Writing to the teacher

[Sofrustrated1]

So, so frustrated. Not in the UK, hence the age range in class.

DC has been in a large primary age class with a number of really badly behaved older kids (I know one family and the kid has SEN). Complete disruption of lessons. Violence towards classmates and a teacher. Please don't read it that I am blaming the older children with SEN, they clearly lack the support they need.

I wanted to take DC out, or move her down a year (an option as she is young and speaking a second language at school after a country move). DH has got it into his head that DC has to stay in the class and get through it. In my opinion it is causing long term harm. Not just the lack of learning, but being in the terrible atmosphere and developing anxiety around school.

Are there any resources I can show DH, who has dug in and is incapable of considering alternatives?

The teacher is getting a hard time from all the parents as the syllabus was not completed this year. I have written several times with concerns over violence and whether DC is in the right year. Keep getting told wait and see. I have to write again to push for a move and outline my concerns. Will hold off a day or so as I am so furious with the situation.

Any advice on how to word it to the teacher to actually get some change? Points are violence from a number of the kids (not targeting DC in particular who is popular, but dangerous when they do - leaping onto neck/back, re-enacting 'fight' moves seen on social media). DC struggling with anxiety around school. DC struggling with full language comprehension.

Change school?

@MumChp That would be ideal, but rural so DC would be away from friendship groups if we somehow got permission. Or we would probably have to move.

I wouldn't let my child stay a day longer in a class like that. If not able to attend a grade under I would move my child.
I/we would need couple therapy if my husband wasn't able to understand the harm done to child attending that class.

If the school was any good this would have been dealt with by now. I've been supply teaching for six years and I was a classroom teacher before that. Schools are not equal. It's not the catchment it's the management.

I would look for a new school and if it's far and not working out for relationships then move. You can't fix a school that isn't working.

I went to a school last term, year three, and I went into the classroom and over half the chairs were not actual chairs. There were yoga balls and rocking chairs, spinning chairs and beanbag chairs. There were lap trays and floor cushions. When another teacher arrived he told me that they had a night proportion of dc with additional needs in the year group, just coincidentally and they had found that so many of them were not managing so this was something that they were trialling. When the children arrived they decided themselves where they wanted to be and it was such a calm atmosphere.

Yes, some of them were rocking in rocking chairs or spinning round sometimes but overall it was peaceful and was able to teach and they were able to learn. That's what you do when something isn't working. You pay attention to it and try to make it better.

All schools have issues with children who are not able to make good choices, it's how they deal with the situation that matters.

It's hard to know what a school in another country would think of holding a child back a year.

I think you have to make sure your husband is on board before asking the school about it.

It sounds absolutely awful though and the teacher seems to be completely overwhelmed. It's not a situation I would want my child in.

If you do want her to stay at the school, and I wouldn't, especially as she will likely be with the struggling teacher once more, I'd focus solely on her and not the other children

^As you are aware I've had some concerns about Susan this year as she seems to be struggling with........ and ............

Due to ......... not being Susan's first language and her difficulties with the work in year whatever this year I would like the opportunity to discuss with you the possibility of Susan repeating year whatever instead of moving to year.......with the rest of her cohort.^