Want to keep ds part time for longer, school want him to go full time

[emkana]

He is4.6 and in reception, has short-limbed dwarfism and is developmentally delayed. Still in nappies. He is doing fine at school but his behaviour at home at the end od last term was appalling due to being so tired. In the morning he keeps repeating the same two sentences "mummy pick me up later, mummy go home and tidy up" because he is so anxious about going. The thing is when at school he totally conforms, which is why I think the school don't see what the problem is. They think its not doing him any favours to keep him part time - I pick him up at lunchtime every day. Should I stick to my guns.

It can be amazing how quickly little ones do adjust at each stage and where aat first they were so tired they suddenly find it easy. However, you know your child and maybe you should stick to your guns. sorry not really of any help.

If school is so tiring and distressing to your child that you feel he's better off remaining part-time, what about enlisting the support of a doctor?

For that matter, are you sure school is right for him at all at this age? The way I saw it, I wouldn't send a three year old into Reception even with good support; the environment simply isn't designed with a three year old's needs in mind. So it made no sense to send my daughter, who had a mental age of three, to Reception. I am sure the school could have provided lots of help and support, but it would not have been an ideal place for her.

Did your little boy go to nursery and did he enjoy his time there? If so, he could return there for the rest of the year. Or you could have him at home. That would give him time to develop the maturity to be ready for school physically and mentally.

Some people say that such a solution makes adjustment harder for the child in the long term. I disagree. I think if you meet his needs now, so that he's happy and in an environment which meets his needs, he will develop the self-confidence to cope with everything life throws at him later on.

Maybe things will improve for your little boy if he stays at school. But why should he have to go through this anxiety and exhaustion in the meantime? If school is so difficult to adjust to that it takes many months, it can't be a very close match for his needs at the moment.