Nursery Schools Struggle with Problem Children

[Ravenfire]

I just read this in the Times Online and have to say I am shocked that so many children aged 5 and under are suspended!

There were more than 4,000 suspensions of children aged 5 and under in England last year, prompting calls for teachers to have greater powers of restraint over violent and disruptive pupils.

Of the 400 suspensions of children aged 2 and 3 from nursery last year, 310 involved accusations of physical assault or threatening behaviour against a child or an adult, government figures show. They highlight the difficulties that some schools have in controlling troubled children who, in their distress or anger, may throw chairs or bite, hit and shout abuse at teachers and classmates.

See this link for the rest of the article:-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5102689.ece

[Emsickle]

My mum was telling me about this the other day and I couldn't believe it! To me it proves that these HV's telling us that we shouldn't chastise our children, really isn't helping install respect into them is it, and I for one, am glad that I've never listened to them and have parented my children the way I have. So far, all I've received is good comments about my children, including people coming up to me in a restaurant on two occasions to comment on their fantastic behaviour (after them dreading being sat near us because of the sheer numbers in my family lol).

[Fuzzy]

I owned a Nursery School for 17 years and never suspended anyone - thanks for the article. :kisshands:

[moomum]

Hmm, I think it depends on the area. I am friends with a teaching assistant who works at the nursery (state) that T used to go to. She wanted to work there because of the high numbers of 'difficult' children (sure she used a better word) because it is an inner city school and the majority of the children who come into the nursery at 3 have no English. She said she had never before had to restrain a child, even though she has worked as a TA for 10 years.

I sat in T's reception class last year to support him and out of 20 or so kids in his class 5 had behavioural problems, at least 12 had language problems although they were picking English up fast and there were at least 3 that were being watched by the Ed Psyc.

In his class (year 1) at the moment it is literally 50% SEN, with one child having a full time support worker. The SEN's are related to behavioural and learning problems rather than physical difficulties.

I don't want to move him because his school is a reflection of our area, very multicultural and he is getting a chance to learn about different cultures. A lot of parents in my area bail out and take their kids to school away from here though, which is why T is the only white kid in his year.

Thinking about this it looks as though I am blaming immigrants, I'm not racist, it is just how it is around here.

[scaramatic]

i support a 5yr old who is on his 2nd exclusion of this term!!! he is due back on wed and was excluded for biting a child on the head! he bites me, throws chairs around the classroom,swears... and he was excluded for 3days the first time and by 11am on his return he had bitten the same child again, i wonder what he will do when he comes back seeing as he now knows what he has to do to go home!

[moomum]

i support a 5yr old who is on his 2nd exclusion of this term!!! he is due back on wed and was excluded for biting a child on the head! he bites me, throws chairs around the classroom,swears... and he was excluded for 3days the first time and by 11am on his return he had bitten the same child again, i wonder what he will do when he comes back seeing as he now knows what he has to do to go home!

Do you support T? :laugh:

I have argued about this at school, he is a clever boy and I am really worried that he will link up bad behavior with being able to go home. If he is excluded he has his dinner in his room and he stays in there until 3 with no computer priveledges, when school would end. Because he only does til 12 anyway, I don't give him any attention until 3pm as I am wary of making home more attractive to him than school at that time and his behavior getting worse so he gets sent home. On a normal day though he has the run of the house and he can play with his computer, and after 3 I play with him.

However, he is classed as a health and safety risk, and if he hurts someone he cannot stay in school, and I understand that.

It upsets me when people see his behavior and tell me I am a bad parent, I do the very best I can. The critisism is the reason we no longer go to parks or soft play. I just can't take other mums shouting abuse into my face if he kicks off.

[scaramatic]

Do you support T? :laugh:

I have argued about this at school, he is a clever boy and I am really worried that he will link up bad behavior with being able to go home. If he is excluded he has his dinner in his room and he stays in there until 3 with no computer priveledges, when school would end. Because he only does til 12 anyway, I don't give him any attention until 3pm as I am wary of making home more attractive to him than school at that time and his behavior getting worse so he gets sent home. On a normal day though he has the run of the house and he can play with his computer, and after 3 I play with him.

However, he is classed as a health and safety risk, and if he hurts someone he cannot stay in school, and I understand that.

It upsets me when people see his behavior and tell me I am a bad parent, I do the very best I can. The critisism is the reason we no longer go to parks or soft play. I just can't take other mums shouting abuse into my face if he kicks off.


Really? this boys mum is a violent alchoholic and to be honest we are failing him. My view is he should be in a school (behaviour school) that can deal with him with properly trained staff so that he is able to stay in school. Being excluded means nothing to him as he will be given the free rein and mum may even be proud of her son for being excluded. he does it for attention, he said he likes it when ppl laugh at him. poor sod! he is getting mixed messages. from home and school

i cant believe you get abused shouted at you! at least you care about T and are trying to help him, this boy hasnt got a clue whats right or wrong.
:kisshands: do you know what, since his exclusion we have had 3 other incidents of biting at school so they obviously follow what they see

[moomum]

do you know what, since his exclusion we have had 3 other incidents of biting at school so they obviously follow what they see

My TA friend says they all learn from each other and new things like spitting get passed around the school. T learnt to spit from the autistic boy in his class, who the kids identify as being 'the boy that spits a lot'

I feel for the boy you support, and you!

[Spacekids]

My mum was telling me about this the other day and I couldn't believe it! To me it proves that these HV's telling us that we shouldn't chastise our children, really isn't helping install respect into them is it, and I for one, am glad that I've never listened to them and have parented my children the way I have. So far, all I've received is good comments about my children, including people coming up to me in a restaurant on two occasions to comment on their fantastic behaviour (after them dreading being sat near us because of the sheer numbers in my family lol).

Did you HV tell you not to chastise your children? How totally stupid.

[scaramatic]

My TA friend says they all learn from each other and new things like spitting get passed around the school. T learnt to spit from the autistic boy in his class, who the kids identify as being 'the boy that spits a lot'

I feel for the boy you support, and you!

none of the other kids got excluded

[smirnoff]

Things like this make me so angry. I have spent loads of time working with kids with behavioural issues. I have several kids in my scout troop whose parents called me and said "oh have you got space in your scout troop? I was wondering if you might take someone with xyz condition"
I think the really sad thing here is that there are 2 very different "types" of children with behavioural issues. There are ones who have issues that are nature if you like, those who HAVE what I would call "proper" issues, and then there are those who fall into the nurture issues. Those poor kids whose "bad behaviour" is learnt, either through watching others, or because they get more attention for their negative behaviour (well done for hitting, getting excluded etc) or those whose parents really really dont seem to care at all about what they get up to so again it comes down to negative behaviour getting them attention.

I have worked in schools, nursery, volunteer settings etc and there are ways of promoting good behaviour but those involved have to actually care, and want it to work. Oh and they have to be very veyr consistant..


*suzi steps off her soapbox*