School anxiety

[PhoebeCat23]

My son has always experienced school anxiety to some extent but Year 6 has been particularly challenging for him.

He refuses to go to school everyday, saying the work is too hard, he doesn't understand it and that he doesn't get any help. He feels going is a waste of his time and resents spending time doing something he hates.

Every morning is a battle with him to eat breakfast, get dressed and get out of the house. I've tried everything I can think of to help him including making getting dressed a game, distractions (for example jokes or silly faces), positive thinking, focusing on weekend activities etc. I am now however at my wits end.

This morning, he was was running back and forth across a side road near school which lasted for around 10 minutes. That worried me a lot that he was more focused on not wanting to go in than cars which could have driven up at any moment.

This is causing me a great deal of stress and any advice would be much appreciated.

[SalmonWellington]

Ok. Unpicking a bit.

Is the work too hard for him? Is he getting any help?

[SearchingForSolitude]

Have you spoken to the school? What support are they providing?

[PhoebeCat23]

He struggles with focus and concentration at school due to difficulties with his auditory memory. Basically, his ability to retain spoken information poor and therefore if a teacher has explained a task, he switches off early on and therefore does not understand what to do. This is especially the case with longer tasks.

He has an individual support plan but this does not cater for his difficulty remembering things. I'm going to do some research into how learning can be adapted so he is not left behind.

[SearchingForSolitude]

Speak to the SENCO to arrange a meeting to update the individual support plan. Has DS ever had an educational psychologist assessment? Also consider whether you need to request an EHCNA.