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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Homeschool or not?

17 replies

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 16:39

DD is 7, Year 3.

I’m trying to get some perceptive.

She is dyslexic and has some funding for support but making very little progress. She struggles to read and write. She has hypermobility so that does affect her writing abilities too. She wears glasses and is seen every 3 months by the hospital and these are changed regularly. She’s working at lower Reception level for most subjects.

She falls over a lot. There’s been 4 falls this week alone, some are minor; grazed knees, bruised hands etc. Others like todays are more serious, today she’s come home with a massive graze down one side of her face, previously she’s had a broken nose and tooth go through her lip from falls as well as a head injury that resulted in an ambulance and overnight hospital stay. I’ve seen the CCTV from the playground from the more serious accidents and she literally falls over thin air, I get texts and Facebook messages from other parents saying their child saw DD fall over and is she ok.

She has had 1 similar accident at holiday club over the summer where she fell off a balance beam during a session with a visiting gymnastics teacher. And she’s also fall slipped over and landed in mud while on walks with Rainbows and Brownies (she’s just moved to Brownies), and as Bridesmaid at my best friend’s wedding she fell over walking up the aisle (she got straight back up, announced she was fine and carried on walking while everyone laughed at her, my friend says it’s her favourite memory of the day so at least it didn’t ruin it for my friend!). She does fall when out and about with me but not at home, but I rarely move the furniture around so that might be why.

In general she’s happy at school although is always a bit reluctant to go in. She says she has friends, and she goes to parties and has playdates, most days are “ok” but she can never even tell me what she’s eaten.

I am considering homeschooling but I’m not sure if it’s for the wrong reasons. Basically I want to stop her constantly falling over it can’t be nice for her. Plus she’s getting older and starting to notice.

I am waiting for a call back from her GP to discuss if we refer her to anywhere else, but I don’t know whether to remove her from school. She also has the occasional toileting accident as well which also worries.

So homeschool or not?

Posting here as I find AIBU to brutal and never get replies on SN Chat.

OP posts:
NailsNeedDoing · 08/10/2021 16:41

It sounds like she needs some intensive OT. Has she has any access to OT through school or GP? I think if the main issue is her falling, that is probably the thing to try first.

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 16:43

@NailsNeedDoing

It sounds like she needs some intensive OT. Has she has any access to OT through school or GP? I think if the main issue is her falling, that is probably the thing to try first.
We've seen OT but they discharged her saying they couldn;t help her issues and to refer her to physio. Physio are great but are so backed up with referrals they see her for 6 weekly sessions then leave her on watch and wait, I do the exercises in between times and she also swims once a week, but she still falls a lot.
OP posts:
2lsinllama · 08/10/2021 16:54

It sounds like she is dyspraxic - it can sometimes go along with dyslexia. Has she been assessed for this?
As for the home schooling, are you in a position to home school her all the way through her school days? It might seem like a solution now but what about when she gets to GCSE stage?
I work in a school and my brother home schools his children - so I can see the positives and drawbacks in both.
Good luck with what you choose to do.

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 16:58

@2lsinllama

It sounds like she is dyspraxic - it can sometimes go along with dyslexia. Has she been assessed for this? As for the home schooling, are you in a position to home school her all the way through her school days? It might seem like a solution now but what about when she gets to GCSE stage? I work in a school and my brother home schools his children - so I can see the positives and drawbacks in both. Good luck with what you choose to do.
No assessment for dyspraxia, will mention it to the SENCo at school as I have a meeting with her next week about DD.

I've always said if I homeschool it would only be until Secondary age, I couldn't teach GCSE science or maths so it would be for 3 maybe 4 years only. The other problem with my plan is I'm a single working parent, and I'd need ExH to help with some subjects, which I'm not sure he'd be up for. He'd probably be ok with me taking her out of school but not help with any of the actual learning.

OP posts:
whosaidtha · 08/10/2021 17:02

If she's happy I'd leave her in school. Tbh home schooling isn't going to solve her falling over problem. Yes she'll fall over less but there must be a reason for it that needs to be addressed.

2lsinllama · 08/10/2021 17:03

It could be difficult for her to reintegrate with friends if she has been out of school for a few years. Schools teach a lot more than just the curriculum so make sure she has plenty of opportunities to socialise with children her own age.
If I were you I’d speak to the SENCO as soon as possI left. Could school put a plan in place to minimise the chances of your daughter having an accident? A safe flat place on the playground for her and some sensible friends maybe?

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 17:05

@2lsinllama

It could be difficult for her to reintegrate with friends if she has been out of school for a few years. Schools teach a lot more than just the curriculum so make sure she has plenty of opportunities to socialise with children her own age. If I were you I’d speak to the SENCO as soon as possI left. Could school put a plan in place to minimise the chances of your daughter having an accident? A safe flat place on the playground for her and some sensible friends maybe?
The playground is completely flat, she still falls over on it!

