Teachers struggle to cope with a hyperactive 13-year-old
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SEAN Nethercoat, who is 13 today, was first excluded from primary school when he was 10. Since then he has had only two terms in school. He attended two comprehensives but both said they could not cope with him, writes Judith Judd.
Pat Nethercoat, his mother, from Maldon, Essex, said: 'He is hyperactive, fidgets, calls out, drops pencils and distracts other pupils. It is very difficult for teachers to deal with in a large class. They are very stressed and they don't want extra trouble so they are excluding all sorts of children.'
Sean was excluded from his first comprehensive after just over a term.
At Easter this year, the family received a 'statement' from the local authority, Essex County Council, saying that Sean should receive extra help for learning difficulties. A second school agreed to take him.
However, the authority said it could afford only part of the help which the school said it needed and, after nine weeks, Sean was excluded. After his exclusion from the first comprehensive, he received just an hour and a half home tuition a day but since the second, a month ago, he has had no teaching.
Mrs Nethercoat said Sean's reports from his home tuition lessons were good and she believed he could cope well in a small class and calm environment.
She said: 'We feel we are banging our heads against a brick wall in finding a school for Sean. If schools want to exclude a child they can. He has gone into a downward spiral because he has been out of school so long. It is very distressing.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments