Joanna Fortune: My son is finding it difficult to keep up at school 

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My 11-year-old son is struggling to keep up at school. He is naturally sporty, which gives him great confidence as he is often picked for team games. Lately, however, he has started describing himself as 'stupid' and 'a loser'. I've tried to tell him everyone is different and that it's personality, not school results, that matters in the long run, but he shrugs his shoulders and walks away. Is there anything else I can do?

There are two points in your letter that I want to address. Firstly, is there a reason your son is struggling to keep up with his schoolwork? Speak with his teachers to understand his apparent struggles in class. Discuss what you observe at home and share how your son feels based on what he has told you. Let them know that you want to understand better why he is struggling and, if they share your concern, ask what can be done to provide practical support for your son regarding access to resource hours and an NEPS (National Educational Psychology Service) assessment if warranted. If there is a specific reason why your son finds it difficult to keep up in class, it is best that you know what it is well before his transition to secondary school.