I have a meeting with Senco next week so I'll speak to her.

OP posts:
TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 17:10

@whosaidtha

If she's happy I'd leave her in school. Tbh home schooling isn't going to solve her falling over problem. Yes she'll fall over less but there must be a reason for it that needs to be addressed.
Thank you for your points I do agree to a point, I just want to wrap her in cotton wool, and thats no good for her.
OP posts:
Gloschick · 08/10/2021 17:17

I would be wary about home schooling. It sounds like she is pretty settled at school. Removing her from that is likely to make her feel even more different than she already is.

You can only stop her falling by keeping her at home, but 7 year olds need to be out and about playing and messing around in the mud, not trapped indoors all day for fear of falling. I would maybe look into getting private physio /OT help (still a lot cheaper than home schooling).

Re the dyslexia, you can support her in the evenings. I used the dyslexia gold resources which really helped my son.

MildCreamyCheddar · 08/10/2021 17:17

I'm home edding one of my children. Other is at secondary.

You can't stop the falls, they're going to happen.

I would stick with school for the moment, but press for a dyspraxia assessment. My eldest was assessed for it. My youngest is dyslexic. Both autistic with adhd, youngest is hypermobile. Eldest apparently just has less spacial awareness and coordination than average.

If she's not racing around and as normally active as a neurotypical child then I'd consider whether some kind of walking frame would help at times. But if she's able to run and play, then it would probably be a hindrance.

You're not alone.

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 17:21

@MildCreamyCheddar

I'm home edding one of my children. Other is at secondary.

You can't stop the falls, they're going to happen.

I would stick with school for the moment, but press for a dyspraxia assessment. My eldest was assessed for it. My youngest is dyslexic. Both autistic with adhd, youngest is hypermobile. Eldest apparently just has less spacial awareness and coordination than average.

If she's not racing around and as normally active as a neurotypical child then I'd consider whether some kind of walking frame would help at times. But if she's able to run and play, then it would probably be a hindrance.

You're not alone.

She walks and runs normally, can't hop, skip or jump but apparently runs after her friends, she has at least 1 friend at school as I get regular messages from 1 parent asking about DDs falls so it seems she plays a lot with this child.
OP posts:
TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 17:22

@Gloschick

I would be wary about home schooling. It sounds like she is pretty settled at school. Removing her from that is likely to make her feel even more different than she already is.

You can only stop her falling by keeping her at home, but 7 year olds need to be out and about playing and messing around in the mud, not trapped indoors all day for fear of falling. I would maybe look into getting private physio /OT help (still a lot cheaper than home schooling).

Re the dyslexia, you can support her in the evenings. I used the dyslexia gold resources which really helped my son.

Thank you I think you are right that home ed isn't the right choice for her right now.

I will look into private OT, the NHS one was awful, saw her for about 5 minutes and discharged her saying she couldn't help her. Even school where unimpressed as they were geared up to invite them in to observe.

OP posts:
TheWrongReasonMaybe · 08/10/2021 19:29

Thank you everyone for your opinions, I have a meeting with the Senco next week and have emailed her to ask if we'll have time to discuss the falls at the meeting.

Will also look for private occupational therapists but won't book one until I've spoken to school about if they'd accept a diagnosis from them.

Looking at Dyspraxia on the internet she meets most of the criteria for a diagnosis of that.

OP posts:
CloudsandTeacups · 08/10/2021 23:51

Firstly I'm so sorry for the stress that this is causing you. I would definitely investigate dyspraxia as others have said they often go hand in hand. You mentioned in your OP your DDs hyper mobility. Could this be linked? Thinking of a child I worked with whose legs would literally give out from under her when running, she was later diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Good luck getting your DD the support she needs.

TheWrongReasonMaybe · 09/10/2021 09:49

@CloudsandTeacups

Firstly I'm so sorry for the stress that this is causing you. I would definitely investigate dyspraxia as others have said they often go hand in hand. You mentioned in your OP your DDs hyper mobility. Could this be linked? Thinking of a child I worked with whose legs would literally give out from under her when running, she was later diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Good luck getting your DD the support she needs.
It does seem sometimes that she just falls. She can be stood still and then try to walk and fall over, she's also fallen off benches. She seems worse when it's cold and damp, and if it's been raining she slips over more.

Ehlers Danlos has been mentioned to me by friends but none of the involved professionals know enough about it to say yes or no. Will discuss that with the GP when I speak to him.

OP posts:
unknownstory · 09/10/2021 19:45

If she can't hop jump and skip that's unusual at age 7. I'd be working on her basic physical literacy skills. They are very very important. Google it

unknownstory · 09/10/2021 19:47

activeforlife.com/what-is-physical-literacy/

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