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justine1

Can he repeat the year?

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Hi

Firstly let me apologise as I do believe this question has been asked.We may be moving during summer holidays and kids will start at a new school.I do think Sam needs to be in a ASD school,but not 100% sure yet.Also with no statement he may need to wait a while,and I thought I can at least see if the extra support he does get will allow him to remain in mainstream(but not the one he is in.)

 

I just feel he has missed out on alot this past year,either because he wasnt in school or because when he is in school he is doing his own thing.So will he be able to repeat the year?He is one of the youngest in his class,so most of the kids in the year below are same age.

Thank you.

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How old is he?

 

Well yes there is nothing to stop him going into a year below what he should be in if the school think this is best but at some point he will have to move up to the correct year group.

 

For example, at transition from primary to secondary school.

 

I know there was one case where an exception was made for twins that were born ether side of midnight and ended up in two different school years.

 

When I was at school there were 2 brothers who were not twins but in the same school year, one the oldest, one the youngest.

 

 

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Well yes there is nothing to stop him going into a year below what he should be in if the school think this is best but at some point he will have to move up to the correct year group.

 

I also thought that this was true, but my friend's son changed secondary school at the end of year 7 and repeated that year at his new school. Nothing was said about needing to go back to his correct year later on.

 

Just ask the new school.

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I also thought that this was true, but my friend's son changed secondary school at the end of year 7 and repeated that year at his new school. Nothing was said about needing to go back to his correct year later on.

 

Just ask the new school.

 

But at some point the same thing will happen, at year 11, or 13 or 6 form, at some point his age will catch up with him.

 

What I was saying is if he is at primary school he will still have to chang school at 11.(Year 6).

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I think it would be possible to do it for next year. But I think what is also being said is that you cannot keep repeating that - otherwise he'll leave school at age 30. :rolleyes:

I did consider starting my son a year later at school because I knew he would not cope. But on discussing it with the Health Visitor he also was not happy or coping in nursery! So he started school age 4.5.

So holding him back a year may be appropriate for his age as you say he is the youngest. But the difficulties he has may well continue and therefore professionals need to be involved now.

Unfortunately the gap between children on the spectrum and their peers does widen in some or all areas due to the nature of the diagnosis. So it is vital that professionals are involved to help the child keep up with their peers as much as possible.

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Thank you for your replies.To me the system in the UK is not very good as far as keeping a child back a year.I mean why would he need to catch up because then when that happens he will have more pressure on him.The age thing should not really be an issue,as if he were to stay back now(he is six and in year two,his birthday is in August so he will be seven in year 3) he will still be same age as his peers,just a few months older(2/3mths)t me that wont make any difference!

 

Where I grew up from grade 3(9 years old) children could be moved up a grade if they are too intelligent for the year,this was rare as most parents felt the kids wouldnt cope socially with older kids.And kids were kept back if they were falling behind.We had reports with grades from that age and you would either pass or fail.My brother failed twice,first time when he was 11(grade 5) so he repeated that grade and was then the eldest in the class but he then passed,he then repeated grade 11(usually kids would be 17 but he was 18 due to being kept back) he was then moved to a private school to repeat grade 11,so his final year(grade 12)he was 20.He was not teased as the school he went to was specifically for kids who had been kept back numerous times,he had friends his age ,younger and older.Also high school kids (normally grade 10 or 11)can decide they want to repeat if their grades are not good enough to get into the Uni they want.

 

So in some ways I think this is the best system,I dont think the child/young person will be 30 when they finish but even so who cares education is important. There are people of 50-90 years of age learning to read for the first time.

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Thank you for your replies.To me the system in the UK is not very good as far as keeping a child back a year.I mean why would he need to catch up because then when that happens he will have more pressure on him.The age thing should not really be an issue,as if he were to stay back now(he is six and in year two,his birthday is in August so he will be seven in year 3) he will still be same age as his peers,just a few months older(2/3mths)t me that wont make any difference!

 

Where I grew up from grade 3(9 years old) children could be moved up a grade if they are too intelligent for the year,this was rare as most parents felt the kids wouldnt cope socially with older kids.And kids were kept back if they were falling behind.We had reports with grades from that age and you would either pass or fail.My brother failed twice,first time when he was 11(grade 5) so he repeated that grade and was then the eldest in the class but he then passed,he then repeated grade 11(usually kids would be 17 but he was 18 due to being kept back) he was then moved to a private school to repeat grade 11,so his final year(grade 12)he was 20.He was not teased as the school he went to was specifically for kids who had been kept back numerous times,he had friends his age ,younger and older.Also high school kids (normally grade 10 or 11)can decide they want to repeat if their grades are not good enough to get into the Uni they want.

 

So in some ways I think this is the best system,I dont think the child/young person will be 30 when they finish but even so who cares education is important. There are people of 50-90 years of age learning to read for the first time.

