Year 8 Son going backwards in English.

[Heartboy]

Hi everyone

I previously posted this in the wrong section so hope some of you mum's may be able to help

My son is in Yr 8. His initial assessment in English at start of Yr 7 was 5c with a Yr 9 target of 6b. Last year for the first time ever he showed an interest in English, loved his teacher who was enthusiastic and clearly motivated him. He progressed to 5b (ahead of the Yr end target of 5c) so was doing ok. He was mid class.

This year he's had a change of teacher. He's not keen on her, dislikes English now, is struggling with the comprehension work and demotivated. His December assessment went down to 4b. This term's gone down to 4c.

Last term I contacted the Head of Dept as I was understandably concerned (it took several attempts to speak to her in the first place). She was due to call me back once she'd spoken to his teacher, but mentioned that he'd be "on the radar" because of the dip in his levels. I didn't get a call presumably because we attended parents evening and his teacher spoke to us at length. We came away with lots of things we could do to help but next day both my husband and I still hadn't any idea of what the school would be doing to help. Feedback on the content of his homework has been non existent since then, focussing entirely on his poor layout and messy handwriting, so I'm at a loss as to how he (and I) is supposed to know how to improve the content. I'm not a teacher but his ability to organise and plan work seems poor and he doesn't appear to have been given any strategies to help improve this. I've tried my best to help but again this term he's gone backwards so I'm clearly not much use either.

I really don't know where to go from here. What help can or rather should the school be providing to ensure he doesn't get left behind? Help!

[Heartboy]

I should have said that the lack of organisational skills was a common theme at his most recent parents evening. Most of his teachers say he is extremely good in class discussions often playing devil's advocate but what he puts down on paper is limited.

He was tested in Year 7. He isn't dyslexic although is an extremely slow writer and his ability to organise/comprehend was at the very bottom of acceptable and something to keep an eye on. I think it's great that he's been tested but there doesn't seem to have been any follow up (aside from allowing him the use of a laptop which has helped) but it seems as though there is no "joined up" strategy to support this. Perhaps this is common in Senior school because of the different teachers but I have to ask the question why bother testing him in the first place?

Sorry for the extremely long posts.

[TeenAndTween]

Have you considered dyspraxia or something similar? Is there any issue with motor skills in general? Organisation skills can go hand in hand with other issues.

DD1 struggles with organisation generally, and essays in particular, but flew under the radar at secondary due to good verbal skills and home support. Finally assessed y11.

DD is at excellent school, but departments are not 'joined up'. To get help you may need to collate all the issues and send to the Senco / Tutor.

Sorry, not much help. I've ended up doing a lot of support from home (only 12 weeks to go now - help!)

[TeenAndTween]

ps Is he actually going backwards (ie is his work getting worse?), or just the levels? For DD, levelling in English seemed to be not much more accurate than sticking a pin in.

[Heartboy]

Thanks TeenandTween. His motor skills seemed fine. It's a processing 'thing' apparently. I'll contact SENCO and English because that is the one he is struggling with in particular. In Other subjects he's holding his own from last year although lack of organisation is probably not helping.