This is the ONE comment that I do not accept from my son's nursery.

I speak to many of you who tell me that you love this ONE comment.

I do not.

It is very vague.

It doesn’t give me any information.

I feel like I’m being fobbed off.

This is the ONE comment that I do not accept from my son's nursery.

‘He did sooooooooo well today.’

Usually my son is collected by his amazing grandmother so I don’t actually get this comment myself at pickup - she does frequently.

I usually get this comment at drop off.

‘He did sooooooooo well today.’

And the reality is this.

I worked in nurseries all across the country for nearly a decade. It’s just a generic comment that we used to say to all parents. All children ‘do so well’!

So when I speak to some of you and you tell me that your child’s nursery tell you that ‘they did soooooooo well,’ and that your child’s nursery are convinced that your child will pass any 4+ assessment, it leaves me quite concerned.

Are you questioning this comment at all? Or are you just accepting it?

You see, when one of his teachers tell me this my answer is this.

‘What did he do that was so good?’

And I expect specifics.

I also ask very specific questions and not generic ones.

For example, I ask his teachers, ‘Could you please tell me which phonics he is learning and how he is progressing with them?’ and ‘Could you please tell me which numbers you focused on today and if he is picking up on them?’ and ‘Could you please tell me about his pencil grip,’ and ‘Could you please tell me and show me how he is holding his scissors and how you supported him to be able to cut with accuracy and precision?’

You don’t have to accept everything that you are told. I question everything that I am told. Not because I am doubtful - I firmly believe his nursery to be exceptional but because they are looking after the most important person in my life and I want specifics. I am sacrificing three full days without seeing my precious boy. I want to know specifics. Generic comments are unacceptable to me.