To get my child in year 5 to repeat one year of primary school

[Kerry987]

My DD has been behind at school from the start of primary, she is winter born so not the youngest one. She is probably behind 1 year in her learning and maturity. I don't know how will she cope with secondary school in 1.5 years. I think keeping her behind one year will help her maturity and confidence and she will be more ready for secondary school. She has also lost lots of education, by spring this year it would be 2 terms, so nearly a whole school year.

I understand this is not normally possible in the UK, however I read an article that because of the pandemic your child could repeat one year if approved by the head teacher.

We have been home schooling her at home and can not see how she will cope with secondary school.

I wonder if secondary might be easier for her? In that there are more children in each year, so much more likely that there will be better provision at every level of ability.

Has she been assessed for any underlying SEN?

DD is apparently in the lowest ability set (she has some SEN), where she is average, where in primary she was always bottom of the class. Her self-esteem has improved enormously. She also got an individualised timetable when she started (we moved from overseas and a different curriculum), and have one to one support in key areas until she was ready to integrate into the class. She still doesn't do a couple of the subjects as she gets one to one support around her SEN.

Look for a secondary that has good pastoral support, Progress 8, and an ethos of meeting every child's needs.