Parent, UK
My stories
My School Story
My little boy struggled going into school at the beginning of reception. He would resist so strongly that he would physically try to cling to me while the teachers physically pulled him off of me and dragged him into school. It was traumatising for us both and utterly heartbreaking putting him through something he clearly just wasn’t ready for, when we believed we simply had no other choice.
We didn’t agree with how the school wanted to handle it. It seemed they wanted to get him through the door as quickly as possible, to minimise disruption to the timetable.
There just isn’t time for prioritising mental well-being in the current school system. They took the fact that he settled fairly quickly after we left to mean that everything was fine. After a while he appeared to settle, though we believe this was at least in part simply that he’d learnt he had no choice and there was no point in resisting.
Then for the last term of the year, we saw his spark begin to fade. He’d come out of school looking flat and dull. He started to get upset again in the mornings and expressed that he didn’t want to go to school. After the best part of the school year researching home education, our mind was made up that it would be the best option for our child.
We didn’t agree with how the school wanted to handle it. It seemed they wanted to get him through the door as quickly as possible, to minimise disruption to the timetable.
There just isn’t time for prioritising mental well-being in the current school system. They took the fact that he settled fairly quickly after we left to mean that everything was fine. After a while he appeared to settle, though we believe this was at least in part simply that he’d learnt he had no choice and there was no point in resisting.
Then for the last term of the year, we saw his spark begin to fade. He’d come out of school looking flat and dull. He started to get upset again in the mornings and expressed that he didn’t want to go to school. After the best part of the school year researching home education, our mind was made up that it would be the best option for our child.
My Home Ed Story
After reception, we began home educating. We could not be happier with our choice. School has left it’s mark; 18months after those first traumatic mornings, our son can still remember it and doesn’t want to talk about it. He has a fear of situations where he thinks he might be separated from us.
However, he’s thriving… he’s learning every day and he’s happy doing it. That’s what we want for him. Home Ed has opened our eyes to a whole other possibility for his childhood that we didn’t even know existed, and for our son, it’s the best option.
However, he’s thriving… he’s learning every day and he’s happy doing it. That’s what we want for him. Home Ed has opened our eyes to a whole other possibility for his childhood that we didn’t even know existed, and for our son, it’s the best option.
How I think schools could be better.
More focus on emotional well-being and emotional regulation techniques. Learning is pointless if children are left broken at the end of their time in school.
A school system that is brought into line with modern thinking and understanding of child psychology & development. No more stickers for finishing your plate of food or competitive & shaming charts on the walls. Move with the times!
Working WITH parents in the best interests of THEIR child. Our experience was of a school that blamed us for problems and wanted control over things that should be a parent’s choice.
A school system that is brought into line with modern thinking and understanding of child psychology & development. No more stickers for finishing your plate of food or competitive & shaming charts on the walls. Move with the times!
Working WITH parents in the best interests of THEIR child. Our experience was of a school that blamed us for problems and wanted control over things that should be a parent’s choice.