School discipline policy - is this normal?

[toootired]

DC has recently been getting repeatedly in trouble for minor things ( not concentrating, fidgeting, chatting to a friend etc). However his current teacher's universal discipline method appears to send him out of class for varying periods of time. According to my dc, these vary from 5 mins to an hour or so - he is sent to the year above's classroom and given some random written work to do. This has happened every day, at least twice a day, this week. Sometimes they forget to get him back before the next class starts and he misses the start of a new topic.

This can't be normal discipline can it? Surely?

I'm worried that he's missing out on lots of learning for what seem like fairly minor infractions. I appreciate that if he's being continually low-level disruptive that's annoying but even if this is the case (and I'm not at all clear if it is), surely there must be better ways of discipline that actually deal with the problem and prevent it, not just hiding it out of sight?

Advice appreciated, thank you.

My son's school still uses some discipline systems I don't agree with, and it's often hard to get that changed, especially if you are in a minority - many parents like having more traditional discipline methods in school. So for example my son's class has the coloured card system you change your colour depending on good/poor behaviour. My son was always moving his colour 'down'. In the end when he came out of school I said to him, I am not interested in what colour you are on, let's chat about the day. I'd ask him to talk about what had happened and would listen

Someone must be acting head, toootired? The school must have agreed a development plan to address the problems. I wonder if one of them is poor behaviour and classroom management? You can look at the document to see what they are concentrating on. Also it is perfectly OK to try and get help for your DS. Children can have special needs for short periods and that does not make their needs any less valid than other, longer term, needs. I am glad there has been contact with the school but try and keep in touch with them about a revised strategy. Good luck.

(Sorry posted too soon!) I would listen totally non-judgementally and it was really helpful to get an insight into what was happening. I won't be able to get the school to change the card/colour system but I can be supportive at home.

bojorojo - there is an acting head but they are some super-head from another school who is only assigned to our school a day or so a week - I don't even know their name and have never seen them! So whether on their one day or whatever a week I should be bothering them with this...? I'd rather it got resolved long before that.

Where would I find a copy of this development plan? I think the school failed Ofsted for a number of reasons but am not sure what they all are.

curl - agree absolutely. Hope your DS is now doing OK.

Good points bojorojo.
Push for the OT appointment, but also try and get a assessment with educational psychologist? If the school aren't organised enough to refer would your GP refer? (Especially if there are any other physical issues eg bed wetting). It does sound like a lack of leadership at school but it seems unfair your son should suffer for that.

Thanks curl. Yes, an ed psych referral would probably be good too. I think DS could really do with as much support as possible given recent events.

I am not sure where in the country you are but it might be worth contacting theschoolandfamilyworks.co.uk to see if they can help or refer to similar local to you

Thanks Mary.