[His Boy Elroy]

After much investigation, many meetings with his teacher, learning support teacher and Head of Primary, it is being discussed that DS should repeat Year 1 to allow him more time to mature and develop the skills necessary for Year 2 and beyond.

He is at a smallish private school and we are happy with the school and he feels safe and secure there. He is however a sensitive little boy (6yo) and I am wary of him being upset that his peers will be going to Year 2 next year and he most likely will not.

We have tossed around the idea that perhaps we should change schools if he is to repeat so he doesn't feel as though he has been left behind by his peers. We even went so far as to meeting a principal of an alternative school and touring their campus.

I am not overly impressed by this other school and now am second guessing our plans.

After speaking to DS's teacher this afternoon, I am now leaning towards leaving him in his current school, as I am not sure he will cope with the upheaval of changing. His teacher said that if she has Year 1 again next year, she'd really like to have him again (if I was happy with that) because she thinks with a bit more maturity, she could make a world of difference to him. She is a fantastic teacher and we are really happy with her.

We have had eyes, ears and auditory processing testing done, and it has been narrowed down to purely a maturity and confidence issue.

I know there are a whole heap of factors to take into consideration, but if anyone has been in a similar situation, what did you do? Or if there are any teachers out there, what would you do? Change schools or stay in the same one to repeat??

This post has been edited by His Boy Elroy: 10/08/2012, 04:41 PM

[mrsmuffintop]

A friend's little girl repeated prep this year, also due purely to maturity issues. She had the same teacher, and the teacher was great at making a fuss of her as "special helper" etc. It has gone really well and they are glad they did, she is now blossoming. I drive her to school twice a week and can really notice the difference in her confidence.

If you are happy with the school and the teacher I would stick with it. He will adjust pretty quickly to the new class at such a young age. Don't send him to a school you don't like just for the sake of one year when he has six years of primary schooling left to get through.

[Libertine]

I don't have any experience of this situation but I would say leave him at the school. It sounds like you are happy with the school and happy with the teacher. They also know your child and can help him in the best way.

IMO changing schools would be more traumatic for him, especially if you are not completely sold on the other school.

HTH.

[His Boy Elroy]

Thanks guys.

[catty81]

My son repeated year one and it was the best thing for him. He started school at four. I knew he wasn't ready but as a single mum at the time I just couldn't afford full time daycare anymore.

The teachers explained that it is always better to repeat a year very early rather than later when deeper friendships have been established. He is now in year 5 and I'm not sure he even really remembers repeating. He never mentions it.

My son had the same teacher for his repeat year and as it was a composite grade he was still with most of his friends. It made a huge difference to his confidence as he had already done much of the work the year before. He is now an excellent student and very happy and settled with life in general.

I do agree with PP that you should leave your son in the same school to lessen any trauma he may feel.

Good luck!

[mez70]

Yep another person here who had a child repeat grade 1.. It was the SINGLE best thing we have done for her. I wont lie and say that the first term I thought I had done the wrong thing as she struggled with feeling left behind and making new connections, but perservering with it made such a difference to her confidence and just having a year where her work was not "hard" all year gave her confidence in the following years etc... If you decide to hold him back i would ask the school to start helping him make connections etc in the lower year level now even if it is just running errands, the classes doing joint activities etc and if the school does a "stepping up day" which our school does at the end of each year where they visit the year level for the following year meet teachers etc make sure that he gets to stay in the year 1 group so he meets those coming up.. he could be a helper etc on the day.. Good luck..