School

[123andy]

Is it ok if a teacher keeps a 6 yr old facing a wall for 3 weeks

You need to give more information here.
Are they in an awkward place in the seating plan?

Can they not turn to see the board? I doubt it's a sanction.

Are you aware that seating plans can't really be changed at the moment due to COVID restrictions?

Have you actually spoken to the teacher?

if they are autistic, then they may work better. I wished my kids teacher had done that as they would not have been such a pain in the neck getting distracted and being distracting.

Can you elaborate?

Is this a new seating plan? A punishment?

I remember sitting facing the wall in my Y4 class for most of the year-it was fine.

The teacher says he misbehaving in class but I don't think it's fair on him to sit and face a wall he doesn't want to go to school he keeps crying everyday it's breaking my heart , and says the teacher doesn't bother coming near him he's been bullied since he started primary I've been to the school and they haven't done anything about it since he started p3 his work is going down :(

I know but it’s upsetting him he’s no interaction with class he sits facing a wall all day

Sitting facing a wall probably isn't what you're imagining.
I'm a teacher and have had tables against the wall over the years. It's helpful for kids who struggle to concentrate and are easily distracted. I can put up on the wall their reward chart, their daily reminders etc. Obviously they still join everyone on the carpet (pre covid) for input and when doing group work, PSHE lessons etc they turn around or join another table. But when it's time to work, it's time to work, so if facing the wall will help them do that then that's where they'll go. I've had loads of students tell me how much it's helped them and actually asked if they can sit at the 'concentrating table.' Obviously if the child was miserable I'd reconsider but it's usually because: they can't talk their friends, they actually find the work really tricky and now can't avoid doing it, they've been in trouble for something else and being upset about their seat helps distract from it etc.
Also 'the teacher doesn't bother coming near him' - covid regulations mean teachers can't go within 2m of children and are stuck at the front.

Also you'll do him no favours if you 'side' with him every time he complains about a teacher. Even if you're concerned, the message to him should be the teacher knows best, what s/he is doing is for a reason - they are a trained professional. Use it as an opportunity to discuss his behaviour. Speak to the teacher for your own reasons but you shouldn't say in front of him 'oh that's so unfair I'll speak to your teacher'. Of course if there is unfair treatment it should be addressed but be wary of taking your child's word as fact.

I’d be deeply unhappy about that and would be speaking to the school and having him moved. If there are problems with his behaviour at 6 I’d want to know about it before he was sanctioned and to work with the school to explore and address issues but he wouldn’t be spending his day facing a wall for three weeks.

Even if you're concerned, the message to him should be the teacher knows best, what s/he is doing is for a reason - they are a trained professional.

No, my child will be getting the message that if they’re unhappy or something is wrong at school, mum and the school will work together to get it right. They’ll be getting the message that I’ve got their back and that grown ups get it wrong sometimes.

OP, I’d contact the school and find out what’s going on - I know my kids sometimes lose a bit in translation so I don’t go in all guns blazing but I’d be telling them what you’ve been told and asking for their explanation. From there I’d be clear it’s not ok to discipline my child in that way and if there are behavioural issues to discuss so we have a consistent home/school approach.

@jellycatspyjamas absolutely that should be the case if the teacher has got it wrong - we/the OP don't know that yet. And totally agree it should be parent and school working together but so often it becomes parent and child thinking it's them against the school.
The OP doesn't know if he's sat there as a sanction or punishment. Of course if that's the case then it's not OK. I was just trying to highlight the many reasons that he may be sitting there.
The child may see it as a punishment when actually the teacher could be trying to think of ways to help him.
A meeting with the teacher is the first step.

My DS has been facing the wall for the whole of last school year and all of this one. So, just "facing the wall" is a bit misleading.

Has he been switched to a desk facing the wall because all kids moved desks?
Has he been swapped with someone because he was talking to his neighbour?
Is he the only child facing a wall?
Does the teacher have a punishment desk that he's been ostracised to?

The teacher has told the OP he’s misbehaving, and he’s crying going to school. I’d not be accepting that under the guide of trying to help him when he’s clearly distressed about it. I also can’t see a situation when sitting facing a wall all day would be remotely helpful. For a particular task maybe but again this is a 6 year old, they aren’t going to have that much focussed work in the course of a day that would justify prolonged periods sitting looking at a wall.

A meeting with the teacher is the first step.

Absolutely but I wouldn’t be telling my kids “teacher knows best”, I’d be telling them I’ll talk to the teacher and fix whatever the problem is.

@Ellovera2

Sitting facing a wall probably isn't what you're imagining. I'm a teacher and have had tables against the wall over the years. It's helpful for kids who struggle to concentrate and are easily distracted. I can put up on the wall their reward chart, their daily reminders etc. Obviously they still join everyone on the carpet (pre covid) for input and when doing group work, PSHE lessons etc they turn around or join another table. But when it's time to work, it's time to work, so if facing the wall will help them do that then that's where they'll go. I've had loads of students tell me how much it's helped them and actually asked if they can sit at the 'concentrating table.' Obviously if the child was miserable I'd reconsider but it's usually because: they can't talk their friends, they actually find the work really tricky and now can't avoid doing it, they've been in trouble for something else and being upset about their seat helps distract from it etc. Also 'the teacher doesn't bother coming near him' - covid regulations mean teachers can't go within 2m of children and are stuck at the front.

Thank you for this post.

My ds is autistic and he begged for a table facing a wall with reminders and some teachers claimed they had no room. Yet they'd move him when being disruptive through not concentrating

It really is a great seating plan for children who like it and prefer it.

Ds spent the whole of secondary trying to get the end spot in a row so he wasn't between 2 people!

The teacher says he misbehaving in class

Then you have your answer - he shouldn't be disrupting the learning of others. You need to teach him how to behave in lessons.

He’s 6 years old.

he shouldn't be disrupting the learning of others. You need to teach him how to behave in lessons

That's the schools job, they are in the place, a behaviour policy which leaves a child facing the same consequences without any chance to improve, or other steps if they're no improvement will not lead to the child's reintegration with the class.

It certainly may not be what the parent is imagining here, but the child is obviously concerned and doesn't understand the behaviour policy, that's pretty significant failing of the school that the kid's been in for quite awhile now.

Is this year1? He will spend approx 90 mins a day at a table over the course of 4/5 sessions. Less if it's a PE/Outdoor learning day. Most of the day will be breaks, choosing time, assembly (of some sort) and carpet time.

Has his teacher told him he has to sit there because he can’t behave? It might be worth asking his teacher her reasons so if it is to help him concentrate better in theory, you can reassure him he isn’t being punished. If it’s not too distracting for him, could he decorate the wall with some pictures of things he likes, make it his space?

Sine the question was asked four years ago, the child is probably in a different school by now.

DS is now in SS as he has SEN. He was in MS with an individual timetable and 1:1 he had a desk facing the wall but it was decorated with his photo and pictures of stuff he likes, he only sat there to work and always had his 1:1 with him so he was never alone.

Hopefully it all got resolved