Behaviour breakdown in sons class, what to do?

[Flicketyflack]

DS is in year four and is in a class of 22 boys and 12 girls. Since he started the new term he has reported and issue of being kicked in the genitals, had is trousers pulled down and a boy grabbing his penis. Three different incidents at three different times. He reported all of these incidents and the relevant offenders were punished.

He has told me that several times their PE has been curtailed as the class has misbehaved and that the class is 'always talking'. Up u Gil today we have listened and tried to offer words of support and suggestions. However tonight he has said that today their PE session was shortened due to kids talking and he decided that he might as well talk as everyone else was. This is a real change in his view of the school and being a pupil. We have consistently been told how well behaved and a good pupil he has been since starting primary school.

The class teacher told us a few weeks back that he felt the class was quite immature, based in how they are dealing with the three friendships. I was quite surprised by his candour!

I am wanting to go and have a chat with the teacher, firstly to raise the concerns about what has happened with my son. But also to say that I can see a change in his behaviour and attitude to behaving well. I saw his school work a couple of weeks back and he is doing well. However this just seems a really unhealthy learning environment.

Useful opinions and suggestions would be welcome as I am sympathetic and supportive of the teaching staff at the school he attends.

Ps apologies for the autocorrect!

The teacher has a problem with discipline and needs the support of SLT to punish the offenders, not the whole class. Shortening lessons is not acceptable and as he is not controlling the class, further bad behaviour is creeping in - your son is now chatting away when he shouldn't. You may well be supportive of the staff, but they must control the chatty ones. Ask how he intends to do this.

I am not sure if you want to escalate the complaint about the sexual behaviour - or has that been resolved? You say the children were punished but has there been another incident? If you are talking about chatting, do you want to raise the incidents that have already been punished? Or do you want to say that the school should have done more - you could ask about safeguarding procedures.

Personally I would see the Head, -although schools like you to see the class teacher first. The Head will know about the earlier incident end and can possibly reassure you. They are responsible for teaching quality in the school and behaviour so they should know what is happening. I think your DS must also be left in no doubt that you are upset that he decided to talk as well. I assume he is not normally a sheep! Say you expect much better from him.

The trousers pulling down is worrying. The issues with discipline obviously need to be dealt with (with support of management). I wouldn't have a problem with a lesson being curtailed because the students won't co-operate with instructions; that's fair enough.

That is a very large class. Is there any TA support? Shortening a PE lesson for talking isn't good. As a one off perhaps but not several times unless they are talking so much that they cannot follow instructions and it is a safety risk. It sounds like the teacher is struggling with discipline but they might be a difficult class.
The other incidents are more worrying. Were they reported to Senior Management? They should have Ben especially as there were three.

There's a very similar issue in my sons old class. A great school, waiting lists etc, but his class and the boys especially had a negative dynamic. It was aggressive and physical. My ds couldn't cope and he was isolated. By the end he was just the playing with the girls.

I think some class groups are just like that. It's like a large family where it's very difficult to change the established dynamic without splitting them up.

In my sons school, the head couldn't recognise there was a problem so it was never dealt with in a cohesive way. Small single discipline episodes were never going to fix it.

Anyway, you can see where I'm going with this. My sons behavior at home changed. He was losing his happy and positive personality so we moved him this year.

Best decision we could have made given the lack of action. He's only this week fully back to his old self. The new class are wonderful. They encourage each other. They are so kind and loving to him and given the history, the teacher early care about his welfare. All we want is him to be happy and enjoy going to school. All things considered, that's the main one after facilities, results, distance.

DS2's year group has a few boys with quick temper. One boy would grab other boy's neck if he feels annoyed.School tried a few times to move the boys in different class to break down the naughty group and sometimes keep the trouble making boy out of the class, so other children can still learn.So far, it seems under control, although DS2 did mention that he would be happier without these few boys.

Yes, it would be difficult in a small school, our school has 3 classes, so they can move them around. When DS2 was in Y3, his teacher was quite firm and good at class controll, so school put the naughty boys in her class.

I think at Y4, children are still easier to be managed. It can be nightmare for Y5&6, when children are much bigger. DS1 had a really bad Y6, a few naughty children oftern made the lesson stopped.

The class has a regular TA which does help to support the teacher. Unfortunately it is a one class per year intake so it is not possible to split up the more challenging groups!
I am interested in others experience as having an older child I can see how in year 5 and 6 the kids can become almost unmanageable especially when they are very physical.
I really would prefer not to move him but I was so concerned that he now seems to think that there is no benefit to behaving as he will get punished regardless.
I just am not sure how to approach the teacher without sounding unhelpful!

You take a good look at the behaviour policy and see what the rewards and sanctions are for controlling and encouraging good behaviour. If curtailment of lessons is in it - then they can do it. I doubt very much that it is. If an Ofsted inspector was watching this class , what do you think would have happened? A teacher just giving up and not being able to control the class would be a real red light.

The Head and the teacher have responsibility for teaching the children in a settled class. They need to ensure the Behaviour policy is followed and children are rewarded for good behaviour and punished, as an individual, for poor behaviour. Whole class punishments build up resentment and are seen as unfair by the children who hate it if they have not caused the problem. Say your child has always been well behaved and you do not want him to learn bad behaviour from others who are not corrected. Ask what measures they are putting in place to allow children to learn without low level disruption.

I agree that whole class punishments build up resentments and this is where my sons attitude has changed ' I may as well talk myself' he told me. Which is so sad I think they should remove the offenders not punish everyone.