Hi there,
towards the end of last year my son starting saying that he hated school. He would cry when he asked me if it was a school day, cry every night and every morning saying he did not want to go.
So I spoke to his teacher, who said everything was fine at school, but she'd keep an eye on him.
But it continued and got worse and worse, him saying he had tummy ache, clinging on to me, crying etc... The teacher said all was fine at school. Eventually I went to speak to an educational psychologist. She noted that my son is academically fine - within all standard forms/reached all expected goals, no issues etc... and was engaging in the test, happy and delightful. However, when she asked him about school his demeanour changed and he said he didn't like it and became tearful and dejected - but wouldn't say why. She gave some ideas on how both me and the school could deal with this.
When his teacher got the report, she started to take it more seriously and put several things in to place, as did I. He had a buddy to meet to go into the class with, the TA would help him at lunch-time. We'd talk positively about school experiences, we'd meet kids on the way to school and walk together, we had more play-dates with kids from his class. His life at school and his attitude towards it did change and he had a better end to the year.
Fast forward to the beginning of this school year and it is all starting again.
He is anxious (completely not his usual state), crying, saying he is too tired, he has tummy ache. He says to anyone who asks, that he hates school !
It's a new teacher. The old one said that she'd tell the new one, but as we haven't had a chance to speak to them yet, it's just the beginning of term, and no-one really knows what is going on. Teachers are not around in the mornings and at pick up it is complete chaos with teacher, kids, parents everywhere in the playground...
I was just wondering if anyone else has been in this position and do you have any practical suggestions on how to help my son?