Education systems usually have a one-size-fits-all approach, and it is challenging to go against the social norms of a child’s peer group to repeat a grade.
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, the school year runs from February until November; however, children typically start school on their 5th birthday, and it is unusual for a child to repeat a grade.
Harry’s first year at school
Harry had a terrible start to school.
We were out of the country for his 5th birthday, so he started school two months later. When we got back, he happily trotted off in his new uniform, keen to explore the monkey bars and playground – less eager to sit all day in a classroom.
Harry had only been at school for a week when our region was hit by a large (magnitude 7.1) quake. Thankfully, no one died; most people were safely home in bed.
A teacher in her sixties took Harry’s class. In chats with Harry after school, I learned they spent a good deal of time watching Teletubbies, which made him very happy. I was less impressed, but I was pleased he enjoyed this relaxed introduction to school, so I said nothing.
When the new academic year rolled around in February, Harry was put into a blended Year 1- 2 class. I had my misgivings. The teacher for the twenty-five pupils was fresh out of college.
Harry only lasted a few weeks. He quickly became overwhelmed, coming home distressed. I went to see the Principal and requested she drop him back into a Year 1 class.
Moving Harry back a year
An experienced teacher who, to this day, is one of the best teachers Harry ever had, took the Year 1 class. She was perfect for him, and he was able to start learning.
Then, two weeks later, a magnitude 6.3 quake struck our city.
This time, it occurred during a Tuesday lunchtime. There was a massive loss of life in the city centre and a high injury toll, including some of our extended family. We also lost our home.
Due to the fact the city has no power or water, we moved an hour and a half away and enrolled our children in a school there. Harry had to survive a term in this new environment.
When we returned to the city, we decided it was essential to put the children back into their original school, and Harry’s lovely teacher welcomed him with open arms.
When Should You Request to Repeat a Grade?
I’m so pleased Harry went into a Year 1 class. There were no disadvantages because the way his birthday fell meant he was at a similar age to a few of his classmates.
If you suspect your child is not ready for their school year, investigate the teachers in the year below and evaluate if one of them would be a better option.
The early years are so important. If I hadn’t been confident in the teaching options for Year 1, I would have considered moving Harry to a new school.
Advantages of repeating a year |
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| If illness or trauma disrupted a year, your child might benefit from repeating that grade. | |
| Children with dyslexia are often emotionally less mature than their peers. Being in a younger year may be a better fit for an emotionally immature child. | |
| If your child is sporty, being in the younger year will give them an advantage at all school sporting events. | |
| Adding in extra support via tutoring or having a class teacher who takes a different approach can help a child acquire the skills they missed the first time around. | |
| Make sure your child likes the teacher they will have if you are holding them back. |
Disadvantages of repeating a year |
| It is vital to keep your child engaged in school. If the child’s truancy caused the disruption, repeating the year will only be beneficial if the underlying issues are addressed. |
| If your child is already the oldest in their year, holding them back may mean they are almost two years out of sync with their peers. |
| Physically large children may stand out more if they are held back a year. |
| Repeating a year without changing the educational approach will likely be useless. I would not have held Harry back to watch more Teletubbies. |
| If Harry had opposed going back or disliked the teacher, he wouldn’t have repeated the year. Considering the effect of repeating a year on the child’s self-esteem is crucial. Doing it earlier in their school career may create the least disruption. |
How to go about getting your child to repeat a grade
- During the year, keep in contact with your child’s class teacher to find out how your child is tracking. Raise issues with the teacher as they come up. This article may help in discussing your child’s progress with the teacher.
- If your child is falling behind, offer support at home in the form of homework help or, if possible, extra tuition.
- Find out who will teach your child the following year. Can they meet your child’s educational needs? Your child may still end up with that teacher in the future, so be careful not to burn any bridges with staff.
- Discuss your concerns with the Principal. Be bold. Say what you want to happen. You are your child’s advocate.
- Monitor your child’s progress in the new class. If your child still struggles, discuss what extra support is needed.
- Be prepared to help your child connect with new classmates by hosting playdates. Here are some ideas.
- If you aren’t happy with the support your child is getting, look at the other schools, extra tutoring or other educational options in your area.
Repeating a grade doesn’t work for every child. What was your experience of letting your child repeat a year at school?
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I taught my son to read and spell in 30 minutes a day. Here are my affiliate links to the resources I used, All About Spelling and All About Reading.
If your child also struggles to learn the multiplication tables, check out this blog post on how using stories will help them remember the facts.
