Advice on P1 class

[Toarrie]

My 5 year old is struggling in school. He isn't grasping reading or writing although seems to be ok with numbers so far.
He doesn't want to pay attention when something is difficult, think day dreaming not disruptive. He also doesn't seem to have formed good friendships either and I suspect is playing a lot by himself at break times. He is sociable and confident but probably a young 5 and doesn't like rough play so struggles with the other boys.

Here's my problem. His class has a significant number of children with additional needs, think 2 non-verbal child, various disruptive children, and most worrying one child who has significant anger outbursts to the point of the class getting evacuated most days. The school have so few PSAs as it is in an area of low deprivation and that is how the PSAs are allocated.

I can see he is so far behind where his older brother was, he probably would have been anyway but the class in general are due to the disruption.

I just don't know what to do? I think his teacher and school are trying but limited by the fact they have 2 children who clearly should be in a special education school. And another who clearly cannot cope and is being violent. Obviously the issue is the state of education in Scotland but is there anything I can do at a school level?

In a different class in his siblings year for example he would be the one getting support but he is so far down the list I worry he will be lost and just fall further behind.

At a school level - do other parents feel the same? Could you get this discussed in parent council and involve local politicians?

what I’d do myself is try and do more school work at home and/or look to move him but those are impossible sometimes.

I’d consider moving schools if you can. I know a girl whose class was similar mum eventually moved her in P.5 but it had been after years of disruption. Really regrets not doing it earlier.

I would look at moving schools or could he repeat P1 with the hope of a more settled class next year? What is his teacher like, what's her thoughts on it?
The school system is in such a state, it's scary.

Can you repeat P1? I didn't know that was an option?

I am not sure I could move his sibling as they have formed strong friendships. But potentially after P2 if there is no improvement that could be an option.

Are there any schools left in Scotland where this isn’t a major issue though? I would complain to politicians (not SNP, they seem ok with the situation under the guise of inclusion) and the local press.

I haven't discussed with other parents much but I know a lot have complained about the disruption.
Teacher is very good and aware. They have changed the way they teach the class but it seems to be getting worse. I believe the teacher was recently hurt and his older sibling has been telling us that the P1 class are often in the hall, outside and when we ask why it is because they are removing the pupils due to one child. The school don't tell us about it though, I'm not sure if they should be?

We do a lot at home with him and of course I will get him a tutor when he is older if needed (not that I should have to!).

I’d also say it’s not the teachers fault, or the schools fault. It’s the fault of the Scottish government who decided not to provide enough alternative provisions because it was much cheaper to put all the kids in mainstream and calling it ‘inclusion’.

I am going to write to the local councillor and MSP.
My experience has been positive so far, as his older sibling does not have any disruptive children in his class. His year group is very settled and hardworking.

Oh absolutely! I do not blame the teacher or the school. My heartbreaks for the poor little kids who gain nothing from mainstream education.

I think it’s a class by class thing. there was a very challenging class in my local primary, for seven years. Lots of kids left, then it became composited with year above / below more kids left. Possibly not the only factor but the school were really poor communicatorsvery much a nothing to see, hear, talk about vibe. Lots of kids from out of catchment went as used to be excellent.

Interestingly that class left last year and there is a bumper class of P.1s coming in and other years seem ok as far as I know.

I sympathise - we have a similar situation, including the older sibling's more settled class with very few children requiring support, and seeing how the higher number of children who should be getting additional needs provision but aren't, really impacts learning in the younger class. It's depressing and something I worry about often, particularly when you are seeing the different experience of your two children and how that might affect later outcomes.

All I would say is try to speak to the headteacher first, and even if you have then let them know you intend to speak to the council/politicians first. They may well want you to and be very supportive, but unless you find they are being dismissive or obstructive then I'd tell them first so they are not on the back foot with any response or criticism of the school.

I hope you get a good outcome, though cynically I feel this is just what we are all having to deal with now 😒

OP I am not sure which area you are in but is there a school near you that you could move him to? Speaking from experience if he is in a difficult year things will only get worse the older the kids get.

My middle child is in a class like that. He is now in P4 and the issues are awful. 1 child with ASN needs violently attacks the boys and we are now in a situation we're 3 other kids bully the rest and get away with it. The year group has gone from 27 kids to 21 kids in 1 year and will have 18 kids by August. The head teacher still refuses to deal with issues. It started in P1 in a similar situation to you are describing. I am moving my son because it's so bad and he has been hurt so many times he now refuses to go to school. If its a low income area they should have lots of PEF unding but may not be using it.

High income area. Minimal pupils on free school meals so no extra funding, and council allocate PSA support on the basis of that too!

