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Original poster

Repeating Year 6 - from furious mum!

134 replies

Melzie7 · 23/10/2017 14:33

Hello
I need some advice and what better place to come (I hope). To cut a long story short, on Friday I was met at the school gate (I never usually get to the school gate as I'm always at work) by DDs head who casually said 'I've been talking to (DD) about repeating Year 6 as she's getting really anxious in tests'. I know DD struggles with tests but she is a bright girl (I'm a secondary teacher) who needs extra time as she is a slow processor (undiagnosed). Whilst the school has flagged up things in the past, I've been told she is dyspraxia, has ADHD, etc etc but when asked about intervention nothing has been done and another year passes. To be told on Friday that she should repeat the year left me gobsmacked and I didn't know what to say other than 'we should meet after half term to discuss'. When I got home I was furious, and still am. My DD is an October birthday (today actually) and quite socially mature so this would be devastating for her confidence. I wouldn't mind (well I would actually) but she is really quite a clever girl and in terms of emotional intelligence she is streets ahead of many other kids in this respect. I really don't know what to say to the school without going off on one.......any advice out there? I think it probably comes down to lack of funding for extra support but surely having a child in the school for another year costs the school more?

OP posts:
Ploppie4 · 25/10/2017 06:06

I’ve never heard of children repeating year 6 either.

annandale · 25/10/2017 06:31

Sorry I couldn't get past the SENCO suggesting medicating a child without a diagnosis.

How was she suggesting this would happen? A quick 10 min appointment with the GP and they would say 'oh I see, not doing too well at school, here, have a year's supply of amphetamines for your 11 year old'. Or did they mean a quick Internet purchase? No possible issues there.

The SENCO sounds insane, but that makes me wonder what the HT is doing that makes everyone around her behave like that.

I would want a meeting as per the other posters on this thread and I would list all the batshit things they have said in inappropriate places from written notes with dates, and then say how are we going to move forward to support my dd?

Norestformrz · 25/10/2017 06:34

“Lots of primary schools avoid paying an ed psych because of cost” actually Primary schools don’t pay for Ed Psych services it’s provided by the LA. Unfortunately Ed Psychs are like gold dust. Ive been told my allocation for the whole school is three days this year! Enough to assess one child.

BertrandRussell · 25/10/2017 06:59

There's definitely something dodgy going on here.

redbirdblackbird · 25/10/2017 07:04

I am a senco in Manchester. We do pay for Ep and indeed all services, so it depends on the area

Hulababy · 25/10/2017 07:07

Is this an academy school?
I ask as only this half term I have heard from a parent about repeating a year - albeit at a secondary school, an academy in England. I'd never heard of it except in rare cases involving SEND m, early in in education and a lot of intervention and often coming from parents.
Is this going to become a new way forward for schools? I hope not!

Go and speak to the headteacher OP. I'd not be agreeing to this.

picklemepopcorn · 25/10/2017 07:08

Is it to do with grammar school entry? Is she suggesting it so your DD can go to a better secondary? She may feel your DD should go to grammar school and could if she repeated. If you don’t think grammar will suit her, then she doesn’t need to repeat.

newdaylight · 25/10/2017 07:11

Your school sounds absolutely batshit crazy

BertrandRussell · 25/10/2017 07:15

It can't be to do with grammar school entry- you can't just do the 11+ a year late..........

thecatfromjapan · 25/10/2017 07:24

Repeating a year is vanishingly rare in my part of the world, too.

A school where several children had repeated a year would be news in these parts.

You're a secondary teacher, you know that what you are saying here about the HT's remarks and the SENCO is extraordinary.

There's something beyond odd going on at this school.

Jasminedes · 25/10/2017 07:45

In my area, you would ask your GP to refer to paediatricians (or CAMHS, if you think her anxiety could be needing to be addressed too) for ADHD assessment, and ask school or GP to refer to OTs for dyspraxia assessment. It takes time, and sadly you might not get more info before transition. An ed psych could do a full cognitive profile, which might be informative.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 25/10/2017 07:51

This repeating a year suggestion has a lot of implications at secondary. The secondary won’t receive any funding for her for her final year and so may well refuse to accept her. Leaving aside the possible SEN and lack of progress she may risk having no place at secondary. You need proper advice.

Also: be aware of private EP reports. EPs have varied reputations within areas. Those available to do them privately are not always those whose opinions are valued. No point saving up for a report if it is poo pooed.

