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

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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.

Yes I’d get support in the school meeting(s) too.

It might vary by LA. However, in mine they won't allow children to be out of year unless they're a summer born who initially deferred (and they fought this until it became a national rule). There's very little flexibility in the system, even in the case of SEND, illness, EAL etc.

Your description sounds like you have a young boy with ADHD and he is finding the school environment incredibly difficult to deal with. My 3.5 year old has ADHD and despite being eligible for 30 free hours is on a reduced timetable as she cannot cope with a full day. She falls asleep in class and her behaviour deteriorates.

The understanding of what it means to be neurodiverse is still outdated in state education. Dont take a hostile approach, it sounds like what happened at school scared the staff and they didn't approach the issue in the most effective way.

I'd go in for a fact-finding meeting, explain your concerns and outline the outcome you'd like to achieve. Hopefully, this turns out to be a big mistake that everyone wants to sort out.

I'd also speak to the SENCO and your GP about an ADHD assessment and look into how you can best help your son. I'd love to have my daughter in for 30 hours a week but this isn't the best thing for her at this time.

He does need more sleep though- mine used to be asleep by 6.30 when he started school. I was working hard to keep him awake long enough to see his dad.

Many thanks for all the constructive comments being posted, I really do appreciate it - as my head has been all over the place since this blew up last week. I am busily writing it all down so I can formulate a plan of action. At the end of day the well being of my child is paramount, and whilst I have a huge understanding of how difficult it is managing a class of 30 4-5yr olds, I just don't want to naively and ignorantly walk into something I can avoid, or accept something which isn't correct. I think most of us all here take 100% ownership of our childrens behaviour - and that is why I was mortified when the initial call came in last week (which now doesnt seem as such a serious event). But being wracked with guilt doesnt mean things can be sneaked past parents by the back door. Thanks again.

I would contact the educational welfare team at the local council education department for advice. There is no reason for this illegal exclusion from school. It was clearly an accidental injury of the teacher that occurred rather than a deliberate act. He is 4 and young children sometimes do fall asleep in class. My DS has ASD and still naps sometimes in year 4 which the school facilitate.

I am really finding it hard to understand that your son was placed on this reduced timetable without a face to face meeting with the Head/ Senco; it sounds like a very uncaring school,and a very draconian measure to take.
As others have said it's perfectly normal for reception aged children to get tired easily particularly in this term.
Is it a very formal setting? In well run reception classes there should be plenty of time for self chosen play and activities
I'd be tempted to look at other schools.

DD is October born so only a little younger than your DC and we just had to stop her napping at home, she has fallen asleep at school a couple of times. Fortunately still at preschool (not UK) so they’ve just tucked her up in the corner and she’s had a nap. So not unusual to fall asleep if kiddo has recently stopped napping.

we had a similar incident where we were told DC was “dangerous”. Turned out (in their words), she had waved her arms in frustration and accidentally hit her teacher in the eye. Obviously not good but it was an accident. We were still told several times that this demonstrated “dangerous behavior.” Her morning teacher almost seems to enjoy reporting drama, and will talk about “incidents” whereas afternoon teacher will matter of factly report what happened, what they are doing about it and if they need us to do anything at home. The morning teacher seems to relish reporting “incidents” and creating a little mystery/drama around it.

If you want DS to attend full time you have the right to send him full time. If you want that to happen inform the school in writing (to give you a paper trail should you need it at a later date) that DS will be attending full time unless they formally exclude him.

Part time timetables should not be used to manage behaviour, nor long term.

Be careful with SENDIASS, some are good, but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies. IPSEA and SOSSEN are better.

Have you spoken to the SENCO.You should also consider applying for an EHCP.

Yep SENDAISS and your local authorities schools team - they can advise and support - they can't just reduce a timetable without a plan - or explanation - obviously they have to consider his needs and any support he might need

Are they wanting him to miss mornings?? When all the phonics and maths work is usually done? I would be saying a hard no to that. If he is finding school exhausting (and DS did for a while and would fall asleep in the book corner which they were fine with) then he should go in for the mornings and miss the afternoons when there is much less learning going on. If he is not coping with a class of 30 then they need to put things in place to enable him to cope. Illegal exclusions are a big problem especially with SEN kids (which may or may not include yours as who knows if he/she is as yet undiagnosed) and it is not ok for them to just be out of education. If your child misses the rest of the mornings in reception this year then they could potentially really struggle to ever properly catch up. They are literally missing the foundations on which everything else they learn will lie.

