[anasam]

DS is aged 7, he is in year 2 this year (NSW) at a Catholic School. For the past week he has been off school with headaches and when the GP asked if he was being bullied at school he said one particular boy was punching him in class and the teacher never sees it.
He is in a class of 31 kids so I am not surprised that the teacher has missed this going on. He is the youngest in his class but is quite shy and wouldn't report something like that.
So I was thinking of asking that he not be placed in the same class as this boy next year but i don't know if this is the done thing.
Has anyone done this before? What was the result?

Also does anyone know of books or websites that I can read to help my son develop his confidence? I am really regretting sending him to school early now (April birthday) as although he is the smartest of my kids and has no trouble keeping up, he lacks self confidence. He doesn't seem to like large groups and will refuse to attend birthday parties because there are too many kids, yet plays well one on one.

[~*MESS*~]

I would ask and address your concerns with the school. You definitely don't want the bullying to affect his school work.

A lot of people enrol their kids in self defence/martial arts training to help boost self confidence.

Occupational Therapists work with children about developing resilience. Some of these are group therapies, which would help your son in group situations. Some have programs that run over school holidays too.

This post has been edited by ~*MESS*~: 27/11/2012, 10:49 AM

[Heather11]

You can ask. The worst they can say is no.

Our school doesn't like you requesting certain teachers by I know a fellow parent requested her DD not be placed in a class with another girl.

I would speak to the teacher anyway about the bullying so that the they are aware of it and it can be kept an eye on.

He doesn't seem to like large groups and will refuse to attend birthday parties because there are too many kids, yet plays well one on one.

This could simply be his personality and age may not improve it. I have a DH who much prefers smaller or one on one situations. He too doesn't do well in large groups and says he never has.

[boatiebabe]

I think you could request this but first I would deal with the bullying allegations etc with the teacher and then request as a part of the solution, he is not in the same class next year.

[imamumto3]

i asked for ds not to be in the same class as a girl next year. The principal had no issues with it and says that he often gets these sort of requests when children are having issues with certain other children.

[sophiasmum]

Definitely in this situation I would speak to the principal & request they be in different classes next year & state the reason.

[lifehacker]

You can ask, I have in the past but it got me nowhere. Our school sends out sheets for parents to write any friends they want their children to be with the next year and any concerns they have but honestly they aren't worth the paper they are printed on because what parents write on them never seem to be taken into account. I just put whatever on them now. Our school really doesn't seem to like specific requests.
One year I had a very legitimate concern and it wasn't taken seriously at all.
I hope you have better luck.

[casime]

You need to address the bullying with the teacher in the first place. Just asking for them to be split up may not help the problem, and the bullying may then occur in the playground with less supervision and may escalate. Talk to the teacher.