I have had an email today from the manager of the breakfast club my son attends before school, informing me that he has been given a written warning today "for using the C word". She explains that "Staff have spoken with him and his friend who did not deny using the word, we have told them it is absolutely unacceptable to use rude words ".
However, this 'friend' has a history of using a variety of very colourful language. My son has never used or heard this word before, nor does he swear and I believe that he has learnt it from this boy this morning and copied him. I don’t know the context yet, only that he is now on a written warning.
He is 6 years old and has a Social Communication Disorder and really struggles with Social understanding and friendships. (We only made the club aware after an incident when he was rude to staff as he felt they were being unfair and not letting him explain himself. We mistakenly thought that when the school notified all involved staff of his diagnosis, this included the breakfast club, but it did not.)
He would not have known that this word was as offensive as it is and my feeling is that they should have removed him from the situation and made him aware of the seriousness. By all means there should be a consequence and we should be informed. However I really feel that a written warning on file is unfair when he did not know what he was saying. I am horrified that my son has used this word, but I am sure he did not realise what he was saying.
I have emailed the manager back asking for a call to discuss what has happened. How do I approach this when they call me? It is a serious matter, I do not deny, but surely written warning and record on file is only warranted if the language was used after being made aware how unacceptable it is? How would they deal with it if other children had then copied him? Surely it is the same thing.
Sorry if I am rambling, I am in shock and really worried about the consequences. Please help??