My DD (Y8) is struggling with school atm. There were some signs of classroom anxiety in primary, but her school were lovely and worked with her to address it. However, transition to secondary has been a challenge and her anxiety is now at a level where she is asking not to have to go to school, is v distressed about moving around school / being in busy spaces.
she has always been a very different child at home to how she is in school, and it seems to be getting more pronounced. She says she feels safe at home and is asking to be home schooled.
Whilst I can see that there has probably been a long build up to the school avoidance that is happening now, it’s probably come out of no where as far as school are concerned. Her school have responded compassionately, with some immediate small adjustments (I.e early exit from class so she can move to the next class before the corridors are busy, offering short days) and I am due to meet the head of year today to discuss.
However, I want my DD to thrive in her education, rather than merely surviving. I have started looking at alternatives options. I work full time, but in a role that is 100% wfh (work for a global IT company where such contracts are common and likely to persist). I am unlikely to be able to stop work and dedicate myself to home Ed 100%, but I am in a good place to be able to support her in an online school.
All of which is a long preamble to asking, have you any recent experience of online school that you can share? I have been looking particularly at Minerva’s Virtual Academy and Kings InterHigh. Also looked at Wolsey Hall Oxford and the pre 16 options at our local 6th form college. I am keen to get feedback from people with DC in these settings, but also other online providers.
I want to give her the best shot of being able to engage fully in her current school, but am keen to understand what the alternatives are. And I guess to be assured that there are alternatives and the sky won’t fall in if she doesn’t stay in mainstream school.