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Thinking of taking son out of school and home schooling.

9 replies

Itwontrainallthetime · 19/07/2019 20:03

Apologies if this is a long post but I would really like some advice as I'm not sure what to do.
My DS is 10 he will be going into year 6 in September.
He has SEN and has been assessed when he was in the infant school. He does have learning disabilities and finds it hard to retain information low IQ etc He was doing well and progressing in the infant school, when he moved to juniors he struggled for a while and the school didn't really listen to any of his needs and what he needs in order to learn. Once we had a few meetings my son was getting the help he needed and at the end of year 4 he had made good progress, yes he was still behind but it looked promising that he was doing better and his teacher said that what we are doing is working so we will keep to what we are doing working together and using his ipp. However when he went into year 5 is when the problems started he was moved into a different class and it seemed like nothing was put in place to help him despite what it says on the ipp. I had to go in a few times as he had been struggling, losing things as he had a bad memory and with not being prompted or reminded about things he will forget. For example miss placing items or homework books etc and then he will get shouted at or punished. He's very sensitive and can get emotional at times which was listed in his report. A few teachers he's had for this year seem to not be able to deal with him due to his unable to pay attention and listen to instructions. Which then causes my son to worry. His behaviour is brilliant in school and he's always well mannered and polite and is forever helping everyone, he just finds learning really tough .He's also having issues with a few of his so called friends in his class, they have made his life at school hell this year and its making him ill, and affecting his learning. The teachers are reluctant to do anything as it seems like they think my DS just isn't trying but he is and everything that he has trouble with is listed in his report we got back from the educational psychologist.
When it's time to review his ipp each term I'm only in to sign it and back out again and this year there has been little to no improvement so something isn't working.
He was really stressed around December he'd been in this new class for around 3 months and he wasn't the boy I used to know , I had planned to see his teacher but we were at an event and I spoke to his headmistress and she noticed he hadn't been himself. We discussed what my DS had told me and everything seemed to be sorted out until the last few weeks of term. This week he'd been having trouble with one of the boys in school this boy is one of the more academic type and they used to be good friends but my son is very sociable and this boy wanted my son to play with him and only him , he wouldn't let him play with anyone else and he would just torment my DS and his friends at break time, which my son needs as he had trouble with concentration and he needed the break to relax but my DS was getting upset because the boy was hurting his friends and calling them names etc I spoke to the school and got them all together and it was sorted. Then it has started again this past two weeks because of what this boy and his friends were doing my son was to stressed to eat his dinner at lunch time so was bringing home a full packed lunch .My son was stressed out as this boy wouldn't leave him alone and kept hitting him so I made school aware and they said that they will have a word. I got a phone call saying they have had a word with them both and they are to both have space from each other which they both agreed and my DS thought it was sorted out.
I was then told in the phone call that at break time it was my son that had been following the boy round so he had been told off and missed some of his playtime and he was extremely upset but because the dinner ladies had seen him and reported back to the headmistress then it was the truth. I said ok I'll have a word with my DS when he comes out. He came out in bits, as he never gets punished like he did and he loves his breaktimes. I said what the headmistress has told me. When my son calmed down he told me that when he was in his maths lesson one of the other boys friends came over and said to him , that the boy had told her he hates my DS. My DS being who he is thought it was sorted but said he wanted to find out if he had said that about him or not. The dinner lady saw them talking and came over so the boy told the dinnerr my DS was saying all sorts. He said the dinner lady grabbed him by the arm to the place they go if they are to sit out of break time. They wouldn't listen to what he was saying and even told his friend who was trying to stick up for him to go away and that my son is telling lies.
My DS is one of the most honest people you can meet ,he doesn't lie as like I said his learning difficuties make him this way. Yes he shouldn't of spoke to the boy but my son wanted to know why he said it, so being the way he is and the way his mind works he wanted to find out why as he thought it had been sorted.
My DS said he feels like a failure and that he is an embarrassment to the school and has took badly what happened. He is mentally exhausted.
I myself don't think it will improve next year and I'm worried about his mental health.
If I take him out of school he will get full on one 2 one support and won't have the stress and distractions he has at school.
I'm just worried about the social side of things but I'm sure there will be clubs etc he could join and would enjoy for the social side of things as my son gets on well with everybody.
I also have a daughter but she hasn't got the issues my son has she is 7 and is ahead academically than my son and he is 4 years older than her. So school isn't helping him, yet out of school he is very intelligent, fast learner and bright but not in a school setting.