 

I was joking about being 30. But what I was trying to get across was that the childs 'needs' should be identified and met. If they are kept back because they are not making progress that could make them less eligible for support??? Support is usually provided by the child not making the expected academic achievement as well as social, emotional, language etc. By keeping him back a year his behaviour or academic achievement might then become 'typical' for that year, meaning he does not get the help he needs. And he will notice himself if he is older than his peers. One year difference is okay. But if after he repeats year 1 he is still in the same situation are you thinking of him spending 2 years at year 2 etc. It is not appropriate for a teenager to be still in primary school surely? If the needs are to such an extent that he is struggling then he has to have those needs met in whatever year he is in. For example if he has a speech disorder he needs to see a SALT and no amount of holding him back is going to improve it. The same for sensory issues, these do not disappear with age, he would need an OT to see him. If he has general or specific learning difficulties, again an EP needs to see him as his difficulties will remain throughout his school days.

 

What areas of difficulty does he have presently? Are they academic ones or social/emotional/language based ones. Does he have a diagnosis, and when are you thinking of asking for an assessment towards a Statement.

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Thanks Sally.Yes I agree he needs the support regadless.My concern is its only term two now and he has missed nearly 20 days of school,plus he is only doing half days.The social problems need addressing regardless but academically I feel he is falling behind, not because he cant cope with the work but because he has missed so much of it.

 

If he repeats year two,it will be a "one off" giving him the chance to catch up,so like I say he will actually be the same age as his peers.We have the three tier system here so he goes to middle school at year 5,so if he repeats he will start at age 10,my eldest is starting year 5 in September and he will turn 10 in the October,so like I say he wont even be a year older he will just be three/four MONTHS older than his peers.So he wont keep repeating each year,just year two.

 

I cant apply for his stat assesment as I dont have enough evidence yet,I have the phych reprt now and on 5 March the autism outreach is coming so will get the report from her.So I am hoping everything will be sorted by summer holidays.

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If he repeats year two,it will be a "one off" giving him the chance to catch up,so like I say he will actually be the same age as his peers.We have the three tier system here so he goes to middle school at year 5,so if he repeats he will start at age 10,my eldest is starting year 5 in September and he will turn 10 in the October,so like I say he wont even be a year older he will just be three/four MONTHS older than his peers. So he wont keep repeating each year,just year two.

I dont agree with you that he will only be a few months older that his peers, What he will be is a few months older than the oldest in the class but over a year older than the youngest.

 

At the end off the catch up year (year Two) he would in fact be a year behind. Would he then go into year 3 and stay a year behind or go in to year 4 and have court up.

 

I not saying you are wrong to consider keeping him back a year but you need to think of what consequences it will have later on. As I have said, at some point his age will catch up with him. In order for him to stay an extra year in primary school you would have to get special permission from your council and then the same for middle school.

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I do agree that he will ultimatley be the eldest but how different is it now as he is the youngest and 10months younger than the eldest,does it stop him from socialising with the eldest or would it stop him socialising with the youngest?I dont think even as a teenager he would be that different to his peers.And like I havee said,eventually I think he would need to go to a speacial school as his needs are not being met.

 

As I have said this practise is done in many countries in the world (including America)and it doesnt do the kids any harm in fact in most cases it does them good as their grades improve so they gain more confidence.

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As I have said this practise is done in many countries in the world (including America)and it doesnt do the kids any harm in fact in most cases it does them good as their grades improve so they gain more confidence.

 

I think there would be a lot of people that would agree with you but the system me have, we have always had, in this country is one that is intended to give the masses a basic education at minimal cost and only reword the brightest (other than those that could pay) with anymore that that.

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I know and I respect the system,but it seems generally speaking,AS or not,kids seem to start school very young here.It does vary from child to child and thats where freedom of choice should come into play,we should be able to decide whats best for our children.I dont think the system should be changed,there are negatives to the system I mention like some kids feel stupid if they fail and have to repeat the grade,and this low self esteem can remain with them for life.

 

But like I say,I would like it to be a parents choice to keep them back or move them forward.My eldest son finds his year group boring(he is in year 4) the teachers try and give him work for yr 5 or 6 but he also finds it hard to interact with kids his age,at home he has friends that are 12 or 13.Likewise Sam has much younger friends at home,usually 4 or 5.

 

Anyway,I just wondered if it were possible to do this,even though its not the norm.

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Hi I put in search engine can a child repeat a year uk and came up with this site that expresses all sort of concerns and thought it was interesting, dont forget though a child has to stay in education until thier 18 now too.

 

Anyway thought it was worth giving you a view.

 

http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.32819

 

JsMumxxx

 

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My brother repeated primary One- this was in the mid 80's. He went from being the very, very youngest to the oldest but he didn't mind at all. TBH, in any class, the oldest kids are almosta year older than the youngest anyway, so I don't see that that would make any difference.

Better to do this sort of thing when kids are younger than older, to save any teasing from their ex-classmates. I can honestly say that it did my brother the world of good- he just couldn't cope because he wasn't ready emotionally for school or anything.....

I think the idea would be that you repeat a year and STAY with that year, barring extreme circumstances. And, just a personal opinion, mind- I don't see that it makes the child a year behind anything. Chronologically, they'll finish a year later than other children their age, but the whole point is to try and help them keep up with the work in class.......

