child in yr 2 asked to repeat the year ?

[Hellobell]

hi,

So my son has been struggling with reading and also his maths, hes improving but very slowly, hes also trying a lot aswell. The teachers and myself had a meeting and can see signs of a learning disability but he can not yet be screened at this age, they did tell us as an option to either repeat year 2 again next year or after christmas put him into year 1.

Hes the youngest in his class and born end of august.

Can people please provide me with both pros and cons ?

Thanks

As he's struggling and also the youngest I absolutely would take them up on that offer. That's very understanding of the school and to be honest, unusually accommodating.

You need to have a look into how this will impact on Secondary school admissions?

he's in a school which has continuous studies so he stays at the same school for primary and secondary so i dont think it would make a difference for him as we dont have to apply again or anything like that.

I assume this is private?

I would be worried on the message your son could take away from this. But if you do go down this route I think it would be better done earlier than later.

yes im very worried, im worried he would think less of himself and that this happened because he's not as clever as his peers, but hes having such a hard time now as yr 2 is a lot different from yr 1. I do feel that this could help with his confidence, he's very socially confident but not when it comes to work. I think the first few months would be the hardest but after that wouldn't he just forget that he was moved down a year ? I don't think there would be a need for us to be reminding him all throughout his school life, he would notice though since his birthday would show it.

Would they definitely take him on for the secondary years if he isn’t at a standard they’re happy with? I know some private schools that go all the way through suggest they can’t meet needs of year 4s upwards who are less academically able. Is it a particularly academic school? Would he get on better at a local primary with similar ability children?

My friend’s DD is a late August baby and she was in my DC’s year at secondary school although, technically, she should have been in the year above. So, yes, they can stay in the same year all through school.

I would move him sooner than later. The quicker he is moved, the faster he will catch up.

Alternatively, you need to be putting in the work at home with him.

My DD8, was really struggling in Year 1 and we spent 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins in the evening working on maths books, reading and comprehension. Over the holidays, she had extra tutoring. She has just been diagnosed with dyslexia in Year 3 but the assessor said that as we have put so much extra time and effort in over the past 2 years, she isn't behind at all academically.

You either move him, or highly support him. Use Twinkl, work books, buy extra reading books for home and just plough on. You are in a fortunate position where you have money to throw at this.

30 mins a day reading at a minimum (15 mins in the morning, 15 mins in the evening). 15 mins maths book in the morning and 15 mins comprehension books in the evening.

We also did this with DD6, who is miles ahead of her peers because of the extra work.

7 hours a week extra work is an extra day at school. Over a year, it is an extra 45 days of additional work.

This is ds technically he should be in the year above he's in year 3 now but should be in year 4.

"he can not yet be screened at this age"

I disagree with this. Not sure if they mean educational psychology screening within school or something similar, which I can't comment on, but you could definitely go through the GP and ask for him to be referred to community paediatrics for assessment of learning disability. I'm assuming you're in the UK - local terms may be different if you're not.

’ve bought lots of books, the Oxford Reading Tree and RWI ones and he’s absolutely loving them. In the evenings, he gets to choose as many as he wants, and he reads . He’s improving, and I’m so proud of him, even though he’s still a little behind.

We don’t really have time in the mornings, as we’re up and out of the house by 7 a.m. We also did private tutoring over the summer, just once a week, but I’m thinking of increasing it next summer. I really want to do as much as we can to support him but at the same time, I want him to have plenty of time to play with his Lego and Playmobil, and to go to the park/ walk outside each day. I don’t want his childhood to be consumed with just studying. Still, I believe it’s important not to leave everything up to the school, and that we do plenty at home as well, even when we play board games I'm trying to incorporate the numbers and learning and so on :)

Its a hard balance. Im going to be taking lots of points away from your advice, so thank you so much.

and how is he getting on ? what grade did you decide to put him down on ? Thank you

I did it, my dd repeated year 1. All good but now started secondary school and it was a bit of a nightmare. Some schools expected her to go straight to year 8. What with missing lots during pandemic to then miss another whole year was out of the question. Some schools wouldn’t budge but a couple were happy to accept applications. I did the right thing, my dd is end of August. I don’t regret it. She’s settled well into year 7 now.

happened over 35 years ago now but my DB who was dyslexic repeated year 3 and honestly it was the making of him, it made such a difference and he didn’t create friendship issues either

If he is August he could have done a deferred entry anyway.

So move him now or January if the school are offering, hopefully he'll be happier.

If there is something underlying it may not solve it, but it gives you some space.

I think it would be very damaging to his confidence to go down a year. Other kids would know too. I wouldn’t move him into year 1 or repeat if it can be avoided, will be damaging socially.
I’m guessing money isn’t an issue for you, so tutoring 2 x a week. Cramming over summer won’t help as much as you hope. Steady progress throughout year is going to make more progress and hopefully make it so school will let him stay with cohort.

See, I think young people are pretty accepting. So moving now I would hope would be OK.
He may turn out not to be the oldest anyway if other parents deferred.

Also if he is behind academically that may well get more damaging socially. Some of the less kind kids in DD's class from y3 were quite happy to point out her poor drawing, writing etc.

Move him now, before it does become more awkward socially. Sounds like a good decision all round.

Don’t put him into year 1. He’ll end up the biggest in the year at 2 years ahead, and that would be awful.

School are wrong he certainly can be screened now. Either go see the GP for referral or look at private screening. My Nince was screened at this age although her parents had to pay for it or it would have been a very long wait. The sooner you know what the issues are the easier it will be to put in the correct interventions.

My sister's son did this but a bit younger - so he did reception year, then until Christmas of year one. He was really struggling with reading and also socially (he's an August birthday and a bit young for his age as well) and they suggested he move back to reception after the Christmas holidays.

They've never regretted it, has been brilliant. No SEN just better suited to being the oldest in the year rather than youngest. He's off to secondary next year (in the same year group), all great. They had to get permission from the local authority to go to secondary a year late but that was a formality. I don't know if it varies place to place but in their borough (Surrey) it seems to be very common to start August children a year late and there seems to be no issue with them then staying in the group when moving up.

Moving any child down a year is going to be detrimental. If he’s struggling with the work in Y2, then it’s up to the teacher to ensure she/he provides work at an appropriate level to meet his need, not get rid of him by moving him down! Just imaging what his self esteem will be like - he’ll be taken from his friends, put in with other children who are not his friends, have to learn new routines, likely be given work that he’s already done last year.
Whoever told you he can’t be assessed yet is talking utter rubbish. I would be pushing for the school to carry out appropriate assessments now before any decisions are made in terms of his provision. The school is doing your DS a real disservice here I’m afraid.

Moving any child down a year is going to be detrimental

Not for my nephew - it's been very successful.

I wish this option was more widely available. I have taught pupils who have missed so much schooling due to illness yet they have been expected to.pick up where they left off- no feasible. Setting them up for a fall.