6 Yr old and school refusal...

Thanks again shamat, and chants. Keeping in mind that we're in Aus, so he's been at school for almost 9 months now, he does know lots of children. We spend time outside of school with four other families from his class...three of those children he gets on really well with when we're away from school, but I don't think he considers them good mates [u'>at[/u'> school. The other little girl really annoys my son, so I'm trying to catch up with her lovely Mum while the kids are at school. :D Almost every afternoon as we head for the car, lots of children who are not in his class call out to him and often run over for a chat. He's always happy to see them (sometimes he's a little embarrassed to be with Mum...lol) and chats away about important 6yr old business. I will talk to his wonderful teacher when she gets back on Tuesday. Even my Mum commented on my gorgeous boy's relatively 'bad' behaviour today so I'll be interested to see what his teacher thinks might be going on. Maybe it was just bad timing with the supply teacher...maybe her appearance in the equation brought a few things to a head for him. I'll see how he goes this week. Thanks again for your advice girls. :)

Thanks so much AdviceSeeker and shamat! :) shamat...normally I would never let him have a day off, but he has been really distressed and this is a long weekend anyway. I won't be letting on at all that his 'day off' is because he's been upset. We'll just carry on, business as usual. I'm hoping that after the long weekend and usual teacher returning, he almost won't be aware he's missed a day at school. I've been trying to talk to him about it. Even did the old 'kick a ball around the garden' so he'd relax and open up. :) About the same time that all of this started, he began talking a lot about his old buddies in his Dubai class. That's 16 months now since that school year finished with them...a long time in his little life, but he sometimes talks about them like he genuinely really misses them. I asked who his 'best mate' is here and he said "no-one". I asked who he plays with and he said, "I kinda play with everyone and no-one" and he seemed sad. :( One thing I've really noticed is that in Dubai he was almost king of the kids. ;) He's an Aussie so a lot more outgoing/forward than many of the other children in his very multicultural class over there. He's physically a big kid so he also towered over almost all of them. It seemed in Dubai that everyone wanted to be his mate. :D Here, he's like almost every other kid; he doesn't stand out any more because they are all big, friendly, social, outgoing Aussie kids. I'm wondering if he wonders why other kids don't flock to him like they did in Dubai. One thing I know he does not enjoy at school is sport. He's bright and social, but a he's no gifted athlete. ;) Sports Day was awful for him - dead last in the race they were all made to run; dropped every ball thrown to him; dawdled around the courses because he's just not competitive... There are two very athletic boys in his class so Aussie culture almost dictates that they are the popular ones. There was one kid from another class that he was having a lot of trouble with in the playground. Real short-man-syndrome little bully. The teachers were onto it though and my son tells me that kid is not hassling him any more. OK...rambling essay over. ;) If it is about more just than the useless relief teacher, I know his regular teacher will help us sort it all out. Any further advice warmly welcomed though. :) xxx