Won't focus in class

[Springisalmosthere]

My DS is nine and has just started at a new school after we moved home.All through school teachers have said he doesn't concentrate but he does get good marks in tests.At the end of year two he got 3's in sats and was in the top set at school.When he wants to he can work at incredible speed especially in maths.Last July at the end of year 4 year his sats that year were 5c's and he worked quite well with the odd"he doesn't alway conentrate" comment from his teachers.His new prep school although not very selective does have an assessment he did very well and in a way I hope he would hit the ground running when he started.Unfortunately it has been the same he is not focused, not putting enough effort in as well as not changing quick enough for PE after only one half term.I spoke to him yet again,he seems to say the work is easy.I told him there will be no trips,clubs etc unless I see a major change but I'm not sure it will work.
He is a great reader,his general knowledge is better than mine at times and has a real interest in what's happening in the world.
Just to add he doesn't have computer games and only watches a little TV at the weekend.He is a very sweet little boy and is very agreeable when I speak to him but nothing changes.I am very upset at this stage and just wonder if I am missing something.I am a the stage were I dread seeing his teacher when I pick him up.He will be 10 in August.Any advise from mums who has experienced this with a DS or DD would be really appreciated.

[user789653241]

My ds is similar, and I always suspected he may have ASD or ADHD.
He hasn't been diagnosed yet, but I am keeping an eye, so his or his class mates doesn't have negative impact from it.

Doesn't get changed quick enough made me laugh, my ds is exactly the same.

[Springisalmosthere]

How old is your DS?

[user789653241]

Sorry, he is 8, in YR3.

[DonkeyOaty]

First things first. I would whip him to optician for an eye test and ask GP to arrange a hearing test.

[Springisalmosthere]

Are you often spoken to by his teachers and they ever suggested ASD or ADHD ? I remember mentioning it in year 1 and the teacher said don't be silly my nephew has ASDH and he is nothing like your son.I feel there must be something or else why would he do this again at a new school.

[Springisalmosthere]

I've just had his eyes tested in Dec and he also had a hearing test done last year again.His hearing is perfect when he wants it to be.

[user789653241]

My ds's nursery teacher suspected it because he was all about numbers and letters, and his social awkwardness. He was reading books and doing multiplication/division, etc. Not since he started school, apart from being a space cadet sometimes, he is generally well behaved and doing great academically. But I still have doubt since I spend most of the time with him.

[user789653241]

There's a thread on G&T board about boys and ASD traits.
I thought he doesn't have ADHD since my ds can focus really well if he is interested, but I learned there's something called super focus(?) as a symptom of ADHD.
Anyways, I just wanted to say, he may not be able to control himself, if he has some traits of these, which is a spectrum, so some have it quite severe, some very mildly. I just started to come to terms with what he is, rather than trying to change him, as long as he is not distracting others and causing problem.

[Springisalmosthere]

My DS is well behaved too but is such a daydreamer in class.I worry as he gets closer to senior school and still hasn't changed.

[user789653241]

My ds is a day dreamer too. And my sister was a even worse day dreamer, who was very gifted.

[Springisalmosthere]

I guess maybe I need to come to terms with the fact I can't change him.How did your sister do once she got to senior school?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Does he have much down time - so he knows he can chill out and knows when to work?

[Springisalmosthere]

He is at a prep school so long days and school on Saturday morning.But they do get extra long breaks during the day.

[user789653241]

She actually did better, because work got more interesting, and even better at uni, since she can concentrate on what she was interested.

[runningouttaideas]

So he knows what he is doing then? I would say he is bored OR his daydreaming is his way of listening. Is he working on the levels he got in his last SATS or do they have him repeating everything he already seems to grasp?

[BertieBotts]

Hyperfocus is the term, not super focus.

There are different types of ADHD. It's misleading to say that because X child isn't exactly like Y child he can't possibly have the same thing Y child has.

I have ADHD and the only signs I showed at school were daydreaming, and yes slow changing for PE, slow eating, etc. I did OK at school until post 16 when everything fell apart but I didn't get diagnosed until recently and I am 27 now.

If he's having issues which are affecting his work then there's no harm in having him assessed. They might come back and say he's normal just dreamy. Or they might say there is a potential problem but it might be worth waiting and seeing rather than rushing into doing something about it if he's doing generally okay. Or it might provide a helpful pointer for the kinds of assistance or support he could use in class.

[Springisalmosthere]

The old school finished at 6 year and most children did the 11+ so maths and English were the main subjects,His new school goes up to year 8 and all the children do the common entrance it's not a system I am as familiar with.He says he loves his new teachers he has a different one for each subject.They have two sets and he is in the top one.Over the halfterm. I gave him the practice paper for the sats level 6,in maths he got one sum wrong and the English grammar was all correct.So I know he is capable but yet I hear at school daydreaming etc.II am consdering having him tested in case I am missing something but I know it would really upset him,he would know well what was going on.He says he knows all the work although he is new to Latin and that teacher said his effort and result was very good.

[Springisalmosthere]

Bertie,if you don't mind me asking how did affect you in school and how has your assessment help you?

[user789653241]

Yes, hyperfocus! Thank you Bertie. And slow eating is his problem as well.... I am ready to get diagnosis for him if he start to have problem at school, which he doesn't at the moment. And I agree, someone with experience of severe/moderate ASD/ADHD might think he doesn't have it, since it's not obvious enough.

[user789653241]

And for OP, yes, if you are worried, there's no harm in ruling out something by seeking advice of professional. I think I'm more relaxed about it because I grew up with my sister, who was never diagnosed with anything, but had problem even though she was extraordinarily clever.

[Lurkedforever1]

Given it doesn't happen in Latin which is new to him perhaps he's just bored? If the work in other subjects is too easy then that might explain it.

[Springisalmosthere]

Thank you all for the advise,it's quite difficult to say that to a school.He will be going for pretesting at the senior schools next year and if he is seen as not focused he won't get into his school of choice.

[unadulterateddad]

It sounds to me like he is just bored - very much like me and my DS (who is also 9)

How stretched is he really being by the work they are doing in class - have the teachers actually been making an effort to challenge him? My DS changed schools from a prep where he wasn't being challenged enough (and had been labeled as lacking focus and concentration) and is now flying in his new school where his ability is recognised and challenged

[Springisalmosthere]

Did the school recognize this on their own if so how long did it take?

[unadulterateddad]

The school picked it up in a couple of weeks and immediately started a programme of stretch work - all of this was done without the need to discuss with us and was only raised at parents evening at the end of the first term.
The difference it has made has been unbelievable.