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Primary education

Repeating a year at school - good or bad experiences?

14 replies

kenbren · 22/11/2012 20:26

My nine year old DS has struggled educationally and is emotionally and physically immature. He has made educational improvements in the last fifteen months or so, since he came to us (he is adopted), but he continues to really struggle academically in general and with his reading in particular. He seems at about the same level - or a bit below, as his sister who is six years old (his biological sister - also adopted).

We are considering him repeating this year - he is in a composite class primary 4/5 anyway and he would stay with many of his year 4 classmates. We have been warned repeating a year is not always positive - particularly in later life. We want to make the right decision and this feels like the last year this would be possible.

Does anyone have experiences, good or bad of a child repeating a year?

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learnandsay · 22/11/2012 20:30

I know nothing about repeating a year. But can you not tutor him or get a tutor for him?

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radicalsubstitution · 22/11/2012 20:33

Sorry, I don't have any advice - you could try posting under 'Special Needs' as well.

I just wanted to pass on my thanks and admiration to you for being 'Mummy' to a child with such needs and background as your DS.

This country needs more people like you.

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Silibilimili · 22/11/2012 20:35

Won't it knock his confidence even more if he has to repeat a year? Can't you get more outside school help with extra classes etc?

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timetosmile · 22/11/2012 20:37

I'm not an educationalist but....if sounds as if he has had a lot to grapple with over the past year or so, and schooling was probably one of the least of his worries. I would have thought that holding him back a year now sounds like a great idea, especially if he has a lot of yr4 friends anyway.
There's nothing more soul-destroying than constantly being behind the curve, and knowing it.
Maybe seeing this year as one of consolidation and giving him the chance to really find his feet in his new life generally would be a postitive experience for you all?

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talkingnonsense · 22/11/2012 20:39

You need to speak to the lea, as it is likely that even if he drops a year in pr,imary he will have to jump back up in secondary- there are funding issues if he is old enough to leave before gcses iyswim. Going from y6 to y8 would be much harder than carrying on now. Unless you are in Scotland?

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dietstartstmoz · 22/11/2012 20:44

I also have no experience of repeating a year but i do have a son with SN and i work in a school and work with kids with SN. I would advise against this as at some point he will be out of sync and wll have to jump a year. Instead you should arrange a meeting with the school senco (special needs co-ordinator) and contact your local parent partnership service and ask their advice. Instead you should be pushing for your son to have a statutory assessment for a statement. As a parent you have the right to ask foryour child to be assessed, contact your local authority sen department. And come over to the SN childrens boards. Good luck.

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timetosmile · 22/11/2012 20:47

why will he have to jump a year?

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kenbren · 22/11/2012 20:57

Hi

Thanks for responses so far.

We are in Scotland - he does have a statement (first thing I did when his educational needs become apparent) and has lots of additional support in school (and had tutoring over the summer holidays) - but is not progressing as the teachers hoped he would. We are awaiting results of a dyslexia assessment. However, I just feel that he should take an extra year to settle and consolidate his learning. We will ensure any further extra support goes in once we know the outcome re the dyslexia.

He will not need to jump up a year - he will just be older when he finishes school at secondary - however he is a September Birthday and is currently one of the youngest in his class.

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talkingnonsense · 22/11/2012 21:01

In Scotland you should be fine as there is flexiblily for the younger ones from the start.

Timetosmile, sometimes in eng,and the secondary cant get funding for what in effect becomes an extra year, also they have to get them excepted from the gcse tables I think. Basically it's a lot less flexible.

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Cahooots · 22/11/2012 21:10

Sounds like missing a year would be a good plan but obviously it is not possible to tell 'over' the Internet. Smile. I would speak with his teachers and see what they think. If he is small for his age it may make it easier.
Good luck with whatever you do.

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TINKERBELLE33 · 22/11/2012 21:49

I would like to do this with DD and have had mixed info. The headteacher said this could be done but DD would have to skip Y6. Senco said they had done this before and pupil continued with new peer group to secondary as usual. Unfortunately she has now been pushed out left but did warn us we would have to fight the LEA.

DD is August born and emotionally young. Her attainment is low for her year group but mid to high for the year below. If she hadn't arrived early she would have been in the year below anyway.

Am also considering moving schools to prevent any teasing from current classmates as there are also bullying issues, although her previous and current teachers have been really good with this.

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kenbren · 25/11/2012 19:57

Thanks, timetosmile for sharing positive experience of your DH - hoping others will have had good experiences of repeating a year?

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Rudolphstolemycarrots · 26/11/2012 00:00

I think it would be very positive for him. If I had a child who was struggling, I would want him to move down a year. He is more likely to do better and feel more confident within himself if he struggles less with the work. He will soon make friends in his new class

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Rudolphstolemycarrots · 26/11/2012 00:01

He will only be a little older then the oldest child in the new anyway.

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