Hello. I hope I’m writing in the correct forum!!
I would like some/any advice. My daughter is end of July baby and in year 1! She has struggled massively and although she actually very confident the fact that’s she so far behind her peers is now very noticeable and she is becoming aware that she’s not able to do the same things as her friends. Her year 1 teacher has been very supportive, she gets 1:1 most days and has speech therapy but her teacher now seems very irrarated by her and sees her as being perhaps naughty instead of immature and very young for her age. The school have said she’s a year behind her age and a recent (long awaited) appointment with a paediatrician said she has learning delays and has requested blood test to perhaps explain why information is not being absorbed. The fact that she already at a disadvantage being a summer baby and even further behind than that really does give me sleepless nights. I had the chance to defer and wanted to but everyone told me not to and said she’ll be fine, I should have gone with my gut instinct!! I even had a meeting with the head before she started who told me she disagreed with the idea of deferring without even knowing my daughter.The reason I’m writing is because I truly believe she is a strong candidate for repeating year one next year and staying with that year group throughout her school life. I have a meeting in two weeks with the senco and teacher to discuss the support she’s receiving and I want their support in approaching a difficult head teacher about this. I know it’s going to be a point blank NO,so want to try and have us much professional support to back up our case. I’m hoping her speech therapist might also write a report to build a case.
So my question is Has anyone managed to keep their child back a year? Or anyone taking the drastic decision to send to another school who are willing to allow child to repeat a year? Any advice would be appreciated.
I know there’s reasons for not doing this, and I understand these reasons but my child plays with the year below and has more of a connection, which is due to her being so much younger for her years. I’ve listened and supported the school from Day one and now they need to listen to me and what I believe is right in supporting my child. My biggest worry has always been her losing her confidence once she realises she’s out behind her peers by miles in every academic aspect, and want to act now. Can the head say No even if I can build a case for this.