Parent of a 12 year old, UK
My stories
My School Story
"She isn't copying her peers work, I would know". "She's not being bullied!" "She's fine in school when you leave her." These are just some of the things I was told whilst my daughter was in primary school despite having her peers confirm my daughter was telling the truth.
This led to my daughter not coping in school and portraying very aggressive verbal and physical behaviour to us as a family. It was pure and utter hell to live with and neighbours complaining about her meltdowns for hours on end after school.
The final straw for me was when the teacher physically dragged my daughter through the school doors and they never rang to tell me she was broken because she would sit quietly crying silent tears so no one would know. This child was suicidal. I had to hide medication, knives and watch her as she'd use items to stop herself from breathing at the age of 7.
When I removed her from school she was 2 years behind academically despite them saying she was working at the correct level. Why couldn't she do that years worksheets then?
Fast forward 5 years this child is working towards GCSEs, she has learnt to emotionally regulate herself and has a love for life wanting to take every opportunity she is given! She attends so many clubs which is a huge difference considering we couldn't even go McDonald's after school without a meltdown or her trying to run in front of a car!
If I had kept her in school I can say 100% I would now be a mother to one child and not two because she would've found a way to end her life!
My child never wants to return to school ever! I think its evident that the government never cared about my daughter's wellbeing or education when she was in school so why care now? I don't want the local authority in my house to pass judgement on anything to do with my children as they have come on leaps and bounds without anything to do with the dreaded system so politely leave us alone and sort out the school system for all those children and their families who are still struggling in school!
This led to my daughter not coping in school and portraying very aggressive verbal and physical behaviour to us as a family. It was pure and utter hell to live with and neighbours complaining about her meltdowns for hours on end after school.
The final straw for me was when the teacher physically dragged my daughter through the school doors and they never rang to tell me she was broken because she would sit quietly crying silent tears so no one would know. This child was suicidal. I had to hide medication, knives and watch her as she'd use items to stop herself from breathing at the age of 7.
When I removed her from school she was 2 years behind academically despite them saying she was working at the correct level. Why couldn't she do that years worksheets then?
Fast forward 5 years this child is working towards GCSEs, she has learnt to emotionally regulate herself and has a love for life wanting to take every opportunity she is given! She attends so many clubs which is a huge difference considering we couldn't even go McDonald's after school without a meltdown or her trying to run in front of a car!
If I had kept her in school I can say 100% I would now be a mother to one child and not two because she would've found a way to end her life!
My child never wants to return to school ever! I think its evident that the government never cared about my daughter's wellbeing or education when she was in school so why care now? I don't want the local authority in my house to pass judgement on anything to do with my children as they have come on leaps and bounds without anything to do with the dreaded system so politely leave us alone and sort out the school system for all those children and their families who are still struggling in school!
What happened next...
Home educated
How I think schools could be better.
1) Take away all the red tape so teachers can focus on the children.
2) Give sufficient training to everyone in school for SEN.
3) Give adequate funding to schools.
4) more staff to enable smaller class sizes to reduce sensory overload.
5) Teach teachers to reflect on the situation and how they could've dealt with it better rather than child/parent blaming.
6) offer adequate support and a place to regulate before meltdowns occur.
7) offer more hands on learning.
2) Give sufficient training to everyone in school for SEN.
3) Give adequate funding to schools.
4) more staff to enable smaller class sizes to reduce sensory overload.
5) Teach teachers to reflect on the situation and how they could've dealt with it better rather than child/parent blaming.
6) offer adequate support and a place to regulate before meltdowns occur.
7) offer more hands on learning.