Worried about ds social interaction

[shakeyjake]

hi hope I can get some opinions about my son and any advice would be welcome.
Ds is 6 and in year 1 at school. He really struggling with social interaction with children his own age and I am worried that he is lonely as doesn't seem to be making friends.
He has 2 older sisters who really excelled at school and are very outgoing and very articulate and were even when starting reception.

He was always a bit slower on his development and things like potty training he didn't do till he was nearly 4 and even now we have to constantly remind him to go if we get little accidents. His speech was also slot slower than normal and had to repeat his 2 year check as refused to say the few words he did know first time. I had mentioned these worries to the hv but was constantly told that he would catch up and that he was just being a boy!

He also has very strong reactions to loud noises such as hand dryers and vacuum and will scream at the sight of s balloon in case it pops.

In reception the teacher was always having words with us on how he wasn't listening and that he at times didn't seem to understand what he was being told and that we should have his hearing tested (which showed his hearing is fine) also at this time when we were dropping off and picking up noticed that he didn't play with any of the other boys and girls and that his way of trying to play with them was to run up to them and make some random noise and run off again, also again the teacher said yhat he does seem happy just to play by himself but was trying to encourage him to get more involved. I mentioned again whether he may have some additional needs and maybe needs assessment by the senco assistant but was told he was still young and maybe just a late developer and maybe see how he does in year 1.

This year it does seem he has improved in school but again at the beginning of the year the teacher advised to get hearing checked (which again came back normal). After that it did seem he was engaging more with the work that was set and this teacher is very good at keeping him engaged. Again though I have worried about the social side of his development as he still doesn't seem to play with the other children and when we talk to him he doesn't seem bothered that he plays on his own or just runs along side the rest of the boys. I mentioned this to the teacher who advised that when she is on duty he is always playing with others as she organises the play.

Out of school we have just started to take him to beavers and although he interacts well with the adult leader doesn't seem bothered about playing or talking to the other beavers.

Sorry that was long and doesn't even cover sometimes the lack of response we get when talking to him at home, we are just worried about him struggling and it doesn't seem like the teacher sees what we are worried about.

We have taken him to the GP who advised is up to the school to refer him if there was any worries about SEN. Would it be reasonable to ask to speak with the SENCO representative at the school and bypassing the actual class teacher or do you think I am worried for no reason?

[Sirzy]

In a lot of ways you could be describing 5 year old ds there.

Certainly talk to the senco, at the moment ds class teacher and the senco are working together to ensure ds is being supported while we are waiting for further progress with getting professionals in to look at any issue more closely.

Ds has a ta who works with him for 20 mins a day helping encourage his social interaction with peers at the moment doing small group work with them