End of Yr 6 celebrations

[Iceicebabies]

DS, yr 6, is having a tough time. Struggles to manage emotions at the best of times, but last few weeks have been the worst since he’s been a school - comments about him and then removal from class chat, children ignoring or telling him to go away at break times or name calling, kids laughing about how no one likes him. All been addressed by school. He has no real friends and his confidence is very low.

I know groups of children in the class meet up outside of school, sleepovers, play dates etc. we spend time trying to build DS’s confidence with activities as a family, time with DD etc. However, I’m dreading the last week of school, particularly the last day when there will be very obvious “class” socialising that DS will be excluded from.

I would happily give DS the last couple of days off school if he asks for this (which he will - he asks most days as he doesn’t want to go - he’s gone to bed tonight crying about going to school tomorrow). He has an excellent attendance record etc. DH thinks he has to go as it’s the end of an era, important to say goodbyes etc.

Any advice on how to manage this would be appreciated. I’m planning some nice activities for the days after school ends.

The sounds awful for you and your DS. Hopefully he'll have a fresh start at high school. Some classes are just toxic.

If he doesn't want to go in for the last couple of days I'd be minded to let him stay off but he may miss out on some fun! I do think that you may be other thinking what might happen socially at the end of term. (I have done lots of things over thinking so completely understand!). The kids will be really tired on the last day of term and I don't think most/all will have arrangements. When one of my DC left primary all the kids from the whole school seemed to go to the park but nothing individual was arranged as far as I know. My other DC who is in year 6 has no plans and may go to the park. I certainly won't be arranging anything.

I am so sorry. I have no real advice but my DS is similar sounding to your son. No real friends as such. Got left out a lot. They had a leavers do on their last day organised by school which he didn’t particularly enjoy but had some closure.
If it helps, he has gone up to senior school and is much happier. Doesn’t socialise much out of school still, but has found people in school that he likes and is happy to hang around with there. No nasty group chats from what I can gather.
I wish you and your boyo the best. X

It’s so similar to us, how did the end of school go/leavers.

It was ok! My DS was so shattered, emotionally and physically (as was I) that it felt a relief to have a few minutes in the playground on last day then come home. He was in a happy mood and said he didn’t want to do anything . The weather at pickup time was awful so no off to the park in groups excluding him. Most of the class went bowling, organised by a parent, later that eve and the photos started pinging through, but DS seems to have emotionally separated from the kids there and wasn’t bothered.

in the build up to the finish, with timetable out of the window and social activities galore he was very dysregulated, but in the last couple of days the kids in his class, who seemed equally exhausted, seemed to have an amnesty on name calling and singling him out so things ended on a better note.

For now he’s embracing a new start. I worry that past ability to maintain relationships is an indicator of future successful relationships, but for now we are focusing on the summer holiday breathing space.

I’m feeling a little more optimistic that more kids at secondary might give more opportunities for people with things in common to be together, rather than 30 kids of very different abilities, thrown together by virtue of geography and birthdays for 7 years!