Phew that was long thank you for reading and sticking with me

OP posts:
ommmward · 20/07/2019 08:28

Upper primary is so often the point where things fall apart socially in school for children with SEN. You can't make those children kinder, and you can't give your son the skills to cope independently in that complex social environment - not at a distance.

The difference with home ed is that you can build up social contacts that are beneficial for everyone concerned. You can help him build social skills by staying close, modelling and advising (not going off and drinking tea with other mums and then engaging in third party "he said/she said" when it goes wrong), and finding out what social situations he thrives in. He may do best with slightly older, kindly children, in a mentor sort of set up, or with younger children, where he can be the competent one and build leadership.

greathat · 20/07/2019 08:33

Does he have an EHCP? I think deciding to home educate becomes a bit more complicated if he does

ChangedPerson · 20/07/2019 08:38

Does your son have a one to one assistant in class? If not, can you ask the senco to apply for funding to get one for your son.
Our DS has autism, adhd, dyspraxia and his primary applied for funding for an assistant when he was in y3. He had the same lady up until y6 and she helped him so much. He'd always struggled with school work but similar to your son he was very social and talkative. He's just had his Sat's results and got greater depth / expected in all.

I think a lot depends on the school. DH and I have agreed if he gets bullied in secondary then we would home school him.

Read up on it first as it's a major decision. Good luck 🍀

Itwontrainallthetime · 20/07/2019 11:01

Thank you for your replies

My DS doesn't have a EHCP, when he was in year 2 the senco there was brilliant and was going to apply for one for him, but we have never heard anything about it then when he moved to year 3 they decided to put an IPP in place, we also had a speech therapist come to school in year 2 to and again in year 3 and 4. And she put forward a detailed plan for the school he is in now for the teachers to follow to help him. It seems that has gone out the window. For example he had a visual time table so he knew what he was doing during the day. At the end of year 4 my son told me it has been given to another pupil to use. I mentioned it to his teacher and she said she will get him another one. He still hasn't got it back.
We don't see the senco for dust in the school he is at now, she only contacts me on behalf of his teacher when we need to review the IPP.
Where as in the infant's it was almost constant contact with the senco and meetings with his teachers to help my DS.
I understand that other children need support to and I feel a burden on the school when I contact them regarding my DS as they seem to dismiss anything I say.

OP posts:
Itwontrainallthetime · 20/07/2019 11:06

An IEP not IPP

OP posts:
Itwontrainallthetime · 20/07/2019 11:12

@changedperson

He has lots of 1 to 1 support as listed on his IEP. He gets taken out of lessons for help etc. But then he misses a big chunk of his topic and science lessons. My son was suppose to bring work home from these lessons so I can do them at home with him so he doesn't miss out and get behind but they don't send anything home for him and when asked I just get told my DS has forgotten it or lost the books so it's basically his fault. Despite them knowing the difficulties he has. This has also caused him to fall behind.

OP posts:
Apple23 · 20/07/2019 12:50

Before deciding to Home Educate, have you considered moving schools?

Itwontrainallthetime · 20/07/2019 13:37

@apple23

I have considered it as we have a school that's right round the corner from us so wouldn't have to travel, but with this being his last year of juniors and his sister is to start in year 3 at the school he is at now, I was thinking that might help ds his sister being there with him for the last year.
My DS struggles with change and finds it hard to settle in every time he moves up a year so going to a new school might set him back further.
I do think he is going to struggle on his move to senior school next year.
I just don't know what to do for the best for my DS.

OP posts:
itsstillgood · 20/07/2019 14:37

It's a bad time of year for it as many home educators go into hiding for the summer or are busy catching up with school going family/friends but I would contact your local home ed group (most are On Facebook). You will be able to find out what activities are available which may be reassuring and in all likelihood find people who have been in similar position and have made the call to HE and get their perspective.

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