Sports Day! What would you do??

[momsterBoo]

DC is 9 has always hated sports day, I have always encouraged them to give it a go with the whole saying 'it's the taking part that counts not winning'.

DC always comes last or 2nd to last, hates running & the crowds.

Received a DX of DCD last year which explains a lot. DC says it's so embarrassing taking part always feels like they are going to trip and fall (often does in general).

I have spent last 6months pleading with the school to make accommodations for them based on OT & medical reports regarding PE & athletics but it's been impossible. Also got a GP letter sent in as well stating accommodations they needed. None of which have been implemented.

Would you keep the child off school that day if you were me?

Hi there,

You've not explained what the medical issues are, but if they cause your DC to be at a disadvantage in relation to the others, and this is why they hate going, then I don't think you should think twice about keeping your DC off. I can't understand why the school hasn't implemented the adjustments suggested by the GP.

Yes they have a medical condition DCD (developmental coordination disorder) also known as dyspraxia.
Affecting fine and gross motor skills, motor planning and coordination. Takes so much more out child than their peers to perform tasks required to participate in sports day and child tires a lot quicker.

How are the school justifying not implementing any of the recommendations?

Because child doesn't 'look like they have a disability'.

The school are really being unhelpful here. My DB has dyspraxia and school gave him jobs to do at sports day rather than doing sports and that was in the 80s.

They say 'all children are given the option to walk'. This isn't possible with races they do though and my child is scared of being getting in trouble so does what they are told.

Bloody hell I’d be escalating that, OP!

In your circumstances I would not think twice about it - I’d book the time off work and we’d do something that my child enjoyed doing and that would set him up to succeed. We all need a bit of niceness in our lives from time to time 😊

I'd keep them off and also escalate it with the school

Absolutely let them stay off.

I didn't go to any. My mum kept me off and I was extremely grateful.

Yeah keep them off. Escalate with the school as well.

Absolutely keep them off

So your child has a physical condition and school are insisting he competes in sports .

I'd formally complain and notify ofsted

What adaptations do they recommend related to running?

I would be pushing for an explanation of why his needs aren't being met in PE.

Is he in the SEND register?

Medical records includes child should:

• complete short circuits
• exercises should be demonstrated to child and repeated (struggles to follow instructions/sequences and needs a lot more repetition to master skills)
• particular difficulty with running, can trip and fall, fatigue's and tires quicker

This is just a sample reports are more in more detail.

Child is on SEN registry

Thank you for all the replies it has reassured me am doing the right thing keeping them off and am not only thinks this is horrendous treatment.

Read the school's complaints policy (should be on the website) and write to Chair of Governors. You may also find an policy that covers inclusion, which would also be worth a read. Apologies if you have already done this.

I'd also be keeping them off on the day.

Keep him off and kick off

I have DCD as well and I hated PE and sports day and found it humiliating. I wasn’t diagnosed as a child so no accommodations were put in place for me and I had no choice but to get on with it, and face bullying from other children and teachers because of my inability to do any of it well. It didn’t help me learn anything and negativity impacted my self esteem and confidence. I would keep your child off if I were you.

Yes, I'd keep them off. Sports day in a non-supportive/competitive school is mortifying for children who aren't good at sports.

I'm enterally grateful to my mum for letting me have the day off most sports days in secondary. (I don't recall having them in primary but if we did they must have been very chill.)

I'm actually going to my child's first sports day next month (Reception) and it's giving me that pit of anxiety in my stomach.

School should be offering him an alternative role for sports day ( helping time, set up or similar). If they won't, I'd be complaining formally, and wouldn't think twice about keeping him off that day.

There’s no point in ‘kicking off’.

You could remind the school of the specific needs of your child and ask whether they can be given jobs to do on the day. If they decline, you could tell them that your child won’t be attending school that day, because s/he is disadvantaged by a condition for which they have not made adjustments. It will go down as an unauthorised absence, but one day isn’t going to make a difference.

Follow the school’s complaints policy. Complaining to Ofsted won’t make a difference.

Re Sports Day, I'd keep him off. And do something lovely.

Re PE this really does need escalating calmly and formally. School shouldn't be deciding a child doesn't look like they think they would if they had X when a medical professional is telling them they have it.

I had no such conditions but I wish my mother had let me just have the day off. I hated it and the memory of the yearly humiliation leaves me very angry. I dreaded it all year.

They should not force this on the non competitive kids - let them do refreshments, scoring or cheering. Make it inclusive and celebratory all round instead of misery for some.

Just keep him off. No big deal.

Sorry keep him/her off.

Keep them off and do something really nice with them. Escalate the issue to governors.