School suggesting DD stay in yr2 as peer group move up to yr 3 in Sept

[Galaxymum]

I just wondered if anyone has any experience of their child staying back a year. My dd has HFA and in mainstream school which has mixed ability classes. If she moves up with peers it will be a much bigger class but she will be in yr 2. She is a good reader, but not reaching potential as I see. She has develiped greatly in social skills but still welk behind her peers. Hence the school's suggestion.
I wondered if anyone has had experience similar to share. And the pros and cons experienced. She is friends with those in her year and year 1 but I am concerned it will isolate her and if we go with the decision if it wouldimpede or enhancelearning.

Does she have a statement?. If not I would be applying for such a document from the LEA asap if you have not done so already. A statement is also legally binding and will be useful longer term.

IPSEA's website is www.ipsea.org.uk

Why are school actually suggesting this in the first place?. How has this idea been sold to you, what are the benefits to her by doing this?. Is DD on anything like SA plus currently, if not she should be.

What's her recent IEP state and have you spoken to the SENCO?.

What school are suggesting is not going to work out in long term; you also need to think longer term as well. They cannot keep moving her back a year because she is behind her peers. If her needs are not being met the school need to meet them. Also she will be in Junior school before you know it and that brings with it another set of unwritten rules.

Must admit I would bite their arm off. Most mums have to fight tooth and nail to get a year delay. I accept there are some cons, but the pros (the chance to catch up ) outweigh them for me.

Hi my ds was put up a year which he seemed happier with. He is socially and emotionally behind yet speaks as though he is a lot older (in his 30's ),then he stayed were he was and his peers joined him again which unsettled him again unfortunately they didn't think to move him up with the other dc. I know it would not be ideal due to the changes but could you not agree on a trial run, maybe trying a year behind then a year in front. One thing I noticed was that the majority of the dc in the older class were much more understanding (considering their ages) towards my ds. Also their social skills were a fraction better than the dc my ds's age which helped him a little although the outbursts were more noticable but less frequent.

I agree with Attila. You also need to be really clear about what happens when she reaches year 5 (when she should be in year 6). Will she leave primary at that point and just miss out year 6, or will she do year 6 at primary and then go sttraight into year 8 at secondary?

Thanks for all your comments. There is so much to think about.....I felt like a ton of bricks had been dumped on me yesterday. DD does have a statement - she has pretty much full time support in place BUT the school works on encouraging her to be independent so the TA stands back or is in place working with DD's small group in literacy and numeracy. She would move with DD.

I agree with attila on the long term issues - it feels like each year already we are fighting for her place but if she then is behind a year when does she "jump" a year?

I have suggested her doing part time in year 2 and part time in year 3 and also we are arranging some maths tuition with a SEN teacher outside school.

I feel we've been let down by the Children's Services rather than school. Due to unlucky circumstances over the past two years each paediatrician appointment has been with a different person and I think that is where we're missing the extra support to move her forward. It's lack of focus, social communication (she is a June child AND immature) but she clearly is high ability - just how to engage her to meet assessments. I feel very down and quite frustrated taht we've been adapting and just plodding on then realised we should be getting more support and that has affected her progress.

But thank you for all your points - it helps to see other people have different experiences. I feel I've let down my DD by not shouting loud enough.

itdepends, if all classes are mixed yr groups then fine.
But if she will be the only yr2 in the yr3 class then I would say no, (without understanding the long term plan) as she will have to rejoin her correct yr group at some time, usually at the point of transfer from primary to secondary which will mean she could (?) miss an entire yr of the curriculum and lose contact with her correct peer group & she may effectively move school having not established friendships with anyone moving up with her.

Unless the LEA agrees that holding her back is permanent (very rare as they end up paying for an additional yr of schooling) then i would push for greater additional support in her correct yr group

I would say yes, if it is a properly mixed class. My eldest DD was put in a year 2/3 class when she was in year 3 and I was very concerned initially. I talked to other parents about it and the teacher was highly thought of. She benefitted greatly from the experience.

I will add, she has no SN but I think it still applies.