Should we repeat a school year???

[pop]

hi I have 5 year old identical twins and they are really struggling in P1 (Scottish system) at school. They were 7 weeks early and just seem still very young compared to their peers. Their problems are with motor skills - writing etc and social and personal issues - as time goes on I feel they are labelling themselves already as the ones who can't do anything. They could repeat next year and we have to decide soon - can't decide as they will be a whole year/ year and a half older thatn their new classmates if we do. Has anyone else done this, has it been a good decision? Need help please x

[Hulababy]

Not my own child, but I have taught 3 or 4 children who have been in the lower year than they are meant to be in. Al times this was at secondary age, so not sure if they repeated the year or just started later. Has been for different reasons inc. one with English as second language (also a girl like this in DD's school at momnet, doing very well) and another as he was on ASD and parents felt it was better for him, and another as he his birthday was very end of August and parents felt he wasn' coping academically.

By secondary level at least all of the children seemed settled and happy, all doing well school wise. And not struggling out of their depths which I think was key.

So it can work.

[frumpygrumpy]

Just to say that my DD1 has a boy in her class (she's P3) who repeated P2. My DD is a year and a half younger than him as she started school at 4.5 (she is tall and was ready too). He was accepted totally normally into the class and I never heard anything from children or parents to suggest that he had been anything other than a new friend. I think at that age its much, much easier to blend in.

They are at school a long time and will adjust very quickly to this tiny change.

[frumpygrumpy]

I don't think my post makes sense

I mean that I think its totally fine and normal to repeat a year. Much better now than later. I don't really see a down side to repeating the year. Good luck.

[pop]

Thanks for advice - I keep thinking the same re no down side and then I imagine them at the beginning of next year with their peers from this year going to P2 and them back to just mornings and it feels really sad. Not sad at all if it is going to increase confidence etc and I think the sad bit would be short lived but just feels like a massive thing to decide as it will impact on them all the way through x

[frumpygrumpy]

They really, really would adjust very fast. Why do you feel it will impact on them all the way through?

Would it be the same teacher who takes them for P1 again?

Think of it as having double the amount of playground friends.

[frumpygrumpy]

And bumping for others.......

[MarsLady]

Sorry I have no experience and am not sure at all. BUT... do join us on the regular thread.