Disruptive child in DS class

[Mummynextdoor]

New child joined DS Y4 class when they returned on Monday. DS came home and said that the child had been disruptive all day - refusing to do anything, shouting, trying to hit the teacher - I walked past the classroom and could hear the teacher shouting - he said it had ruined his first day back. It seemed to be much of the same Tuesday and Wednesday.

When I asked him about his day today he didn't mention it but later when I commented that it sounded like the child had settled down my son said his behaviour was just the same but said "it's just the way it is Mummy'. He's also commented how shouty his teacher is with them all because she's so wound up.

I feel so sad for him as he was so looking forward to going back after 6 months.

I feel like I should say something but can't speak to the teachers at present so I would have to email but what do I say. The teacher clearly knows it's an issue and am sure her week has been difficult enough already.

But what are you going to say? A class of 30 will usually have at least one disruptive child..the child may have special needs or come from a troubled background.

The teacher won't share that with you....and is probably doing their best.

If the teacher continues to shout, then make an appointment to talk about that. Don't mention the child unless he's hitting or bullying your child directly.

I'm afraid its sad but true and you are probably 'lucky' if there is 'only' one disruptive child in the class. The teacher is most likely doing their best. DD2 has such a child in her class and if ever the child has a day off sick DD2 will remark what a greta day they had in class. Its depressing :-(

Teacher shouting is most likely not helping at all.

That's just the way it is now I'm afraid. You're lucky there is only one!

Schools are severely under funded and the child in question probably has additional needs or behavioural issues but there is no funding or support available.

It's so early in the year to be "that" parent so unless this child is specifically targeting your child I wouldn't mention them.

What would you go in to say? What are you hoping will happen? I'm sure the school have noticed the child is disruptive. The child probably has a reason for their behaviour and isn't getting the support they need. The school won't share the child's background with you and it wouldn't help if they did. The shouty teacher isn't great but I'd give it some time.

If the child has just started it’s unlikely an assessment of need has been carried out yet. If the teacher cannot cope then the school will need to put extra help into the classroom. Yes it costs money but it’s a requirement they do this due to devolved funding of SEN in schools. From what you say though, I think they will exclude this child pretty quickly if there’s no improvement. I suspect he’s been permanently excluded from elsewhere so that’s why he’s with you. It would be he shouldn’t be in mainstream but you won’t force any of this to happen by complaining. The school will be dealing with this so you have to let them!

I would give the school a chance to settle the child in and implement strategies to help them. It’s food learning for the other kids. Helps them to understand and deal with different challenges.

Even if school were given a lot of money right now to recruit an adult to support him 1-1, such things are not a quick fix by any stretch. He's only been in a new school a few days, I can't imagine the staff are ignoring the issue. You pointing out the child is disruptive is not helpful.
I DO NOT think other children's education should be affected in this way. I DO think that could be your child, my child, my best friend's child. It could be your child who is only 8 and struggling so badly. You who will get dirty looks at pick up time. You who won't make friends and your child who won't get play date invitations. Don't email, they will all be trying very hard to sort this out.

Other than 'please move the child to another class so the child annoys other children and not mine' not sure what else you can say?

We eventually had to move DS2 to a different school because of two disruptive children in his class. The school were fully aware of the issue and did their best, but in the end they have to work with the children they've got.

Going against the grain on this thread but I do think you should mention it to the school. Every single child in that class deserves to have a good education. If the teacher is getting so wound up they're shouting and distracted then none of them are getting what they need.

It is the schools responsibility to address the needs of the whole class and to look after the mental well-being of their staff. It sounds like the teacher needs more support either in the form of additional help in the classroom or through training.

The only thing you can do is express any concerns that directly affect your DC. For example, if the disruptive child is behaving in a way towards your child.

Emailing the teacher to point out a disruptive child is affecting the class is pointing out something they already know.

It's early days so if it's general disruption then give the school time to put measures in place.

FatGirlShrinking
I agree that all children have a right to be educated and a minority shouldn't be able to ruin it for everyone else.

However a few days in contacting the school to complain is unlikely to be helpful.

If I'd got an email a couple of days in saying 'Dear Mrs Smiles, I'd just like to tell you that my DC doesn't like having Mary/Tommy in the class because they are disruptive and you have to spend all your time dealing with them', there's not a lot I can do.
If a parent emailed me a few weeks in and said 'Dear Mrs Smiles, DC is increasingly upset about the impact of Mary/Tommy's behaviour because... Who do we need to pass our concerns on to?' then that would be more helpful as I could then pass the parental concerns to the relevant senior leader/SENCo who are leading the work concerning that child.

Lola do you think it helps when parents do address disruptive behaviour? ie if a teacher can escalate something to SLT to force them to put a 1:1 in place or involve SENDCo to start the ball rolling with assessing the child?

I only ask because I volunteer in a primary and have for a decade so am completely aware of the realities of staffing, 1:1 LSAs, disruptive pupil behaviour (our school now has locked internal doors opened by fobs) we have a great team in ours but obviously the disruptive children are included in mainstream class as much as possible and managed within classrooms as much as possible. But we have a lot of LSAs to enable this.

Oh dear. You're 'that' parent.

JoanJosephJim
I think it depends how it's done.

If it's a case of NIMBY parents who think that their child should only ever be in a class with children they approve of and there is an obvious witch hunt against one child then I don't think it helps at all.

If it's a parent who expressed concerns that at present their child's education is being negatively affected then it could offer the teacher some evidence to show to SLT (if their SLT are the unsympathetic type who expect class teachers to work miracles without appropriate support and/or deny there are issues). Alternatively if could also offer some evidence that right now the current provision isn't working and there is a need for additional support around the child.

Unfortunately, some school leaders will listen more to parents than their own teachers and they might be more inclined to do something if they think parental opinion and confidence is going to plummet.

@CandyLeBonBon

Oh dear. You're 'that' parent.

Could you expand on that bollocks, please?

Thisismytimetoshine
There is such thing as 'that parent', but the OP isn't one of them.

No parent who raises reasonable concerns in a reasonable way would be 'that parent'.

I’d take the shouting all the time with a pinch of salt. It’s amazing how often a stern or cross voice in a primary school is reported at home as shouting. I’m curious as to where you were to hear the teacher shouting.

The op hasn't claimed to have heard it herself, mondaywine? Where did you get that from?

Shouting will not help disruptive child calm and follow instructions 🙄 the teacher shouting will raise anxiety levels for everyone.
Child may be disruptive for many reasons. The school will hopefully be looking at reasons why

Genuine question... we didn't have any of this at my schools and I'm only 32 so it wasn't because of scary discipline / suppression. Classes were smaller (14-20 kids) but it can't have just been good luck. Can any teachers offer insight into whether it's because SEN are more prevalent, or it's down to best practice on dealing with it, or down to parenting methods etc...?

roar, school children used to have a lot more playtime, walked to school more, less screens and less pressure at school. For a child with attention issues, the additional exercise and play would have helped a lot with attention / concentration. Also the reduced demands (lower stress) for anxious / demand avoidant children.

Also a lot of children with disabilities would have gone to specialist schools rather than mainstream.

Having said that, I can specifically remember a wriggly boy in primary school (30 years ago) who I now suspect would be diagnosed with ADHD. I remember him having such a tough time and spending a lot of time standing out in the hallway. Of course those kids were in our schools.

Why should the learning of the majority be sacrificed for 1 child. Whether they have SEN or other needs it isnt appropriate to force others to have to put up with it.

Schools really need more funding and better assessment processes to help offload the teachers a big