Issues with school - Year 2

[anniemac123]

Hi my child is currently in year 2, she has been having some difficulties lately with spelling/reading etc I've discussed it with the class teacher and they suspect dyslexia, as do I, but nothing can be done until she reaches her 7th birthday. A couple of days ago 2 mums approached me (separately) asking if my daughter was ok, I replied with yes why? they said there children had got home from school and explained how the class teacher had ripped my daughters work up in front of the class as she had done it wrong, my daughter proceeded to cry and was apparently told by the teacher to "shut up you baby". I asked my daughter if this was true and she said yes and got very upset, I asked why she hadn't told me and she said she didn't want to get into trouble by the teacher as she new I would go into the school. I went into the school the next day and had a meeting with the safeguarding officer/teacher explained the situation and was told he would look into it. Went to a further meeting later on in the day with the safeguarding teacher and daughters class teacher. Class teacher came across as very confrontational completely denied any wrongdoing and pretty much said the other children were lying, my daughter was called into the meeting and questioned by the teachers, started crying and denied that it had happened. after leaving the meeting my daughter said that it did happen and repeated to me what the teacher had done, she wasn't aware what the other children had reported to their mums and the stories matched, I asked her why she hadn't spoken up in the meeting and she said she was scared she was going to get thrown out of the school. unsure of where to go from here any advice and input would be greatly appreciated :) sorry just to add my daughter is struggling with the work and I feel her self esteem regarding school work is low, she has said on occasions that she is stupid, obviously I have corrected her on this and am really trying to boost her up all the time

[anniemac123]

Anyone had a similar incident happen?

[user789653241]

Sorry I don't have any advice, but felt so sorry it happened to your dd.

2 children saying the exactly same thing, and from what your dd said,
it must have happened as they describe.

If the teacher is emotionally threatening children to deny what had happened, that's out of order imo.

Hope someone come along and give you good advice, and you can sort it out soon.

[anniemac123]

Thankyou irvineoneohone I think it did just feel like the school are believing the teacher over the children.

[Strix]

Good grief. That is an atrocious way to treat a seven year old. I would be very angry indeed, and would think about:

1. Complain in writing to the Head Teacher.
2. If the Head Teacher does not respond promptly and in support of your daughter, formally (in writing) report the school, the headteacher, and the class teacher to OFSTED.
3. Go to GP immediately asking for an assessment for suspected Dyslexia. There will be a long wait for the assessment. Get her on the list.

A positive response from the Headteacher would be along the lines of moving the teacher to another class (not moving your DD away from her friends).

[soapboxqueen]

Under normal circumstances I would have said to keep an open mind about what happened, and request a meeting with the head teacher.

However, the fact that two concerned parents felt they should tell you what had happened as your own hadn't, lends a great deal of credibility to your dd's account. It is highly unlikely that 3 7 year olds have conspired together in a clandestine plot.

Couple that with the performance of bringing a very young child in to essentially confront her teacher, is unreal. Not many children, could front that out. What were they honestly expecting to happen?

I would get a copy of the complaints procedure, make notes about the conversations you had with the other mums and ask for an urgent meeting with the head. You can put in a formal complaint after the meeting or in conjunction with it.

The head needs to explain not just the behaviour of the class teacher but also the behaviour of, I assume, SLT in forcing your dd through that shambolic situation.

[Didiplanthis]

I would request a meeting with the head. Document when the other parents spoke with you and what they said. Explain your daughter has continued to reiterate what happened but was so scared and distressed by her treatment which essentially amounts to intimidation by her teacher that she felt unable to contradict her in the first meeting - she is only 6 !!! and then fight your dd's corner as hard as you can and get used to doing so. My yr 2 dd is also dyslexic and her confidence was in tatters after yr1 where she was constantly criticised and undermined in her efforts. The GP probably won't be able to help as dyslexia needs an ed psych or teachers dyslexia assessment and in most areas (?all) GP's have no access to this as it is deemed education not health - unlike Adhd or ASD. Ask to see the school SENCO - you don't need a diagnosis to access support if you believe there is a problem.

[MrsKCastle]

Get a copy of the school's complaints procedure and make sure you follow it. I believe Ofsted only want to know about an issue if the complaints procedure has been followed and there is still no resolution.

However, in the meantime I would seriously consider keeping your DD off school until you have had reassurance from the HT. Publicly ripping up work is completely inappropriate and damaging, let alone the 'baby' comment. And bringing your DD in to be questioned in front of the teacher concerned and another teacher... Well of course she won't feel able to contradict her teacher, will she? She should have been questioned sensitively by the HT or safeguarding teacher.

WRT the dyslexia, my LA have a policy of not pursuing a diagnosis. Their policy is that if a child shows signs of dyslexia, you use dyslexia-friendly strategies to support them regardless of what you have written on paper. If I were you, I would focus on the support that you want for your DD. Is she on the SEN register? Is she having reading/writing support above and beyond the norm?

[Standardpubquizname]

As others have said complain in writing to the headteacher and governors.

If you are financially able to perhaps consider paying privately for a educational psychologist to assess your daughter. I've known of families with children with other diagnoses who have done this when waiting lists have been too long. Also check out websites for Dyslexia Action and British Dyslexia Association who have advice on assessing for dyslexia and supporting children with dyslexia.