Hi. DS is 10 and in Year 6. Over the summer we moved from Hungary where DS had been in the one school since nursery back to UK and he is now in a much bigger school. So huge changes for him. New country, new house, new school.
We knew it would not be easy but didn't expect him to struggle so much. He hates it. Days are longer. Much more formal uniform. Bigger school. They move around for different classes much more than in his previous school. He has gone from confident, outgoing, friendly child to lonely and sad.
His main issue is that he is struggling to make friends. Last Thursday we had meltdown in the morning as the one boy in his class who talks to him was not going to be in. The school are aware that he is miserable (although they say he seems fine at school). His form teacher has said that the boys in his class are an 'odd' group. DS's main issue is that playtimes are boring as they don't play with him. In his previous school he was involved in a particularly football mad group and they played every day. Here it is more a rugby school although some children do play football at playtimes. He has played football and rugby at playtimes with boys from the other class. School have suggested that DS moves into the other class as feel he would be a better fit there due to the nature of the boys in that class.
DS decided he would give the class he is in till half term which starts Wednesday. I really feel he would ultimately be happier if he moved but he is worried about what everyone will say. School have said they will say it was their fault and that there was a mix up.
He doesn't want me to get involved although knows that we have spoken to the teacher and the deputy head and he was involved in a meeting with us and his form teacher where we spoke about moving to the other class.
I am not sure how much to push him to move to the other class. I understand his concerns - what people will say, getting used to a new form teacher and a new timetable and new teachers for some subjects. Obviously at 10 it is hard to see the bigger picture and all he sees is the potential struggle to fit into the new class.
We start half term on Wednesday and already I am dreading going back to school.
They start at 8.20 am and he refuses to get there any earlier in the morning so he won't have to go to the playground as nobody will play with him. This from a boy who used to go in as early as possible in his previous school.
He has been on Skype and playing playstation on line with a couple of his friends from Hungary and I know that that makes him miss them all more but I don't want to stop it as he doesn't have any other friends here yet.
Has anyone else been through this? Did it get better? Should I push him to move classes? Don't want him any angrier with us than he is!
Feeling very sad for him.
Sorry it's so long!