Parent story of 5yr old, Somerset, UK
My stories
My School Story
Starting school just after turning 4 my child faced daily bullying, their arm was stamped on so hard they had a shoe print bruise on their arm. Their headbands were being snapped in half daily.
My child was miserable and bored. Very academically able they were strides ahead of their peers but work wasn't differentiated.
There were daily tears.
Add into this that my child publicly transitioned (they are trans) during the three short months they were at school. They faced transphobic behaviour from all of the senior management team as well as class teachers, parents and pupils.
There was no equity or equality and the school were openly breaking the Equality Act 2010 with their own school policies they insisted on implementing.
Within just three short months my child was a shadow of their former self, underweight, ill and incredibly unhappy.
My child is also asthmatic and has allergies and treated as coeliac, they regularly didn't give consultant prescribed medication for my child's asthma resulting in needing A&E.
My child was given foods they are allergic to on numerous occasions but thankfully my child refused to eat it.
All in all my child was not safe in school.
The outright parental gaslighting from senior management was astounding, questioning of medical letters and suggesting my child was trans because I had made them that way.
On removing them from school I were maliciously reported to children's social care.
My child was miserable and bored. Very academically able they were strides ahead of their peers but work wasn't differentiated.
There were daily tears.
Add into this that my child publicly transitioned (they are trans) during the three short months they were at school. They faced transphobic behaviour from all of the senior management team as well as class teachers, parents and pupils.
There was no equity or equality and the school were openly breaking the Equality Act 2010 with their own school policies they insisted on implementing.
Within just three short months my child was a shadow of their former self, underweight, ill and incredibly unhappy.
My child is also asthmatic and has allergies and treated as coeliac, they regularly didn't give consultant prescribed medication for my child's asthma resulting in needing A&E.
My child was given foods they are allergic to on numerous occasions but thankfully my child refused to eat it.
All in all my child was not safe in school.
The outright parental gaslighting from senior management was astounding, questioning of medical letters and suggesting my child was trans because I had made them that way.
On removing them from school I were maliciously reported to children's social care.
My Home Ed Story
My child is thriving being home educated. They have been deregistered for a year now.
They are no longer underweight and have gained an incredible 4kgs and grown over 3 inches in the last 6 months.
They are able to be their true self making many new friendships.
Academically they are flying ahead learning in a way that best suits their age, aptitude and ability.
They have the freedom to explore all of their interests at a pace suitable to them.
They are wise beyond their years and often suprise me with some very philosophical questions, tonight's being "Where does time go when it has passed?"
Followed with "Just because a clock tells us time has passed, how do we actually know it's passed?"
In school these questions were quashed and told there isn't time for that now. Being home educated means we can explore these questions when they arise.
They are no longer underweight and have gained an incredible 4kgs and grown over 3 inches in the last 6 months.
They are able to be their true self making many new friendships.
Academically they are flying ahead learning in a way that best suits their age, aptitude and ability.
They have the freedom to explore all of their interests at a pace suitable to them.
They are wise beyond their years and often suprise me with some very philosophical questions, tonight's being "Where does time go when it has passed?"
Followed with "Just because a clock tells us time has passed, how do we actually know it's passed?"
In school these questions were quashed and told there isn't time for that now. Being home educated means we can explore these questions when they arise.
How I think schools could be better.
The whole school system needs an enormous reform. Remove the military style, arbitrary rules and replace it with full understanding of SEND, equity for every child, ability based education rather age based.
Scrap the national curriculum as we know it and introduce a curriculum full of enrichment, practical, hands on experiences and not just focusing on the 'core' subjects.
Schools should be held accountable for actions. Gaslighting of parents by schools is rife, this needs addressing as a matter of urgency. Children are left without support due to schools prejudice and the 'The state/school know best attitude.'
Scrap the national curriculum as we know it and introduce a curriculum full of enrichment, practical, hands on experiences and not just focusing on the 'core' subjects.
Schools should be held accountable for actions. Gaslighting of parents by schools is rife, this needs addressing as a matter of urgency. Children are left without support due to schools prejudice and the 'The state/school know best attitude.'