Brandnewstart · 25/10/2017 09:29

It is very unusual to be kept back a year (as I'm sure you know as a teacher). My son would have benefited as he is a July birthday but it would have been a fight. I think socially it wouldn't be good for your girl who will be almost two years older than some children then.
The school are failing her. Have you got an SEN education charity in your area? I'm in Wales and we have SNAP cymru x

TeenTimesTwo · 25/10/2017 09:50

Just to check. Are you sure your DD isn't somehow a year ahead at the school (given your last comment about a number of kids being out of year)?

So your DD should be turning 11 between 1 Sept 17 and 31 Aug 18.

Otherwise if the school have somehow got her a year ahead without authorisation, she would have to repeat y6 in order to get back into the right year.

IroningMountain · 26/10/2017 11:06

Not surprised re the lack of intervention as regards dyspraxia and sensory, my dd's school was woeful. I think you should go to your gp and explain you need a diagnosis asap. We did explaining we wanted it done before starting secondary. Gp agreed with our suspicions and need for ugency. Don't know if we got fast tracked but the paediatric consultant never saw us and just referred us to the OT. We got the diagnosis( severe dyspraxia, hypermobility and sensory) v quickly and ot at the hospital during year 5/6. Dd actually rocked the 11+ and is thriving at grammar. Very happy. Interestingly we got told that there are several like her there. So go to your gp would be my advice.

Luckyme2 · 26/10/2017 11:36

Sorry I can't get past the part where the HT casually mentions to you that she's been discussing repeating year 6 with your DD! Before even mentioning it to you. That's before we even get to the rights and wrongs of keeping her back anyway. Talk about adding to your poor DD's anxiety!

Norestformrz · 26/10/2017 12:38

“and also I've now heard of a couple that have left after year 6 to start Yr 6 again at other local schools so something isn't right?” It definitely isn’t right. Children can’t simply repeat a year in the state system. Sorry but I think you’re being misled.

Bobbybobbins · 26/10/2017 12:52

This is very bizarre - hope you are getting some answers OP

Original poster
Melzie7 · 26/10/2017 17:09

Well I've just phoned LEA who were as good as useless. They said that it was up to the school (even though it's a state school and not academy or anything different). They said I could appeal against the decision. I said that surely they would need evidence by way of interventions along the way etc and the woman just said I needed to talk to the school - but it's half term!!!!!! Anyway in the end I was told to fill in an online contact form and ask for someone to call me back. I can see this going on.....and on......

OP posts:
Original poster
Melzie7 · 26/10/2017 17:16

I'm glad you DD is doing so well and I hope I can get to the root of my DDs issues. Just as a btw, does your DD have issues with dislocating joints etc? The school has mentioned that the fact she keeps dislocating her thumb might also be part of a bigger issue but I'm just wondering if they are clutching at straws as to me they seem completely unrelated. My daughter isn't great at writing (she complains it hurts - I put that down to laziness though and the fact she doesn't hold a pen correctly) but of course the fact she has spent 4 of the last 12 months with an injured thumb, plastered on two occasions, probably isn't helping matters. She seems perfectly able on a computer though and was evenasking to do Mensa puzzles today - bit odd for a girl that effectively the school have 'written off' (or maybe they just want to keep her!)

OP posts:
Dixiestampsagain · 26/10/2017 17:30

They can only make a suggestion, surely, not a binding decision, so is there anything to actually ‘appeal’ against? As the parent of a yr 6 child we’ve just applied to secondary schools with our list of choices in rank order. I appreciate your system may be very different but can you not just carry on with the process of moving her to secondary and ignore their advice/suggestion?

annandale · 26/10/2017 17:36

Sounds like possible hypermobility? Has she ever seen a physio with some experience in that?

Pancakeflipper · 26/10/2017 17:39

Why do they think keeping her back a year is going to help her and not make things worse.
Tell them to deal with it now.

Babymamamama · 26/10/2017 17:45

This must be a private school I'm guessing?

IroningMountain · 26/10/2017 17:50

Not dislocating but aches and pains. Her hands are floppy. Poor pencil control which I nagged and nagged school about to no avail. Still can't hold cutlery properly at 13, even though she's had OT. Her hand kind of sinks into the cutlery and she can't put pressure to cut food.

Dyspraxia and hypermobility can vary a lot. My dd can bend fingers and arms back but still can't do a forward roll. Have heard of other kids with hypermobility being amazing at gymnastics. My dd is the opposite.