Parent, UK
My stories
My School Story
My daughter has a mild lisp, enough to get her registered as SEND but mild enough that no treatment was needed and she quickly grew out of it.
Yet, it made her a target for the senco. She was sent for test after test for other issues, all came back negative, but affected her time in the classroom AND more importantly her confidence. My daughter became convinced she was stupid and useless. She would be isolated in 1:1 lessons or small groups, which affected her social skills - she's a very sociable child, so this really affected her.
Roll On secondary school and they instantly noticed an issue as she could only give answers to questions verbally, not written. Yet, nothing was put in place to support. By the end of year 7 we were told that she would ONLY be allowed to sit 5 GCSE papers, meaning just English and Maths.
This was the final straw. My daughter has been home educating since then and is starting to thrive. Gaps in learning (and there are many) are being filled, confidence is back, her friendship group has grown massively across different age groups. I only wish we'd started home education sooner, when we first knew school wasn't right.
Yet, it made her a target for the senco. She was sent for test after test for other issues, all came back negative, but affected her time in the classroom AND more importantly her confidence. My daughter became convinced she was stupid and useless. She would be isolated in 1:1 lessons or small groups, which affected her social skills - she's a very sociable child, so this really affected her.
Roll On secondary school and they instantly noticed an issue as she could only give answers to questions verbally, not written. Yet, nothing was put in place to support. By the end of year 7 we were told that she would ONLY be allowed to sit 5 GCSE papers, meaning just English and Maths.
This was the final straw. My daughter has been home educating since then and is starting to thrive. Gaps in learning (and there are many) are being filled, confidence is back, her friendship group has grown massively across different age groups. I only wish we'd started home education sooner, when we first knew school wasn't right.
What happened next...
Firstly, it took the school two months to action the deregistration.
But we started with trying to find gaps in learning and quickly realised that, despite being 12, she actually couldn't do any basic mental mathematics, couldn't tell the time, couldn't understand money, couldn't spell, and could barely write. So, we've completely started over.
But we started with trying to find gaps in learning and quickly realised that, despite being 12, she actually couldn't do any basic mental mathematics, couldn't tell the time, couldn't understand money, couldn't spell, and could barely write. So, we've completely started over.
How I think schools could be better.
My view is a school needs to flip the negativity on it's head. Negative reinforcement and punishment for minor things does NOT help, such as not completing school work a child hasn't understood, or walking the wrong way up the stairs on their first week because they got lost, or yawning (all detentions my children have received in the past).
Positive reinforcement but keeping a firm hand is required. Creativity and free thinking have (in our experience) all but gone in schools.
Positive reinforcement but keeping a firm hand is required. Creativity and free thinking have (in our experience) all but gone in schools.