Year 6 questionnaire

[Invisablewoman]

Hello, I'm being asked to give permission for my year 6 child to answer an online questionnaire at school with assistance from the school nurse. This is aimed at assessing their well being/emotional health etc.

I've asked to see the questions before giving permission but have been told I can't.

I don't want him exposed to questions that might relate to 'gender identity' or that approach the issue of sex and gender without me being their to temper any explanation of those terms.

Does anyone have experience of this questionnaire and what it asks please?

I should also say that the letter from school provides a link to various websites about young people's mental health - one of which directs children and parents to Stonewall.

Thanks everyone. I've got a call lined up with nurse and will report back.

Had a chat with the nurse. There's a question headed "Gender" with options for "boy" "girl" or "other". If the child answers "other" there is a then a free text option to explain further if the child wants to.

So they're shoehorned in the ideology of a tiny minority instead of asking a childs sex?

@Whatsnewpussyhat

So they're shoehorned in the ideology of a tiny minority instead of asking a childs sex?

I didn't spot that on the questionnaire. I wonder if it's a new addition.

I asked why the question wasn't just "Sex" followed by "boy" "girl" options but she couldn't answer. It's frustrating. Why introduce this conflation/confusion? Grrrrr

Consent is meaningless unless it is informed consent.

This^

Dyslexia screening would be nice. All my children left school with it undiagnosed.

If there is a safeguarding issue relating to parents then professionals can and do do whatever is necessary to protect the child, including not sharing information

Is there an indication that the questionnaire is aimed at those where there might be an issue?

There's no point asking for parental consent, but not saying what the consent is for.

I would not give permission and not just because of gender issues. This is a survey asking personal and possibly upsetting questions of a child. The school is unable to provide evidence it is benign.

Is every child in the school being asked to do the survey? What reassurance do you have that your child's answers will be secure and anonymous? What is the school's interest in administering this? Who will see the results? Who benefits, the child, the school the nation, the researcher? I don't think the school should be pushing this.

I

I made the point about informed consent. She said the questions weren't shared because they didn't want parents to coach children beforehand. They wanted to hear "the child's voice".

As I've said above - I get it - but wouldn't parents intent on hiding something just refuse to give permission?

She said the questions weren't shared because they didn't want parents to coach children beforehand. They wanted to hear "the child's voice"

What's to stop the nurse coaching or swaying the child or having an unbiased opinion?

@Whatsnewpussyhat yes quite. I emphasised that I didn't want another adult opening a conversation on "gender" if my child queried the question. I said that I would want to talk about that issue in a particular way. She said noone would do that.

Hard to know what to do. I object to the way the question is framed but appreciate the well meaning intent behind the exercise. Not sure if this is a pick your battles issue.

Am I the only one who finds that picture on the Lancaster model website of the kids stepping onto a travelator leading to a fire horrific?

Could they not just say it's a useful early warning sign without showing kids going into an actual fire?

Just found this FOI www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/the_lancaster_model_list_of_ques

Not sure if this is a pick your battles issue.

I think it's worth keeping in mind the fact that your DC has probably been exposed to lots of other forms with similar gender questions, and will be again, that simply haven't required your consent.

E.g. filling out feedback surveys at the end of school museum visits, school library surveys to see which books pupils like, feedback forms for what they think of school lunches, etc, etc.

The only reason you've had to consent to this one is because of its nature and the fact it covers health stuff, etc.

So I think it's worth (1) weighing up the value of what this questionnaire is seeking to achieve against the bigger picture of the fact that gender boy/girl/other question is likely everywhere already, and (2) considering how much you are actually protecting DS from by refusing this one (seemingly quite useful) form.

@LonginesPrime thank you for this really helpful post. I probably do need to take a step back.

Have you got a what's app parents group? I'd be asking the question on there if anyone has older children that have done the questionnaire before and know what the questions are - seeing as the school are refusing to let you see the questions.

