should i change schools ...... please help me!

[amberjane]

my dd started yr 3 in sept and has not settled to make an understatement! The school have tried to help by giving her 121 sessions with a special teacher to talk to, this has not helped. She has made no friends. Her old best friend went to another local school which is a choice I have in mind.
My dd does have issues anyway, I have been unwell with a brain tumour and therefore epilepsy, she finds this hard to cope with. Her dad left me as soon as he knew I was having her and wants nothing to do with her, she cries her self to sleep some nights over this and was under camhs for a period of time but this did not help.
Back to her school, her teacher is very shouty, I have approached her over this and she admitted to shouting alot!!!!! It is her 1st teaching job.
There is not a day that goes by where my dd dooes not say she is not fitting in, it breaks my heart.
I wonder if a change of school therefore teacher, new girls to befriend will help dd will give her a fresh start or her other problems will just follow her??
Feel lost as to what to do next, thanks for reading.

You've got a lot on your plate. Not sure if you mean your DD moved up to yr3 within a primary or it was a move to a new school? Does she make friends readily outside school? Have you been able to invite friends round after school or is it too much with your health at the moment? Is she in brownies for example?

I would say there are a lot of fun if noisy activities in school this time of year. With plays, parties, afternoons watching DVDs (don't let the teachers know we know) it means there is less of the formal timetable. Does your DD perhaps not know quite what is expected of her? I would give it longer than a term. I would also speak to school about how they support with buddy benches/friendship mentors etc. Maybe the teacher can name one or two girls she gets on with better?

I think moving might help - and it's unlikely to make it worse!

Even if her other problems do 'just follow her' - she'll still have had a fresh start.

And a fresh start can help.

I think moving her to the same school as her old best friend would be a sensible idea.
Shouty teachers are extremely intimidating, particularly for a little girl with a lot on her plate just now.
Speak to the teachers at any new prospective school/s so that they know your DD will need to be treated gently.

Are there any out of school activities she might be interested in?
Building up a friendship group that doesn't just include children in the same class/school would be great.

Bless her, I hope things get better in the New Year

Yes. If your daughter is unhappy at school, and you feel you can get her into a school that would better meet her needs, then definitely move her.