My child being placed with immediate effect on Reduced Timetable (Reception)

[breakingdads]

Hi,

Would like anyone who has experience with primary / reception education to help if possible. My child is in reception (he is the youngest in the year - in fact, born 2 days later would probably be starting this coming September). He has been in nursery and pre-school care full time since 2 without any problems, in fact glowing reports which eased my worries of him entering reception this past September. However in the last 3 months, apparantly, he has started to have some problems in class, with concentration, being tired, territorial etc which have resulted in some aggressive acts - hitting out. I have had this flagged up twice, but the school have said they have been able to deal with it. However last week, we got a call to say that he had injured a teacher and for this reason, he will be put on a reduced timetable with immediate effect. Obviously this has had a major impact on how we manage things with him not being in class at all now 5 mornings a week. Since it has happened I have found out that the incident seemed more accidental than premeditated (he had fallen asleep and the teacher had woke him up, which startled him and he jumped off the chair indavertently onto her hand which was on the floor). Now in the conversations I initially had, I was in absolute shock as I was being told "my child had broken a staff members arm) so was apologising profusely, to the point that I was just agreeing to everything they said. However as the matters sinks in, I am starting to wonder if the way they have acted is a)lawful b)ethical and c) in the best interest of my child. At this point in time, I have had no written information about his behaviour in class which has resulted in this reduced timetable, I have had no information on what they plan to do going forward, no plan etc I have signed nothing saying that my child can go to a reduced timetable. Literally just been told he can't come in anymore in the mornings - deal with it. I've just accepted things and muddled my way through this week. Obviously a solution could be that we have to continue with the reduced timetable and look at deferring him till this coming September. However all feedback received from the reception teacher is that he is managing his school work well, its just that he is not coping emotionally with the reception class. I've been told that with a class of 30 he can't expect to get any personal treatment, but the more I am reading about this - it seems there is an obligation for the school to look at every possible way of keeping a child in class and integrating them which doesn't seem to have happened. His behaviour with me is absolutely spot on so I am also trying to work out what is triggering his so called behaviour in class ( which again seems to be unrecorded and anecdotal at best ). If anyone has any constructive advice it would be much appreciated, as I feel I have agreed to something under "the fog" of being made to feel guilty on something that myself and child shouldnt really have been made to feel guilty of. Muddling through this week, but very difficult when full time working at the same time. My child hasn't got a clue what is happening, just keeps on asking when they can go back into school. Thanks again.

but doing afternoons sounds odd. He'd be less tired in the morning, and most schools do the core subjects then.

It may be that they’ve noticed his behaviour is worse in the mornings and if the afternoons aren’t core subjects then this makes sense as then he can just go in and play, rather than having an expectation of work.

This isn't true. As he is summer born there is no legal requirement for him to be in education until year 1.

I would not continue with this school OP _ it just does not sound like he has been supported - what the hell do they mean he can't get personal treatment? He has every right to being treated as the tiny little 4 year old that he is!

I know you might not want to hear this but I would also seriously consider returning him to nursery for a start in school next year.

There is no 'ready to learn' without 'ready emotionally' - the two are so entwined. if he is simply seeming in a very different emotional space than the other children - the teachers may be dealing with it badly but perhaps he genuinely is just too young

I honestly believe we put children in formal learning FAR too young in the UK - most european countries do not do this to 4 year olds! Children are in kindergarten until 7 !!!

I dont think he can start reception again in September. You only get one shot at reception - so you can defer if you are summer born, but if you've already started then it's too late to defer. Due to funding. There may be very rare exceptions to this, but they'd have to be a really good reason like documented SEND and an agreement with the LA.

But he shouldn't have to start reception again, the school should be working with you to manage his settling in. They shouldn't be using a part time timetable unless it is agreed and documented. Otherwise it's an illegal exclusion.

@breakingdads
It could be that, although I would question why. Most teachers/ schools genuinely want what is best for the child; not many would actively seek to discriminate against a child/ act unfairly.

It is worrying that they have not communicated concerns with you and seem to have taken very decisive action, out of nowhere.

My advice would be to familiarise yourself with the behaviour policy and arrange a meeting with the headteacher to clarify the reasons behind this sanction.

But that’s a legal requirement if the parents of the parents make that decision. Schools cannot make that decision unilaterally and refuse to admit children until then if it means they are treating those children less favourably, usually because of additional needs. Schools can try but they’re relying on the parents being ignorant to the legal position. If they didn’t actually offer full time schooling until every child reached the age of five then the position would be different.

Thank you for replying, is this 100% correct? One shot at reception? - in my brief chat last week with the head teacher I am sure they said a deferral could still happen. If that is not the case, this is confusing my head even more!

My daughter had a nap almost every day in Reception. She used to lie down in the book corner. Tbh I think it was all just too noisy for her. She was much better in year one because it was calmer

@VariationsonaTheme
Yes, good point. I genuinely don't know the legalities around it, I was just offering an idea around why it has happened so easily, without formal process.

I definitely think it's something that needs to be investigated and followed up by the PP.

Hi OP there’s a really interesting and respected study and book about the benefits of the youngest children in the year being held back to the following year. I appreciate this doesn’t help your current problem but you may find it interesting regarding the difference between academic/sporting and social achievement from a child oldest in the year to the youngest. Practically a year younger is a huge difference. If mine were the youngest in the year I’d likely hold them back to the following year for their benefit and optimum learning potential. I’m so sorry but I can’t remember what the studies or book were called.