My niece is having to move school for the same issue.

SNP have cut schools to the bone and support for SEN is non existent

So, so sad and I know how you feel (helpless). We went to the police in P2. It's raised as a child concern really so no charges (obviously) against the child but was the only step that caused any concrete changes to happen in my son's school. It shouldn't be like this but it is.
It's unbelievable that the education leader for the SNP politician stated that there is no issue with violence in school because there are no exclusions. Children are being hugely traumatised. I'm a teacher and would send my child to private school if it was an option, just so they'd be safe.

Anecdotally, there are more behavioural issues with the current p1s. They were covid babies, born at a time of high anxiety and limited support/social interaction.

You may find the same problems elsewhere

I am in Highland and they allocate PSA support in our region based on this criteria to and it's the most blatant form or disability discrimination I have ever seen.

Unfortunately that’s just how it is in some classes now. Not saying it’s right, but a series of terrible decisions, lockdown repercussions, inadequate staffing etc etc. It actually gets worse as the children get physically bigger. My daughter had a couple really disruptive children in her class as does my son.

There are though a few different issues - the majority of the kids do play roughly at break time, even ones with no behavioural issues. Socially might be nice to seek out some like minded children for play dates, sign him up for something he loves to find a new social group (drama? Martial arts of some sort?), that sort of thing.

education wise it’s possible to do a lot of things at home to help him - am sure you’re already doing loads with him, but there will be other programmes or home learning type things you can do together. Like you said, he would be likely to need some additional support regardless of his setting.

is there another p1 classroom and are there similar issues? Sometimes it’s just bad luck with one or two specific children and the school can’t do much to help. They are likely just as frustrated as you are. My daughter and son had the same teacher for p3/4 so I’m on my 4th year with her. She’s been a teacher for 35 years at the school and says this is the absolute worst time for teaching. My son is p4 now so they missed out on loads of nursery time and we live in a low income catchment so families are really struggling just to keep food on the table just now. It’s all a mess and so terribly depressing.

The head teacher still refuses to deal with issues.

This is unlikely to be the case but unfortunately their hands are tied too and councils offer very little by way of support. You wouldn’t have the right to know anything about what the head teacher was trying to do for the child though.

I know the parents of a child who was the disruptive one. They were trying so hard to get a better placement, including through tribunal, and the head teacher was doing all she could too but there was nowhere to put him. Last I heard he was in a room on his own most of the time with a series of PSAs who found him too difficult and resigned because he lashed out (partly because of the constant changes).

The SNP are such liars. They know perfectly well what the situation in schools is since they are the ones who closed so many special schools.

Unfortunately the head teacher does refuse to deal with any bullying or violence or even admit its happening.

The school was actually one of the best in the region until she became the head teacher there and it now it has a huge bullying problem. Its well known that certain children can behave as badly as they want towards other kids and get away with it and most years now have a small group of kids that attack other kids daily (be it verbal or physically). Lots of parents have just given up even trying to get her to deal with their kids being bullied and moved there kids to to a different school. There is endless complaints about the head teacher and her reputation proceeds her.

The school she was head teacher off prior was also an excellent school until she became head teacher. It then ended up with a huge bullying problem too. She lacks the ability to deal with issues and prefers to sweep them under the carpet instead.

What do you think the headteacher should do that she isn’t currently doing though? They cannot do anything other than chat to the bullies. They rarely have enough staff to separate out the violent children. They cannot permanently exclude. If the child is in care they are unable to even move the bully from their class.

The solution is to reopen pupil referral units and to open more schools for those with SEN, but that costs money and the Scottish Government has other priorities.

She definitely could be doing far more than she does. She doesn't even try to deal with bullying and the children know that. She doesn't follow the schools behaviour policies at all.

The bullying isn't generally being done by children who may lash out because they have ASN needs. The bullying is being done by children who do it because they know they will get away with it. She will not even contact a parent if there child is bullying others. There are parents who may actually have dealt with their child's unacceptable behaviour if given the opportunity.

She prefers to deny bullying happens in the school than deal with it. I have an older child that went to this school when it was ran by different head teachers and it was a fantastic school. Bullying happened but it wasn't tolerated.

Children are now being moved out of the school on a daily basis when just a few years ago parents fought to get there kids into it. A good head teacher is priceless but a poor one can ruin a school .

I would seriously consider asking to repeat p1. While there is a risk the next intake could be as bad (or worse) it doesn’t sound like he has had a good p1 socially or educationally. Worth a try if your other kids are happy. Mine are at a small school and it is clear which year groups have challenges which are not going to be fixed, and which don’t.
It is outrageous that this is where we are, but that sounds like your best option.