[quote Invisablewoman]Just found this FOI www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/the_lancaster_model_list_of_ques[/quote]
Looks like a good survey, I'd give permission for my child (we have something similar in my country, in 5th and 8th grade, though I think the ones here ask more about home life) though understand your concern that there might have been gender nonsense stuff in it.

I’ve just received an email from my yr6’s school about this questionnaire today. It simply told us that it would be given to the children and did not in any way ask permission or consent. I’m afraid to say I emailed immediately and said he would not be taking part.
It is put across that it is for highlighting areas in which they may need help before starting secondary but as resources are so tight even if anything did come up absolutely nothing would be done about it so I am not willing for him to go through it.
Totally pointless exercise and a waste of time and money in my opinion.

This is the Lancaster Model questionnaire. The reason the questions are not made generally public is because of commercial sensitivity - other companies could copy the model and use it for financial gain. The questions asked are very general and aimed at identifying health needs and lifestyle trends in general eg dental, eye sight, diet, Usually ‘yes/no’ questions or a scale ‘sometimes, always, never’. There are no overt or explicit questions about sexuality or gender identity. In terms of emotional well-being it asks general things like if they feel anxious, have friends etc. It also asks if the child has any concerns or worries about smoking, drugs or alcohol - but doesn’t ask why or who. The child’s voice is very important - and an amazing (and safe) opportunity for them to start thinking about their own health and well-being. They are not coached by the nurses, but supported to complete the questionnaire eg how to log on, answer the child’s questions about the process. One very important set of questions is about ‘transitioning’ to high school. Giving the child an opportunity to express their concerns. I wonder if this term has been taken out of context or misread at some point - therefore incorrectly associating with gender identity. Results of the questionnaire are very immediate meaning any health needs can be managed quickly. Schools are given a profile report which is discussed with the nurse in terms of addressing findings. Things like breakfast clubs have arisen after finding children were not eating before attending school. It is a very good public health tool that serves to catch things before they become a big problem and improve your child’s health. I agree not enough is known about it (hence my long message) but it is not something sinister - just poor communication mainly due to the difficulty in building relationships between nurse, school and parent.

This is the Lancaster Model questionnaire. The reason the questions are not made generally public is because of commercial sensitivity - other companies could copy the model and use it for financial gain. The questions asked are very general and aimed at identifying health needs and lifestyle trends in general eg dental, eye sight, diet, Usually ‘yes/no’ questions or a scale ‘sometimes, always, never’. There are no overt or explicit questions about sexuality or gender identity. In terms of emotional well-being it asks general things like if they feel anxious, have friends etc. It also asks if the child has any concerns or worries about smoking, drugs or alcohol - but doesn’t ask why or who. The child’s voice is very important - and an amazing (and safe) opportunity for them to start thinking about their own health and well-being. They are not coached by the nurses, but supported to complete the questionnaire eg how to log on, answer the child’s questions about the process. One very important set of questions is about ‘transitioning’ to high school. Giving the child an opportunity to express their concerns. I wonder if this term has been taken out of context or misread at some point - therefore incorrectly associating with gender identity. Results of the questionnaire are very immediate meaning any health needs can be managed quickly. Schools are given a profile report which is discussed with the nurse in terms of addressing findings. Things like breakfast clubs have arisen after finding children were not eating before attending school. It is a very good public health tool that serves to catch things before they become a big problem and improve your child’s health. I agree not enough is known about it (hence my long message) but it is not something sinister - just poor communication mainly due to the difficulty in building relationships between nurse, school and parent.

I think LonginesPrime's comment is spot on in regard to the gender question.

I don't think that means that giving permission is a necessarily a good idea, though.

I would be asking

• Who gets access to the results of the questionnaire?
• How long are the results stored for, where are they stored and are they held anonymously?
• What is the data used for?
• If, as is suggested here, the results are used to highlight issues your DC may have, is there signposting towards help for meeting any needs identified? And if so, is that help adequately resourced or is this a paperwork exercise that may increase anxiety about not being ready for secondary school without providing a way to get ready?