At any rate, you#'d have a fight on your hands to get this in Scotland, Justine. LEAs don't seem to like doing it, probably due to the extra cost and keeping a place...but it should be doable if you're willing to push rather hard. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, though. X

 

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I know and I respect the system,but it seems generally speaking,AS or not,kids seem to start school very young here.It does vary from child to child and thats where freedom of choice should come into play,we should be able to decide whats best for our children.

 

School is not compulsory. A parent has every right to defer sending their kids to school until they are 7, 11, 14, or even not send them at all. The law states that education must be provided from 1st September following the 5th birthday but it need not be at a school. Parents don't even have to register anywhere or tell the LA if they do not want their kids to start school at 5.

 

But like I say,I would like it to be a parents choice to keep them back or move them forward.My eldest son finds his year group boring(he is in year 4) the teachers try and give him work for yr 5 or 6 but he also finds it hard to interact with kids his age,at home he has friends that are 12 or 13.Likewise Sam has much younger friends at home,usually 4 or 5.

 

Under the 1996 Educations Act, it is the PARENT'S responsibility to ensure that their kids are educated according to their ability, aptitude, and any SEN they have. If the age based state school education is failing to meet their needs then it is the PARENT'S duty to intervene. If the state school system cannot accommodate a parent's request then they will have to find an alternative education venue.

 

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It's at the school's discretion basically.

 

I have some experience of the system in Zimbabwe where I grew up and later on in South Africa where I trained to teach (which is the system you may be referring to, Justine?) I remember in my class there were occasionally people who would be "kept down" a year - it was the norm. In South Africa it happened too - a teacher friend of mine was upset because she was about to break the news to a pupil in her class that she had "failed" the year. The child was 7 and in her second year of school. The word "failed" was regularly used to describe pupils who hadn't passed certain levels - pretty devastating to be labelled this way when you're just starting out on your educational path.

 

One hopes that it would be done with more sensitivity nowadays, but it doesn't happen often as teachers are expected to routinely differentiate their lessons to take account of a wide range of levels in one class. You can only ask though, and see what they say. The other option is to go for a school which mixes year groups, although the child would still be expected to start year 7 with the rest of their peers.

 

K x

Edited by Kathryn

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Thank you Jsmum that link is really useful and has given me plenty to think of,at least I know its is possible.

 

Thank you Pookie your brothers experience is similar to my brothers experience,he went on to be very successful and hard working,even though he finished at 20.Anyway from 16 he worked as well,so he did start contributing to rent and brought his own clothes and food,by the time he reached 18.So for him it definatley was not a negative.

 

Thanks Kathryn,yes it is SA system I referred to,I wasnt aware the failed kids as young as 7 though, but I know it also happens in other countries.My neice in America is gifted(like my eldest) she is in the year ahead,in fact she was offered to move two years ahead but her parents did want her to be with teenagers(she was 10 at the time)

I did think when he started year 2 he would be in the mixed year group class,as they do have this in the school he attends,but because he is very bright they put him in the class that is just year 2 which is for kids who are average to above average.

At the moment my focus is on getting the statement,not sure if we will be moving or not yet.If we do it will mean change of school,so I think I will let him go to year three,hopefully with a statement,and see how he copes then make a decision from there:either he can repeat year 3 (if the school agree) or sty where he is if he has caught up or change to a special needs school.

 

 

Thank you all again.

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I worked as an ISA (individual support assistant) with a child who got her statement part way through year 2. At the end of the year, she stayed in year 2 (and so did I) , and then we moved up each year through the school with the new year group. She transfered to secondary with her new year group and hasn't been expected to skip a year. She is now in year 10 (although based on her age should be year 11)

 

I think it depends on your LEA. Our borough don't encourage it, but do allow it. I know of 2 or 3 other individuals who, for various reasons, are in a lower year group than their age.

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I worked as an ISA (individual support assistant) with a child who got her statement part way through year 2. At the end of the year, she stayed in year 2 (and so did I) , and then we moved up each year through the school with the new year group. She transfered to secondary with her new year group and hasn't been expected to skip a year. She is now in year 10 (although based on her age should be year 11)

 

I think it depends on your LEA. Our borough don't encourage it, but do allow it. I know of 2 or 3 other individuals who, for various reasons, are in a lower year group than their age.

Thank you Caci this is exactly what I was looking for a perfect example of what I had in mind.I guess it will be a fight if I do decide on it but we fight for everything so I wil be prepared.

Thank you so much >:D<<'> >:D<<'>

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My son was kept back at the end of his first year so didn’t progress in the September to Year 2 with his peers. He was very aware of this and the friendships he had began to make disappeared as he was left behind. At our own insistence he joined Year2 in January the following year but by now was even further behind educationally and socially.

 

I suppose if your son is changing schools it might be easier but my son is still behind and is now 10 and going to secondary and we're still fighting for a statement. He also changed schools in year 4 so it isn't a case of it being remembered that he was kept down the experience stayed with him and he is a lonely little boy with very low self esteem.

Edited by cathyz

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Justine1 - Where in the country are you ? I am in London Borough Bromley.

I am in Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire,but I plan to move to either Hertfordshire or Aylesbury,Buckinghamshire.

I grew up in South Africa,came here nearly 8 years ago.

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