Clair, Essex
My stories
My School Story
My child was bullied and had his shirt ripped at 6 years old, the teachers kept saying it was harmless fun.
My child (4 years old) would only drink apple juice as part of his ARFID. The teacher kept him behind for a whole lunch time with a glass of water in front of him and would not let him leave the table to prove he would drink water after pouring his drink away, he was then left all day with no drink as would not drink water.
When my child's school report came home his name was in the 1st paragraph but the rest of the document had someone else's name in it.
My child went to school and was eager to learn and loved making friends.
By year 1 he started to hate it would still go to school but would come home saying I didn't understand xyz so my teacher told me to do it again I did but I asked 6 times and still don't understand it.
By year 2 he stopped asking for help as the teacher was too busy and started to retreat into himself and had no enjoyment at school would have been going into year 3
My child (4 years old) would only drink apple juice as part of his ARFID. The teacher kept him behind for a whole lunch time with a glass of water in front of him and would not let him leave the table to prove he would drink water after pouring his drink away, he was then left all day with no drink as would not drink water.
When my child's school report came home his name was in the 1st paragraph but the rest of the document had someone else's name in it.
My child went to school and was eager to learn and loved making friends.
By year 1 he started to hate it would still go to school but would come home saying I didn't understand xyz so my teacher told me to do it again I did but I asked 6 times and still don't understand it.
By year 2 he stopped asking for help as the teacher was too busy and started to retreat into himself and had no enjoyment at school would have been going into year 3
What happened next...
My child left school during the pandemic did not return to year 3
After 3 months of being at home my child started to change to the little boy who I had sent to school. He loves learning and being able to finish a topic and it not ending because the time is up.
He likes to choose what he is learning and knows it's OK to get things wrong.
I took him to a castles he said (while holding a clipboard full of work sheets)
At school all u do is worksheets at least here the worksheets make sense.
For the 1st year of home educating my child would not do worksheets or put pen to paper because he was scared to get it wrong and be punished he would not draw or write.
He now attends art clubs and my house is full of his work.
Home education has allowed my child to heal from the trauma of school and find a love for learning again at nearly 13 years old.
After 3 months of being at home my child started to change to the little boy who I had sent to school. He loves learning and being able to finish a topic and it not ending because the time is up.
He likes to choose what he is learning and knows it's OK to get things wrong.
I took him to a castles he said (while holding a clipboard full of work sheets)
At school all u do is worksheets at least here the worksheets make sense.
For the 1st year of home educating my child would not do worksheets or put pen to paper because he was scared to get it wrong and be punished he would not draw or write.
He now attends art clubs and my house is full of his work.
Home education has allowed my child to heal from the trauma of school and find a love for learning again at nearly 13 years old.
How I think schools could be better.
The education system needs a complete rewrite with not 1 size fits all approach
Children need to be listened to and not taught at.
Children need to be listened to and not taught at.