SEN in school

[Mumt01]

Hi there. My ds turned 5 in July and started primary school in September. We delayed his start date due to him being behind on all areas of learning and development. I'm just so worried about him and scared for his future. At times he still acts like a toddler and his school have said he will put things in his mouth that he shouldn't like a toddler would, he's also very forgetful and clumsy and struggles to interact with other children. We took him to a piedatrician when his nursery alerted us to the concerns and after running some tests including a genetic test they found that he has part of chromosome 2 missing but we don't have the appointment with the geneticist till April and he's also been diagnosed with gdd. I'm so scared he will just always be like a toddler. The school have said he is working within 22 - 36 months which is very behind. Can anyone give me some hope? Can anyone relate to this?

Many Thanks
Louise

[BackforGood]

Global Developmental delay is very much an umbrella term. Children will often start with that as a working diagnosis and then further investigations might uncover something more specific.
So it is difficult for anyone, at this stage to say if he will 'catch up' or 'close the gap' or 'remain delayed by a similar amount / do everything - just a bit later', or if the gap will widen, or if he will go on to have an uneven profile (some areas delayed with strengths in other areas).

what you need to focus on at the moment is what can be done to help him 'reach the next step' from where he is now.
I'd break it down into different aspects of his development..... speech, physical, social, fine motor, etc.
So, with the putting things in his mouth - is this habit ? Is this sensory seeking (more likely)? Have the school (or Nursery) done a sensory assessment ?
Physical- what can / can't he do ? Can the school get advice from a Physical Development specialist ? Some authorities have this as a service. Does he need resources to help him sit comfortably ? (writing slope, elastic threads on chair legs, footstool, sit on a beanbag, fiddle toy) or a programme to help strengthen musclses or work on co-ordination? (fine motor, or gross motor, or hand eye co-ordination, or spatial awareness)
Understanding - what is this like ? Has he been assessed by a SaLT? Are there recommendations in place
Speech - expressive language - what is that like? What can / can't he do? Does he have a SaLT programme to follow ? Articualtion ? (ditto)
Social skills ?
Independence skills ?

What plans do the school have in place?
What other professionals are offering assessments, support, advice ?