Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

@YouMakeABetterDoorThanAWinda ours had a summer camp where her class went in for a week and did different activities every day - an art day, sports day, orienteering etc - which helped them make friends and feel more comfortable. Then they didnt do any work the first week, it was all getting to know you stuff, games etc and on Friday a big team building day. Shes only started lessons today and has 3 pieces of homework but they all look pretty quick and she seems quite enthusiastic

I’d love to know what sort of things your DC schools have done to help them settle, to bond. The mental health and fun stuff.

@ShakeaHettyFeather don't worry, he will turn up again no doubt!!!

How lovely re: book(s), I wish mine was similarly motivated. These days I try hard NOT to be too excited about books so that DD doesn't get turned off.

Saw ds onto the bus this morning. Hope he turns up again this evening...

Our bus route doesn't have school services, so just as well all the waiting kids ignored the sign saying 'Non school service. School children should wait for the next service'. And the driver ignored the 30 limit and let 20 masked kids onto the half-full bus.

DS and homework have never mixed so this term will be fun. He's enthusiastic about the rule to have a book to read on him at all times, at least. Had to stop him taking four on Friday!

Plus their school asks for 20 minutes reading every day and there is a reading record to log it - it's not been an issue with DS1 though I think he's currently got bogged down in a book and got stuck, but it could be interesting with DS2. He seems to be reading and perhaps writing his own fan fiction online but we're not even sure what it relates to and he's very secretive - welll, it is reading! And I think I'm not setting a great example just now, as I'm normally a reader but am struggling to read or finish anything since lockdown.

DS2's first day was really just induction, so I wouldn't have been expecting homework just yet.

Once it does start, my sons' school and many others use an app called Show My Homework, and there may be other similar things, and parents can look in and see what is being set, when it's due, whether it's being done etc. I think over the last few months they've also been using another app where you can look in. Obviously it depends on whether the teachers have put stuff on and ticked it off but there's some useful information, and you also get to see the kind of tasks being set etc.

Good luck to everyone starting this week. We've had 2 days last week and then a bonding day today. For me the takeaway has been just to try and go with it as it's all early days. There will be ups and down. My message to DD is just that each day is different - some better some worse. We shall see what the new week brings.

@LadyCatStark DS had his first day of lessons on Friday and got given two pieces of homework to be in on Wednesday and a project to work on until half term. He's still full of enthusiasm so has loved doing it! Long may it last!

We have also been given a homework schedule so we know when he'll be given homework - it's typically two subjects each day, occasionally three.

We haven’t started back yet! Not til Tuesday. I don’t remember ds having much homework in year 7 although I think they’re supposed to have 2x25 mins a night.

No homework here either - or so I’m told.

@LadyCatStark wow! We haven't had any yet (started Wednesday) so she's spent Saturday in dance classes and today with friends. Enjoying the freedom while she can!

How much homework have your year 7s had? dS has had 6 pieces in 3 days. It going to be a big change for us to have to spend Sunday afternoons doing homework rather than going out and having fun!

Strange to think the criteria for 'what do I look for in a good school' are so different now.

Personally now I just want my Y7 child to settle in & establish some kind of connection to the school, teachers & new friends ASAP. Preferably with some outdoor PE. And then I want a school that is well equipped to support remote learning if/when children are required to stay home, whether it's just them or the whole school. Let's see. (Ours start on Mon!)

Hi DD starts on Monday, shes the youngest in the year group (31st Aug baby) and if she'd been born just an hour later, she'd be the eldest in Yr6.
She isn't ready and though she is putting a brave face on, I know we are going to have huge meltdown on Sunday evening.

The communication from the school hasn’t mentioned “outdoors” and there is no two way dialogue as has been encouraged at other secondaries.
I’ll see what happens next week when lessons start properly. They may get outside for PE but they don’t really have an outside sports area so I imagine even PE will be in a hall?

@alliejay81 I think you've defo done the right thing by logging it with the school, hopefully it's a one off. How strange

@MoverOfPaper I'm hoping things will start to improve after January/February. Are they not getting outside at all? That's really crappy especially while the weather is still okay.

@MoverOfPaper in my mind it's all about getting through the winter months. If we can make it through Dec / Jan / Feb while keeping the number of deaths low...maybe there will be further easing in many schools next spring?

Sounds rough not to have breaks outside in the meantime though!!! I thought the idea was that in general outdoor activities are better than indoor. Personally I worry about poor ventilation in classrooms and a lot of places.

Hopefully they offer outdoor PE and keep them moving at the very least?!

[quote BoudiccaAnn]@alliejay81 sounds like a reasonable conclusion...either way it's not ok. Maybe coach your DS to gently but firmly say and repeat that it's not OK? And that he's going to have to report it if she doesn't stop?

It's good that you reported it and not a bad idea for him to discreetly report it if he's comfortable too. Because worse could happen if it continues -- e.g. a situation in which there is pushing back and forth and he is held responsible because he is the boy and NT.[/quote]
Thanks, that's my worry too.

If anything did happen (for example, if he pushed her off), at least I've "logged it".

It's just such a weird issue to come up so early on in the year!

I know it’s a “how long is a piece of string” question but I’m going to ask it anyway as my mind needs to plan.

How long do YOU think the restrictions will be in place? DDs school is having to be very restrictive due to its size and another irritating reason. The other local schools lead so. If they’re in the same 3 classrooms with the same 30 kids with no outside break or lunch times and it goes on until...half term,Christmas, next year ...I’d think about trying to move her.

@alliejay81 sounds like a reasonable conclusion...either way it's not ok. Maybe coach your DS to gently but firmly say and repeat that it's not OK? And that he's going to have to report it if she doesn't stop?

It's good that you reported it and not a bad idea for him to discreetly report it if he's comfortable too. Because worse could happen if it continues -- e.g. a situation in which there is pushing back and forth and he is held responsible because he is the boy and NT.

Sorry to hear kids are having tough times. Wondering if I could get some opinions please?

DS started Wednesday. All was good the first two days. On the third day one of the girls in his class started following him around. She followed him for the whole of lunch and break and on three different occasions tried to grab him to hug him. One time she succeeded and she had to be removed by DS's friend. DS is pretty small for his age so good chance this girl is physically bigger.

My best guess (although obviously I don't know) is this girl isn't NT as it seems like very odd behaviour for an NT 11 year old. I've dropped a note to the school as I wanted to nip this behaviour in the bud. But, I just wanted some advice on what to tell my son to do if this behaviour repeats itself on Monday.