DD is 6, going into year 2.
She has Joint Hypermobility Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, shallow hip sockets, and arthritis in her ankles. One of the best ways to keep her walking and healthy is lots and lots of little spurts of exercise.
I chose her state primary school as they have huge grounds, lots of outdoor learning and what they call a fluid curriculum. For infants (Nursery, then YR-Y2) this means lots of walking round their classroom deliberately to do things or get equipment on the other side of the room in the upper years this is lots of outdoor learning and trips, they also have toilets nearby to all apart from the year 5 and 6 classrooms. This is basically perfect for her paired with extra curricular activities that include exercise; swimming, gymnastics and dance.
DD really struggled for the first year at school as she was undiagnosed, so she got behind with her fine motor skills. Hardwork and physio got her back to herself. School since diagnosis has always been a big burst of physio for her supplemented by stuff I do at home and we’ve seen masses of improvements in all areas of her development, yes she has some adjustments to the uniform and is allowed to opt out of certain activities due to pain but otherwise she’s a normal 6 year old.
But now she will be expected to sit at a table for 4-5 hours per day only allowed to move from her seat at her allotted toilet break times. Outdoor playtime will be twice per week for 15 minutes if the weathers bad then it’s indoor play like the rest of the week. Lunch will be eaten at their tables in the classrooms, no walking to the hall and balancing it (which helps her). PE will be outside and will not take place if the weathers bad and DD won’t be able to take part either way as they are asking children to come to school in PE kit and trainers with no option to change, trainers do not offer her the support she needs to walk, and school have said she won’t have the chance to change her shoes so she misses it. There will be no little walks to the library or toilet, no getting up from her seat. No 1-1 work from either teacher or TA, no small group work in the class as they’re expecting year 2 and above to SD. No reading books. They will only be able to touch their friends during their playtimes. Teachers and TAs may choose to wear masks too.
The effect on DD could be catastrophic. If she’s in pain she stops walking, if this goes on too long she could end up in a wheelchair permanently.
This is not a criticism of the school or DDs lovely headteacher, they have tried to find a way round the rules for DD. They’ve always been flexible and put DDs health above the rules, but now the health of 420 children is at risk they can’t single DD out.
DD has never needed an EHCP as her needs are more physical and school have always helped with that. She has no behaviour problems. She used to love school; I can see this putting her off learning forever.
Corona sucks…yes I know it could be worse, but I have a right to be angry that my DD is being thrown under a bus basically. It will not be education, the heads admitted that in a letter, it will be babysitting to get the parents back to work which isn’t actually helpful to me as I work from home anyway.
I am considering deregistering, but the school is oversubscribed and she won’t get back into it if I remove her and want to put her back in it at a later date.
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