These people are very good on illegal exclusions, www.ipsea.org.uk/pages/category/exclusion-from-school
www.ipsea.org.uk/news/school-exclusions-what-is-legal#

Can you contact the head and ask if he has been officially excluded? If you've had no paperwork then I doubt he has but it might at least make them clarify exactly what is going on. Tell them that you are really concerned that he is missing out on an important part of his education and you would like to know what plans they have in place to get him back in full time and catch up what he has missed. If you don't hear back with a satisfactory answer arrange a meeting with the Head and if still not happy then next stop is the governors.

There seems to be a bit missing here.

Does the school believe he accidentally stood on her arm or do they think it was done in anger?

If they think his behaviour is dangerous, they need to

decide on their sanction
discuss how to move forward - does he need a send assessment?

If it was an accident and he was just sleepy, they need to discuss this with you and come up with a plan. Is he sleeping enough at home? Is there a quiet corner he can nap in?

In my brief conversation with the head last week, she said this was definitely not an exclusion - and the word exclusion should not be used, this is a reduced timetable to make things easier on my child as he is struggling with the school environment. I have stated that him not being around other children and getting the requisite education will be detrimental - especially at the moment as he is in the house while I'm still trying to work (from home). But as I have said, I have literally seen nothing recorded about his behaviour, what they have done to make things better, what their plan is etc

From a legal standpoint, the School Admission Code (section24 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998) states that a child is entitled to a full time place in the September following their 4th birthday. In exceptional standards, there might be a need for a reduced timetable. (For example, a medical condition)

A reduced timetable is only to be used as a short term measure (I can't attach the document as it is a download, but Google 'reduced timetable guidance' for the DfE document). The guidance suggests 6 weeks, as part of a re integration package.

The DfE guidance has a form which parents sign to say that they understand that the child has been placed on a reduced timetable. It says that all stakeholders (that includes you and your child) agree to this measure. And that this measure should not exceed 6 weeks.

This is what I have seen this week too. Which makes me think all protocols have gone out of the window. I hope I haven't been blindsided into this, having said that I have signed absolutely nothing.

Sounds like he isn't ready yet for a full school day.The half days sound like a good temporary solution. But maybe you should think about a move to another school.

With the greatest respect this is FAR too late for a reception aged child never mind one of the youngest ones. He needs to be going around 6:45pm with the aim of being asleep by 7pm that’s 5 hours a week less sleep than my kids get and they are similar age and older and still look visibly tired by bedtime!

OP- 'as I feel I have agreed to something under "the fog" of being made to feel guilty'...
This part stood out in your post. I suspect this is what has happened - you've agreed to it under pressure, so now they can implement it without going through any formal process.
You need to clarify if this is the case. Contact them and say that, on consideration, you don't think it's in his best interest to be on a reduced timetable. You feel it would be better to work through any issues whilst he is attending school in cooperation with them. Be insistent, turn up with him to class ready to attend the following school morning and see what happens.

If they think any behavioural issues are down to an undiagnosed condition they have a duty to have him properly assessed by a Senco. They can then access other professionals Such as early years/ks1 professionals who could help with a plan to help improve his behaviour. They should have had a meeting with you to tell you what plan they were implementing to improve his behaviour first.

Does your child show similar behaviour at home? Could it be possible he has ADhD or autism? If so he can be referred for a proper assessment. The school can't just reduce his hours without proper Senco assessments, observation and planning.

Ask for a meeting on Monday with the Head and Senco and ask for do umented evidence of his behaviour, how they are going to work with him and ask for a plan to see how his hours will be increased. If this is not productive you can complain to the Chair of Governors. If that's not productive speak to the L.E.A

@fernfriend crossed post - this is my thinking too.

However, I am unsure as to how this effects a reduced timetable for a 4 year old. Whilst you are entitled to full time education from 4 years old, I checked the DfE school admissions guidance and it says compulsory school age is 5 years old.

The gov guidance stating part time timetables should not be used to manage behaviour is here and here.

I think this is going to be the issue and I question whether it can be an illegal exclusion if they aren't obliged to have him in full time education just yet

Government guidance says that all children are entitled to full time education from the age of 4 years.

It can be an illegal exclusion. The exclusion guidance applies to those below compulsory school age too, see my second link. OP is entitled to send her DS to school full time, although she can choose to send him part time that is her decision to make.