Do children make all their friends in reception and then that's it forever!

[skewiff]

DS has cerebral palsy and I do his exercises in the morning. He gets to school 40 minutes late. We agreed this with the school at the beginning of the school year.

Suddenly they want me to get him in earlier. I am explaining why his exercises are soooo important! At the moment he has no TA in school, despite having a statement.

Their reason for wanting him in earlier is that he is missing the moment in the morning when all the children choose who they are going to play with. School says that in Reception groups form and by Year 1 its too late to break into any friendship groups!!!

This has panicked me. I want to keep doing DS's exercises until school get a TA for him. I hope that will be just after Easter. Then the TA can do exercises with him in school. Am I damaging him socially in the meantime?

Just to add: DS is a very sociable little boy. He loves going to school and is very happy there. He seems to interact and be friends with several children. But who knows what goes on behind the school doors once they're closed ...

Thank you chatee, can you pm me? I don't know how it works ... but can read messages other people have sent me and can then reply! Is that OK?

I have already rung IPSEA and they were really helpful - I think I just have to remind the school to do a review - again have been holding back as they seem to be really sensitive and prickly and don't want me asking them for anything.

I did mention the review to the teacher the other day and she was very defensive on the SENcos behalf.

Have to go to bed now as my baby girl is trying to type on my lap.

Thank you for your help.

will send you a pm tomorrow

night

It may be possible to begin to shift his body clock a bit, by waking him 5 mins earlier each day and feeding him earlier in the evening, putting him to bed earlier etc, just as you would when hour changes.

Having said that it does sound as if your child needs more support. Dd2's reception class has 2 children who have special needs (may be more but don't know); they have 4TAs in class of 30; two of which spend more time with those two children, but also help all of them so not dedicated 1:1. They also take those who need it swimming in hydrotheraphy pool once a week. I know our school is lucky and does have emphasis on children with special needs, but it does sound as if his school could be doing more for your son.

I don't think they make long term friends, a girl joined dd1 class at begining reception, was best friend for a year, but now they seem to have drifted and no longer on her short birthday invite list.