit at the Green Table and has a big sheet of paper with lines on it and the teacher doesn't help her much. It turns out that it is an assistant, not a teacher, at these times.
Luckily it was parents evening yesterday and I told No1 daughter what I'd managed to find out about it and the issue has been raised.

Hopefully all is now good and her education can continue

and this is one of the reasons why teachers went on strike yesterday, unqualified staff being used as teachers. TA's are a great resource when used correctly but not when expected to give a lesson. Wifey wouldn't be without the TA thatshe works closely with and has encouraged her to get qualified as a teacher

 

[Hill Wimp]

Glad she has a Grandad she can chat to. Mine died nearly 20 years ago and i still miss him. Grandparents arevery special, well done Pete

 

[Spinney]

So what were the 'lines on the paper' ??? I think we should be told....

 

[Puddles]

it turns out that on Wednesdays and Fridays she has to sit at the Green Table and has a big sheet of paper with lines on it and the teacher doesn't help her much. It turns out that it is an assistant, not a teacher, at these times.

+1 here what is she doing with the big piece of paper?

The TA thing yes it is worrying considering Mrs 2 doors up has just started being a TA (she has 3 small people in the same school as mine) and I have spent quite a bit of time over the last 2 weeks assisting her with Maths as she is struggling to help the children in class as she does not understand it she is a TA to Year 1

 

[cd365]

The TA thing yes it is worrying considering Mr 2 doors up has just started being a TA (she has 3 small people in the same school as mine) and I have spent quite a bit of time over the last 2 weeks assisting her with Maths as she is struggling to help the children in class as she does not understand it she is a TA to Year 1

That is scary!

 

[Sandra6]

In cases like this I tend to start with the obscure, rather than the obvious or "the worst" that an adult can imagine - it's usually nowhere near the mark when it comes to what a small child will find distressing.
Children cope much better with bullying and fallings out than we give them credit for, but little things like having to be in the green group when they want to be blue (my 8 year old's current "disaster") or having to go in for dinner last can ruin their whole week.
I've been looking after children in paid and voluntary positions (being a parent is voluntary, right?!) since I was 15 though so I do have quite an insight into their amazing minds.

 

[Sandra6]

+1 here what is she doing with the big piece of paper?

The TA thing yes it is worrying considering Mr 2 doors up has just started being a TA (she has 3 small people in the same school as mine) and I have spent quite a bit of time over the last 2 weeks assisting her with Maths as she is struggling to help the children in class as she does not understand it she is a TA to Year 1

As a qualified TA I find that really worrying. I've seen plenty of people qualify over the years, and start work, who can barely grasp the basics of the 3 R's and even worse are the unqualified ones who have been there that long they can't be got rid of!
There seems to be a trend towards pushing young people into training as TA's at the moment when they don't do well in school themselves, it makes me angry that we place such little importance on our children's education.

 

[PeteXXX]

It seems that there were no issues with Faith going to school this morning (Friday). Hopefully now the problem has been aired with her teacher it will be monitored.
It's all to easy to think that it has to be something big causing kids distress when, to them, sitting at the Green Table and having a large piece of paper with lines on IS a big problem.

 

[Puddles]

As a qualified TA I find that really worrying. I've seen plenty of people qualify over the years, and start work, who can barely grasp the basics of the 3 R's and even worse are the unqualified ones who have been there that long they can't be got rid of!
There seems to be a trend towards pushing young people into training as TA's at the moment when they don't do well in school themselves, it makes me angry that we place such little importance on our children's education.

Yes especially as the lady in question was a Solicitor prior to having children