ADHD chair swinging

[Applepear38]

My year 6 son has diagnosed dyslexia and, we believe, ADHD. He finds it hard to concentrate in class and has always found it tricky to sit still. Recently he has been very upset as his teacher asked the other children in the class to say ‘chair’ or ‘six legs’ every time he swings on his chair. This is now happening constantly. Sometimes even when he is just pulling his chair in or moving it to get up. Last year the same teacher took his chair away for a while because of the swinging. I understand that from a H&S perspective, the school do not want my son hurting himself but am I wrong in thinking that this kind of public humiliation is wrong? He isn’t always aware he is doing it and the teacher continues to make him feel he is being naughty with comments like ‘Emily just asked you politely to stop swinging by saying ‘chair’ but you continue to ignore her’. Any advice on how to help him would be appreciated. I have ordered a big elastic band thing to go round his chair legs. But surely there is a better way for the teacher to be handling this?

Sounds like the teacher is teaching how to bully. I’m sorry you’re going through this, I have no ideas or advice but I think you’re right that the teacher can definitely find a better solution than constant public humiliation

That is definitely not right. The other children should not be involved in behaviour management. I would ask for a meeting with the SENCO and head and challenge this.

Can he have a wobble cushion / sit on an exercise ball / have a fidget toy (a strip of velcro under the desk works well and is non-disruptive) . Is he getting regular sensory/ movement breaks? Tennis balls on 2 legs of the chair also provide a wobble without them needing to swing, which understandably is dangerous.

Request to speak to the SENCO.

Has DS been referred for an ADHD assessment? Has he ever had a sensory OT assessment?

I second looking at alternative seating/desk options. For example, exercise ball, peanut ball, wobble cushion, rocker chair, standing desk, exercise bile pedals under the desk.

What support is the school providing? As well as movement breaks do they offer sensory circuits? Do they do the daily mile?

What an awful thing for the teacher to set up. Speak to the SENCO to discuss how to better handle it as getting the whole class to gang up and keep an eye on him is bullying IMO.

Thank you all for your replies. This is the first time I’ve posted on here and all your responses are so helpful. Thank you.
The school doesn’t have a SENCO as such. The academy trust has one who is at the school every couple of weeks. Over the four years we have tried to engage with them about my son’s dyslexia, they have done nothing so I don’t feel like they will do very much to support him with this.
I spoke to the deputy head this morning who teaches my son’s class once a week and asked why it was being dealt with like this. And said that threats such as ‘if you mark the wall with the chair then you will have to come in at the weekend an paint it’ were not acceptable - especially for a child who cares about doing well at school and cares what his peers think of him. I asked why he didn’t have movement breaks or any other things that might help like a band on his chair. I mentioned the Velcro under the desk. My son had said his main teacher doesn’t like anyone using fidget toys and had got rid of them all so asked why this was. She seemed to get where I was coming from. My son has always loved school and he shouldn’t be this upset in year 6. Will see what happens now!

@EndlessLight he hasn’t been referred for an ADHD assessment. Is this something that the school does or do we have to do it?

Try the SENCO again. If they refuse to engage, go to the HT.

Speak to the school &/or GP about a referral for an ADHD assessment.