To ask for a meeting with the teacher?

[Purple190]

Or just wait it out?

My DD has just gone into y1. She’s struggling quite a lot with regulating her emotions at the minute. Things that seem small are very big for her. She often has meltdowns and hits out when she is frustrated. She only went back a few days ago but says she doesn’t like school anymore and doesn’t want to go. In reception she would happily get ready and go in but she was clinging to me today and didn’t want to go in. I know it’s a transition from y1 to reception but I’m worrying as she’s not good with change.

She often takes things out on me and she will scream and scream over little things. I don’t think she is like this at school, I think she’s quiet and might not ask for help or tell others how she feels. She said she ‘can’t see when the teacher is reading’ I tried to ask what she meant but she just got frustrated and wouldn’t explain.

just worried as it’s everyday that she has these meltdowns and I think she holds everything in at school. It is also hard to reason with her

Op has she had her eyes tested lately??? Might be difficult for her to see things and that's why she lashes out?? Also if she's behaving at school then being emotional at home it could be she feels that it's her safe place. Where she can let go of emotions. Also she could be nervous going to a different year x

There is a huge jump between reception and year one. It is not uncommon for children to struggle to adjust. Nevertheless I’d ask the teacher for a word and just let them know what is going on.

At our school we're asked to email the teacher straight away if our child is anxious or upset, so then they can speak to them and work out a solution quickly before the problem magnifies. At this age (mine has also just started yr 1) it's so easy for them to misunderstand something or something tiny to multiply in importance for them. If you can't help her work it out at home, you need school on board to support her too.

thanks everyone. I might just send a quick message to her teacher on the app. Would it be best to mention these meltdowns she’s been having at home?

She hasn’t but I will get it booked in. I’m not sure if she meant physically see properly or that she couldn’t see other children’s heads as she was sat at the back, I’m not sure. But I’ll definitely get it booked in just to make sure

Yes definitely

I would definitely have a word with the teacher if my child was struggling to that extent. My son also really struggled with the early years at school. He'd have meltdowns at home, but he was quiet as a mouse at school. I mentioned it to the teachers as I felt they needed to be aware. He may have appeared OK at school, but under the surface, he was in turmoil.

Thanks everyone. I’ll mention it

Did his school say anything or keep an eye?

Definitely chat to the school. Girls with autism can mask and then their emotions all come out like this. It’s worth speaking to the senco so they have a full picture of what she is also like outside of school. She might not be autistic (impossible to say on so little) but if she is, it’s likely she needs a different approach to be able to be happy at school.

They were very supportive and gave him the extra assistance/care he needed. Sadly he found school so difficult that ended up developing selective mutism but with the support of the school he recovered. He's now just started secondary school and is doing really well. I think explaining his difficulties to the teacher really helped.

Op the reason I asked about the eye test is my son was the same. He couldn't see the board at all, teachers moved him to the front desks still struggled. Wears glasses now and no problem

Thank you. I’ve booked her an appointment in at the weekend to get them checked

I'd definitely keep school in the loop. TBH I'd keep a bit of a diary, but that's with hindsight of how much it would have really helped us as things progressed.

She said she ‘can’t see when the teacher is reading’ I tried to ask what she meant but she just got frustrated and wouldn’t explain.

I would wonder (and be asking the teacher) if it's possible she has got told off/into trouble for talking/trying to ask a question when the teacher is reading to the class... 'Can't see when' can translate as 'not aware of' for some children with ASD . I'm not suggesting she is on the spectrum but you are describing behaviors that may point towards it.

I may be totally off here, but you've picked up on her not explaining it simply which I would expect most yr 1's to be able to, and being frustrated at being asked, which could tie in with language use which makes total sense to her, but not to all.
Just thoughts prompted by memories.