If you google your area and year 6 health survey you may find it online.

You can absolutely refuse to give consent. I have experience with these surveys at year 6 and 7 level and have had conversations with my dc about the questions. The questions tend to be very intrusive and touching on very sensitive topics. Sadly they are often not at all well or responsibly designed. The question is what will your county / area do with this data? You can find the results of the survey from previous years in some cases online. They also ask questions about how much your child weighs and if they are worried about their weight. These questions can trigger all sorts of ideas in children for no obvious gain. It's a population survey and has not your individual child's best interest at heart. We refused the year 6 survey but I allowed my dc to take part in the Y7 one as I don't want to wrap them in cotton wool and they need to develop their own critical thinking about these sort of surveys. Questions included if parents smoke in the car, if they listed a range of drugs (magic mushrooms etc), asked for the child's post code name of school age and a whole range of other highly sensitive questions.

It's worth trying to search for the questionnaire online, many can be accessed outside of the school as the would waitpeople who are home schooled to take part.

Unfortunately when schools ask for consent, they really kind of expect you to just say yes, anything else is a nuisance.

Just ask yourself, who does this survey help, are these sensitive questions and do I want my child to hear about drugs, domestic violence etc for the first time through completing a questionnaire or not. Schools don't really offer conversations and support for these surveys (they don't think about them critically). On our year 7 (secondary wide) survey, there was a random mobile number that kids could use if they were worried about the survey. With no explanation who Manns the phone, opening hours or anything.

Why should young children reflect on and share so much personal detail in a school setting? I find it rather exploitative.

*they listed a range of drugs (magic mushrooms etc) and asked 11 and 12 year olds if they had taken them or been offered. Cue, dc comes home and asks what are magic mushrooms mummy.

@PhonPhonPhon

If you google your area and year 6 health survey you may find it online.

You can absolutely refuse to give consent. I have experience with these surveys at year 6 and 7 level and have had conversations with my dc about the questions. The questions tend to be very intrusive and touching on very sensitive topics. Sadly they are often not at all well or responsibly designed. The question is what will your county / area do with this data? You can find the results of the survey from previous years in some cases online. They also ask questions about how much your child weighs and if they are worried about their weight. These questions can trigger all sorts of ideas in children for no obvious gain. It's a population survey and has not your individual child's best interest at heart. We refused the year 6 survey but I allowed my dc to take part in the Y7 one as I don't want to wrap them in cotton wool and they need to develop their own critical thinking about these sort of surveys. Questions included if parents smoke in the car, if they listed a range of drugs (magic mushrooms etc), asked for the child's post code name of school age and a whole range of other highly sensitive questions.

It's worth trying to search for the questionnaire online, many can be accessed outside of the school as the would waitpeople who are home schooled to take part.

Unfortunately when schools ask for consent, they really kind of expect you to just say yes, anything else is a nuisance.

Just ask yourself, who does this survey help, are these sensitive questions and do I want my child to hear about drugs, domestic violence etc for the first time through completing a questionnaire or not. Schools don't really offer conversations and support for these surveys (they don't think about them critically). On our year 7 (secondary wide) survey, there was a random mobile number that kids could use if they were worried about the survey. With no explanation who Manns the phone, opening hours or anything.

Why should young children reflect on and share so much personal detail in a school setting? I find it rather exploitative.

TBH, your response here sounds like you’re trying to hide something. I’m sure you’re not - but can’t you appreciate that many children DO have lives that are challenging and have no way of communicating that to others in order to get help. At 11 years old, they deserve a voice. This questionnaire may well be the only way they can be heard. And yes, at that age they DO know about alcohol, drugs, sex, bullying, DV etc because they’re taught about it in school.

@PhonPhonPhon

*they listed a range of drugs (magic mushrooms etc) and asked 11 and 12 year olds if they had taken them or been offered. Cue, dc comes home and asks what are magic mushrooms mummy.

So what? I’m sure most parents would just explain.