Individual desk

[Ruth760]

Hi , looking for advice/ opinions really.

Long story short I was called into my son's school because of an incident that had happened today.
We were told that our 6 year old had told another child that he hated them. Me and my partner were both shocked to be called into a meeting with 2 teachers over this matter. I understand this is not a nice thing for my son to have said however I am a year 1/2 teacher and have heard this said by lots of children , some you would not expect and I regard this as normal behaviour for a 6 year old( obviously we have discussed how this may make people feel)
They then proceeded to tell us he gets angry , doesn't try hard with his work and shouts out so they have moved him to sit alone, they've had to remove him from lessons as he gets angry. When I asked has he ever been physical they said no. However I feel like they are singling him out.

I then asked my son where he sat and he showed me a drawer unit! Yes a drawer unit at the back of the classroom with his name stuck on it. 1 that is his permeant seat it's not a temporary measure and 2 how is he meant to be sitting correctly because his legs have to go to the side, he cannot even tuck his chair in. As a teacher myself I understand children may need to be moved temporarily at a proper table but to me this is completely unreasonable and absurd!

Please let me know what you think about this and what further action I should take. I was so angry at the time I just had to look down to hide that I was about to cry. Thank you

If the class is oversubscribed and an additional child has been accepted they will not have provided any additional desk because there is no funding attached to an additional child. This can mean three to a desk with just a chair provided and shared resources.

Other than providing a chair it may mean just squeezing a child on the end of a table. If then a child needs moving, for whatever reason, there is no table available. Some of our rooms mean a child faces a wall and not the teacher.
Not ideal but the best option for that room.

Ask if something can be removed to make space for more suitable resources

My son had similar issues in reception and year 1 which later down the line we realised were linked to his dyspraxia but that was not diagnosed until 10 years. He had postural issue arising from his dyspraxia and ended up using a keyboard as writing caused him physical pain and headaches. I dread to think what state he'd have been in had he been sat at a drawer unit. I'm not diagnosing your son but relating this to say that you are not over reacting at all. He needs a proper desk and he and you need support to figure out what is going on. (NB You may need to go privately, if you can, as resources are so limited but you probably know this.)

Year 1 teacher here. You seem to be acknowledging that your son’s behaviour is problematic and you seem willing to investigate if this is something more than just playing up. In short, a set of drawers is not suitable long term. Maybe for a morning or afternoon if there are no table spaces left but for it to be a permanent spot is not OK.

It’s probably only a permanent spot because the behaviour is on going.
The behaviour needs sorting urgently.

I didn't find this to be the case myself. When I spoke to my five year old son's teacher, she knew that I was a teacher and was very defensive, even though I went out of my way to assure her that I wasn't blaming her in any way. A few weeks later, at Parents Evening, she didn't have anything positive to say about my son. I went home in tears and my DH was so angry and upset that he never went to another Parents Evening. My son was gentle natured and had no behaviour issues. He had undiagnosed Aspergers so lacked organisational skills and was struggling in an open plan set up there.