Anyone managed to have their child kept back a year at school (currently year 2)?

[jersey]

Following various issues such as glue ear for a year and a lack of concentration, memory problems, DS1 is classed at year 1 level in his literacy and is struggling with year 2 work. His teacher, DH and I are concerned that if he goes into year 3 in september he will really struggle and end up too far behind to catch up. He changed schools last september due to issues at previous school and the new school have been great trying to help him get caught up but he has reached a 'block'. School are going to request a series of tests (can't remember what they called them) through the county council to rule out anything medical and possibly investigate dyslexia. However, they say we have a better chance of getting him kept back a year than they do, even though they and we believe that its better to do this now rather than later as he has lots of friends in year 1 (mixed 1/2 class).

Has anyone tried to do something similiar, been successful, and how did they do it?

Thanks for your help.

[cybboid]

It can be done, depends on your LEA, and how driven you are I think

it has happened in our school, a boy was prem and should really have been in year below

[prh47bridge]

Make sure you check what will happen later on in his school life. I know of cases where a child was held back a year in primary school only to find that the secondary school put them straight into Y8 on transfer, missing Y7 completely.

[mummytime]

I would also research the topic on the internet, it is very controversial. Do make sure you know all the pros and cons before doing this.

BTW I have a friend who got her son put back, and a lot of his behavioural problems later I believe stemmed from this (an he was an August birthday). I have also known a lot of children with glue ear who once it was treated have caught up very well.

[jersey]

Thanks for your comments. mummytime DS1's glue ear was treated over a year ago and he started catching up, but the school have identified areas where just isn't making progress now and his consentration has got worse again.

I will check that out thanks prh47bridge.

[busymum34]

DS1 was due 2nd Oct but born in August so he was always a year above what he should be. He is 12 now and back when he started school it was a no go to start a year later, but I have heard of a couple of children doing so recently.
As it is, once he got past reception/year one he more than caught up and is now top set for everything at high school and would be bored if he were still at primary so I'm glad i didnt fight.

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

Yes. We did, with our youngest son.

he was kept back in Y1 and has simply gone up from there - so now he is in Y5, but would have been Y6. In Sept, he would have gone to secondary school, but he is going to Y6. Next year he will go to secondary. He won't 'jump' a year, he's just in the year below what he would have been and will remain so until he completes Y11 (is it Y11 that is the last year of secondary?)

We were told by the Head that 'they' (LEA) don't allow it.

We make a point of never listening to anyone who tells us They Don't Do/Allow It

So we wrote to Them. Big long letter detailing exactly why his illness and disability had combined into a significant barrier to him accessing the curriculum, etc, etc.

And they said yes.

It was the best thing for him. He is right where he should be and doing really well.

[mrz]

My only experience of it happening was a SEN child but she had to go straight into Y8 (missing out Y7) when she transferred to Secondary Special School.

[paddingtonbear1]

Jersey, my dd has had similar issues - we also changed her school part way through yr 1 as her old school was hopeless for her. We couldn't get her held back a year though - they just wouldn't allow it. She's in yr 3 and is still a fair way behind, but has been given extra help. Tbh I wouldn't want her kept down now as socially she's much better and has some good friends in her current class.