Guidance on Reduced Timetables in Schools and Early Years Provision

This seems to be from an geographical base group in England of early learning providers - but does cover or link to the areas of law you'd need.

I'm also not sure that this is legal.

Falling asleep in class does happen in reception. My winter born ds used to just crash and nap sometimes. Teacher just let him nap in the reading corner for a few minutes.

I also have a nephew who was appallingly behaved in reception, hitting the teacher and other pupils. The school had absolutely no issue keeping him in full time, just made the necessary adjustments and helped his parents accordingly.

I'd seriously look at other schools.

He is just too young for school poor lad. It's not unusual for a child to fall asleep in their early days starting school. I taught that age for years and sometimes if we were reading a story in the afternoon one would fall asleep. They are wrecked when they start and especially the younger ones. Sounds like these teachers don't want the bother of him but to be honest a child who is very immature in a class of 30 is going to be under pressure. I am in lreland so don't know the system but here we don't accept children born after June as just too young. Think of how mature he would be this time next year being one of the oldest in the class. Here, there would be no issue with postponing until next year and giving him extra time at nursery or whatever.
I wouldn want a teacher teaching my child who made a big deal out of a poor child falling asleep and waking up with a jolt. For goodness sake it's not the end of the world. Is there any school nearby with smaller classes and a less dramatic teacher!!I

It’s a tad murky here because you agreed and your child if under compulsory school age doesn’t have to be in school full time. But you can withdraw your consent and then it’s not legal. Your child has a right to a full time education and there are processes for children who are at risk of exclusion which would usually involve looking at what school environment is like and whether there are any undiagnosed additional needs.

I would email to withdraw your consent to a refuced timetable cc-ing the local authority. The school may then formally temporarily exclude him, at which point you have a paper trail and can be holding them to account for what support they are putting in place.

I dont think he can start reception again in September. You only get one shot at reception

I know of one child who did reception twice so worth checking with LEA.

In that case it was apparently confusion with non English native speaking parents and birth certificate birth date. lt all seemed very odd as we all had to show birth certificates to the school - but he did do reception twice.

Children have been known to restart reception and go to a nursery again. I’ve taught one! Ring the local authority admissions team and ask for advice.

Clearly too wee for school. Any way of withdrawing him completely and starting reception again in September?

Has his hearing and sight been checked recently. Glue ear for example may trigger behavioural changes. Start by being proactive and eliminating potential physical causes but in the meantime ask what support they are putting in place to include him and develop the skills they claim he is lacking, Not sure if this might be an illegal exclusion as he is below csa but maybe take advice from LA.

Look up your local SENDIASS they can support you with this as it's leaning towards a special needs issue. There is one linked to each local authority.

I would be clear to the school that as of tomorrow/Thursday (if you are feeling generous) morning that he will be back in school full time unless they are providing exclusion paperwork to the contrary. By just telling you not to bring him they are denying him his education and also denying him important access to observations and other information which will be required should there actually be a special need that needs addressing. They need to be documenting this stuff not ignoring him or locking him out!

On the nodding off front... my dd (also and August born) classroom at reception age had a corner with beanbags and cushions where many a child was found curled up of an afternoon. Some were asleep, some just quietly looking at books etc. All perfectly acceptable.

On the falling asleep thing. I know loads of kids who used to fall asleep in reception/y1 at the end of the day especially. especially at story time.
They’re children. Imagine you’d been in a day out to a theme park/seaside and they fall asleep in the car on the way home (the 3pm or 5pm danger drive if you will).
Heck, I know adults who do the same.

They’re is nothing wrong with it at all - if your kids doesn’t do it - whooptido - imagine that.

OP what they have done is illegal - if it was a fixed term exclusion based on behaviour policy that is different but this seems more like partial offrolling.

You should push back on this or change schools.

I echo those suggesting SENDIASS. They will be able to tell you the legalities of the exclusion through the part time table. They will also be able to support you in meeting with the school if needed.

What do you think is the best solution because I think that is what should influence the advice here. People are all mentioning things you can do but I think it depends what you want.

I am shocked that this is something they have resorted to without a big build up. I am a teacher and it would take a lot and a rare case for this to be a solution we would use. Do you want him back in full time? Would you rather a different setting?

You could ask for a subject access report to see where their communication to you has lacked and then link to their exclusion policy.

You can insist they take him and not accept the part time timetable (I think)

Do you want him at home and him join in year 1?

If the arm isn’t broken, it was an accident and he had fallen asleep then why is there even a consequence at all? He has done nothing wrong! You need a full story confirming.

One of my sons was also a birthday close to the cut off time. We struggled with whether or not to send him to school I sought out the advice of a friend who has been a teacher a long time. She told me that she has frequently heard parents lament as their child got older that they wished they had started them in school later but she had never heard a parent say they regretted their decision to keep them out of reception an extra year. My child seems to have been like your child - academically he could keep up but socially and maturity wise he needed another year. I'm sorry you are going through this. I know exactly what it is just to go along with whatever is said.

Weird they suggested he come in later, usually they’re best in the morning. I’d get the deferral locked in and at that point I’d remove him for this year. And I’d pursue referrals during that year as needed. I did this and it worked really well. School nursery said my dd was fine too…school is a very different set of challenges from a couple of hours in nursery a day.

id be tempted to move school if possible as that is a bit quotable about the teacher’s arm and parents don’t forget.

And the falling asleep, DSD used to come home from school in the car and fall asleep within 5 minutes of getting in the car, get carried inside, sleep until 6, have tea and then go to bed. On a weekend she wouldn’t nap at all. She found school exhausting until around the middle of year 2.