Son kept in during playtime

[JohBel]

My family and I moved to south Wales from Sweden 5 weeks ago. My son of 7 years who speaks fluent English has attended his new school for 2 weeks (this is week 3 now). He tells us that he is being kept in during play time to finish work while the rest of the class goes out to play. Adjusting to a different class culture does slow him down and obviously he has learned other things in his home country with a different carriculum. As I understand it he is not misbehaving, just struggling to keep up in the first few weeks at a new school.

In Sweden to restrict children's playtime is an offence and would be seen as morally wrong. Before I contact his new school in Wales to demand an explanations I wonder if anyone can offer me advice or the benefit of their own experience. Thanks!

... is at this age there's a huge difference between a British and a Swedish child academically because compulsory education starts later in Sweden. Maybe the school/teacher does this in a genuine effort to help the child being judge on his capacity rather?

In any case, a meeting is good, but with an open mind.

OP, it sounds to me as though the teacher is an idiot. Your child is only 7 and has recently moved from another country into an alien environment. Only an idiot would punish him like this for taking time to settle in. If I were you I would be complaining to the headteacher. If this treatment is deliberate it's tantamount to bullying. If it's done through ignorance then the teacher shouldn't be entrusted with the education of small children. I'm amazed that anyone here thinks this is acceptable. I hope you can get this sorted out, and good luck to your little boy.

I am amazed that some are judging away before knowing the intent.

I've met several Swedes (of course) moving here and confusion around school/education and the view on children is 'standard'. There's a great difference.

Have a meeting, listen and tell you view. But have an open mind and do not compare with how things are done in Sweden. It will not help.

I agree with going to speak to the teacher with an open mind. Make an appointment, rather than just turning up. Most teachers will only keep a child in for their own good - extra help, protection from bullies, or whatever. You need to get the teacher's side of the story before forming an opinion.

I'll happily 'judge' any teacher who routinely keeps well-behaved children in to finish their work. It means they're not very good at planning work for their pupils which fits into the time allocated. Sometimes things happen which reduce the time (unexpected visitor/computer failure etc), but this is not the fault of the pupils. Keeping them in feels like a punishment, even if it's not meant like that.

I get what you are saying, NorthLondonMama.

I lived few years abroad as a child and came back to my country. I was kept in break time to do some catch up work with my teacher. I wasn't resentful, I was actually thankful that the teacher spend his own break time to help me. But then I was a teenager, so I understood purpose of this.

I agree, the teacher might be only trying to help. Need to find out what is going on.

Well, OP, how does your DS feel?

My friend's son moved to this country in Primary school, English is not his first language. His English was quite behind, but his math was quite advanced. Teacher gave him extra help during breaktime to help him to catch up. He did catch up after a year in English. The extra help was greatly appreciated by my friend. We actually talked about this , and was moved by the individual help he got from his teacher.

Your DS's situation may be different, as you mentioned that he is fluent in English. But as he changed the country, there maybe gaps he needed to fill up. I think the teacher's intention is good. If you don't agree with it, maybe you can discuss it with teacher to change it. Extra time seems needed, if you don't like him to do it in break time, maybe ask to bring the work home to do it?