Has anybody ever asked for their child to re-do a year?

[JackJacksmummy]

My ds is just going into year 2 - he is suspect ASD and really not doing well with reading, writing and numeracy. He is still working at reception levels and I am so worried about him going into year 2 when he has seriously struggled in year 1.

I don't particularly want him separated from his friends and what he knows but I know it would be good for him to repeat a year especially now, whilst he is young.

If I recall correctly he will have to return to his correct year group at some point - prob on transition to secondary

Have you started out on the road to statementing, to enable him to get more help?

Yeah we have recently had an educational psychologist assessment and it's not good but they are saying at the moment there are still a few options they'd like to do with him. His current teacher and TA have already told me what he really needs is an INA but obviously he needs to be statemented for this. He currently gets lots of help from SALT and the senco team so is SA+

P.s currently he is one of the youngest in year one so won't be far off the same ages as the oldest receptions

Are you in private or state?

If private then it won't be a problem at all. Where I work children born between July and October are placed quite fluidly - if there's a reasonf ro them to be in the year above or below the one they should technically be in then that's fine.

One boy in my class is going to repeat Year 5 next year. He is an August birthday, fairly weak academically and just not coping socially or emotionally. We have several others who are out of year, mainly in the below rather than above, and it is rarely, if ever, a problem.

It's a state school :\ I asked his senco but she said they tend not to and just have someone working with him at his level - however since he is not yet statemented and has no INA, I worry that there are going to be times when he is left to do work he is just not going to be able to do

Doesn't work in the state sector I'm afraid. All that happens if primary will allow is that they go to secondary at 11 regardless so effectively yr5 to yr7. The only child I know did this went to a special school at 11.

State schools should cope, with support with a huge range of abilities through differentiation. A " little" friend of DD2 at primary was a year ahead of her in age but didn't get beyond year 1 work at year 6. THey coped.

your DS can only have a certain number of years free education, so if he does one twice, he misses one later, and that might mean not being able to start a two year training course after year 11

Most EPs recommend children remain in their year group rather than repeat a year. It isn't totally unheard of but usually the child will have severe learning difficulties and it is rare for a child to continue throughout school outside their own year group. Some LEAs have been more accommodating than others.

I repeated a year in the state sector, but at gcse level. I left one school because my parents moved to another area of the country and because the exam boards were totally different at the new school, I had the option to do gcse's in a year or go down a year. As one of the youngest in my year, I opted to go down. It was the best decision I ever made.

I don't understand the reluctance to allow it in uk actually. It is normal in other european countries.

I wonder if it's different in Scotland.
Ds1 moved schools in may of P1 and it became evident he had learnt almost nothing at his first school and was way behind n his new school where they did things in a much more regimented way. Teacher recommended he redo P1 which he did. He had been youngest in class but ended up one of the eldest (scotland allows jan/feb birthdays to defer entry) and never looked back . He went up to high school with his class having done 8 years at primary instead of the normal 7.

I think it would be very hard to get a school to agree to this in the state sector.
My DC1 did actually do this several years ago in a state school (London) (went back down to reception part way through year 1) it was not at my request, but the schools suggestion, his Birthday is right at the end of August.
Several parents asked for the same thing in later years but no other children were ever moved again, he went up to secondary and stayed in the same year, so didn't have to jump a year, he is now about to go into yr 10.
I do worry that we will have a problem when it comes to 6th form as his school has really high grades to get in and he may not do well enough and then he may be the wrong age if we apply elsewhere.
On the plus side it has be a really good thing being the oldest in the year.
I would say that your DC may really change with age and may come on more than you expect and may catch up with his peers, if he has good friends I would leave him where he is as making new friends could be tricky for him and he may feel a bit odd about moving down.

I had a child in my Year 4 class this last year who was 31st Aug birthday, and working at nursery/reception level across the board. We have to differentiate all her work to suit - staying back a year would make no difference to her (even if our LEA allowed it) as she would still be several years behind. It's not unusual. Your ds's teachers will manage appropriate work for him, don't worry.