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.

Ime there is often a child asleep in reception!

The rest sounds very odd. You definitely should speak to them. Ask if he's being excluded. Meanwhile ring your school admissions team and see what other options there may be locally. This doesn't sound like a good school.

I am looking at potentially getting him back into pre-school as a possible way of helping with the situation - but its difficult finding open places at the moment. Yes, 5 days a week Nursery and Pre-School for 2 yrs and was fine. I do think a trip to the doctors, just for a precaution may be worthwhile. But he seems full of beans in himself at the moment.

1 concern I'd have is that he's falling asleep in class. Is it that the day is too long for him or something else going on? If he's not 5 yet he doesn't legally need to be at school. It does seem odd that he's been removed for half days so quickly. Think you need a discussion with the head teacher

Reading the first post again, you say there have been ‘three months’ or so of being tired and being aggressive - hitting out. Two specific incidents were mentioned to you. Then this occasion where a teacher was hurt - if your child was asleep it may have been an accident but perhaps they thought he reacted aggressively? Often one can wake a child without having one’s arm or hand hurt. Perhaps he did react wildly?
Maybe the school just think your child needs a break and are giving him a cooling off period for a few weeks, hoping he will then settle in better when he returns.
I agree that the school need to help you understand what is going on.

What @SparkleSpangle says. You sent him to school too soon.

To be honest, if they came to me saying it was a cooling off period for a couple of weeks, and they had a plan of action and documentation of what has happened and what they have tried to improve things, I would probably not be as miffed as I currently am. Again, lots of the stuff they have said is very wishy washy, they have said he has been tired in class - but I have no clarification whether he's been asleep or how often it happens. Nothing seems to be noted down.

Haven’t RTFT yet but my immediate reaction is that you should ask for a copy of their behaviour policy, (they’re required to have one). Ask for a meeting with the teacher/ headteacher and ask them what they have done to follow their behaviour policy. If you get no response then complain formally. They should have a complaints policy. As a last resort complain to the governors. Sounds to me as though they’re taking the easy way out and are relying on you not wanting to be ‘that’ parent.

Lots of brilliant advice above. Definitely challenge this, get it in writing, and ask for full evidence of what is being alleged. Part time should only be thought about when other strategies have tried and failed. This sounds like a one off accident. Any part time arrangement should be with the agreement of parents otherwise it is an illegal exclusion. There should be involvement of the local authority attendance team and a clear short path back to full time.

Once child has a upn number on enrollment in school they are expected to attend full time regardless of age.

We had major discussions with the pre-school (which incidentally is part of the said schoo) before making the decision, and the feedback was unequivocal that he was perfectly fine and that the transition wouldn't have been a problem. I considered at the time this was educated advice as they had him 5 days a week.

I am wondering why they have excluded him in the mornings. In many schools the morning sessions are when the most focussed teaching happens, because children are fresher and more alert. A child who has already shown that he gets tired easily is not going to be at their best in afternoon school. Is it because there is more support available in the pm in terms of a TA? What is the school putting in place to ensure that he is getting some direct teaching as it appears his academic progress has been fine up to now.

OP you need to ask for ( firmly) a meeting with the class teacher and SENCO asap to find out what they are offering now and how they see this situation going forward. I would hold off on looking for a new school until you have a clearer idea of what the schools long term aim is for your son.

@breakingdads my daughter had cold-like symptoms and exhaustion when she was 4, and it was glandular fever. I’d take him for a blood test if I were you

Absolutely cannot be on a reduced timetable unless paperwork is submitted to LA and your consent given along with evidence to support it. Please contact the local authority

My daughter is older, however, when she was put on a reduced timetable there was a meeting with me, a set plan for 6 weeks heading towards positive reintegration, starting with 3x a week and increasing, we had a meeting after about 2 weeks to see how it was going. I also had to sign forms that were sent to the council education department, and im 99% sure it said on the form for the council that the parent HAD to agree.

I also had similar to you with my son (although not a reduced timetable), when he started school at 4 (April born). Have they done a "cause for concern" referral form to the SENDCO's? This would need parental consent. Have they acknowledged any interventions they have put in place or are planning to put in place?

Is it illegal though? I thought they did not need to be in fulltime until the term
they turn 5 which is after Easter. I still think it’s wrong how it’s being handled but I think it might be legal. Also asking him to come in afternoons seems odd. Surely they have him in mornings and build back up to a full day. Not wait until after lunch when he will be more tired.

I had the same @breakingdads as both dh and I didn’t think our dd was ready but nursery were adamant. That said, you have made it to March, we pulled her out by early Feb. There never seems to be any sanction against school etc for bad advice!

Also, ask for any written evidence they have on him, as they a legally required to provide this

Children are entitled to attend school full time from the September following their 4th birthday. Parents can choose to send them part time or not at all until they are CSA, but it is the parents’ choice.

Falling asleep at school during reception really isn’t unusual. I used to be a reception teacher and we often had to gently wake children who’d fallen asleep especially if they were in a stuffy room during winter with the heating on. Obviously we’d wake them because they’d be missing out on things and they probably wouldn’t sleep well for their parents that night. Some fell asleep on assembly. Usually the teacher doesn’t need to mention it to the parents unless the child is falling asleep regularly so it’s entirely possible that the kids of some people reading this thread have fallen asleep during the school day in the past and it just hasn’t been mentioned.

OP they don’t sound very supportive at all. It was clearly an accident. They need to provide you with some very clear examples of your son’s behaviour being detrimental to himself or others if they want to put him on a reduced timetable.

I don't think it's that unusual for a child to fall asleep in reception. When I did a stint there some years ago, we had a couple of children who sloped off to the bean bags for a nap every afternoon!

Legally he does not need to be in education till the term after his 5th birthday. So September coming.

However it’s your choice to have him in school or not at his age. The school must offer full time provision

I am really sorry this is happening to such a young child, how is it that they can’t even manage a four year old! It is shocking. My confidence would evaporate at this level of incompetence. He is a tiny tired boy.

It sounds like they are easing you out, for whatever reason. I don’t think I would allow my child’s self esteem and confidence in the adults and world around him by leaving him in such a terrible school. As a minimum I would be moving him.

Once black listed it’s very hard to overcome the labels he has already been given.

Research a new school asap with an autumn start. If you need to, you can withdraw him and home school over the summer. Poor chap

Poor thing. If there's any way of taking him out and starting next year in reception I'd do it. But also, the school has managed this really poorly so I'd also be looking at choosing a new school if possible.

Crikey, I would also change schools if you can. Our kid’s reception class has a relax cushion area in it - so the younger kids in the year can go and have a snooze in the afternoon when they need it. They’re left to sleep and gently woken up if need be. Works really well.