school recommendations, Melbourne shy child

[pbfitz]

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice, first forum post.

We have a 5 year old boy who has just started prep in a bayside private school in Melbourne. They seem very reluctant to help with the development of social skills and fitting into a group of kids who mainly came through the schools ELC (he did not). He is quite shy which is making it very hard for him and he feels quite lonely already.

We are doing various things with the school but are resigned to the fact that we nay have to move him and would appreciate any thought on other schools in the inner south east or bayside regions that you have had experience with that are sensitive to these issues.

Thanks in advance,

Peter and Liz

[LimeSlice]

My brother went to Haileybury and loved it. Mum loved it too. the teachers were great, great facilities and activities for them to join in with.
Obviously this was a little while ago now though! lol
I went to Mentone Girls Grammar and know that many of the boys that attended StBede's and Mentone Grammar had similar problems in primary school, a number of them used the word cold.
Aside from that, which I am sure wasn't very helpful lol, I wish you luck and hopefully someone with recent experience can help you out

Welcome to BB too!!

[BellyBelly]

Have you taken him to a child psych? My daughter was very shy from a young age and despite every parent telling me their child went through it and grew out of it, she had selective mutism which has required alot of psychology sessions to deal with it.Luckily we got onto it early when she was 3, we didnt want her starting school and feeling anxious, so maybe you could get an assessment from one to see if there is anything you can do to help, if you havent already?

[pbfitz]

Yes we are getting some help for him and the psychologist has been involved in discussions with the school. It is helping a bit with him in general but not with the school stuff unfortunately

P

[Junglemum]

Have you looked at Minimbah? They have a wonderful reputation. They are very much of the philosophy that education is more than just maths and science IYKWIM. The kind of school that would think socialisation was important.
Also slightly more alternative, not sure if it is up your alley or not but Penbank is supposed to have a wonderful nurturing environment.