feeling cross

[madusa]

my DS2 was diagnosed with dyspraxia at the age of 2.

He is now 5 and in year 1. He is still on the very first reading level but we are slowly building up his level of reading

He has come home with a list of 5 spellings to learn. He can't even write his own name yet let along the 5 words he has been given!

Even if he looks at the word, his pencil control is awful and he can't write the words clearly.

Is it rude if i write that he needs handwriting practise sheets for homework instead of spellings in the parent comment bit?

[debs40]

Is he being asked to write those words or just spell them out verbally?

If it's a question of writing them out, then , no it's not rude at all. I think you have to be clear with school about this as you can't force your child to go at anything other than his own pace.

My DS is in Yr 2 and I've just had to make it clear to school that completing all his homework in 'joined up' writing is basically impossible for him at the moment.

[mysonben]

No it isn't rude at all.
I know i would. Let the teacher know he isn't at a stage where he can simply write spellings.
I assume his teacher knows about his dyspraxia?

[deepbreath]

Would you be able to test these spellings verbally if your ds can manage that, rather than your ds having to write them down?

They generally just dish out the same homework to everyone. If your ds needs support for his writing, it might be worth meeting with his teacher to see if they have any ideas that might help. I recently bought a Stabilo S'move mechanical pencil for my ds, and it is helping his grip and writing.

[DoNotPressTheRedButton]

We used to get those with ds3, who is now yr 2 and transferred to a SNU at Easter (ASD).

We're not allowed to rovide Stabilo or any other speciaoist pens (ds2 is being tested for Dyspraxia or ADD) either. Barmy.

You ahve to make it clear your concerns with the teacher- but I suspect tehy will know already that he needs an alternative. oculd he erhaps type the answers?

[madusa]

he needs to write them in his spelling test on friday.

The school have known about his dyspaxia since he started there in nursery 2 years ago.

[madusa]

should he have an IEP?

I got told that he is too young and that the school won't even think about one until he is in year 3 (aged 7)

I think that he may be dyslexic aswell but again the school won't think about that until year 3.

Do I really have to wait that long and watch him fall further and further behind his peers?

[anonandlikeit]

No you don't have to wait & neither should the school be wiling to wait.
If your son has a dx condition that means he is going to struggle in specific areas without targeted support he will fall behind his peers.
If they allow your son to fall behind they ar efailing him.
Dyspraxia is a recognised condition & if the school do not make "reasonable adjustments" to allow your son to access the curriculum they are actually breaking the law & in breach of the DDA.
Reasonable adjustments maybe as simple as allowing him to sound out his spellings whil a TA writes them down for him, or specialist writting tools to help improve his grip etc.

I would call in and have a polite word with the SENCO, maybe they need a subtle reminder that because of his dyspraxia he will find it difficult, ask THEM to tell you how they will help him progress.
Don't allow them to fob you off, insist on an IEP to monitor his progress.
Has he ahd an OT assesment at school?

[anonandlikeit]

oops sorry about the typos!

[amberflower]

I have a 5 year old DS also just gone into year 1, he has a DX of mild ASD/aspergers and has had problems with fine motor skills; another child in his class is dyspraxic, and both have had IEPs in place since reception. The same should be the case for your DS!

I suspect the actual truth of the matter is that the school won't have budget for any assistance until year 3 , not that they believe he is too young. He is absolutely NOT too young! Now is the time for groundwork - the progress my DS has made with additional OT input (both externally and within school) has been incredible.

anonandlikeit is right - they need to recognise and support his needs and it sounds to me like they don't even know exactly what dyspraxia means. What input (if any) has he had from SENCO or external OT so far?

Definitely suggest additional handwriting practice sheets and to be honest I would push hard for an IEP. Waiting till year 3 just isn't acceptable.

[DoNotPressTheRedButton]

You need to get ghold of the SEN Code of Conduct- someone on here ahs a link, if not your SEN dept at the LEA will send you one if you request it.

[madusa]

other than SALT bring called in at the schools request, nothing has been done and we haven't seen anyone. Not even the SENCo

He started SALT when he was 2 and had just finished going before he started nursery as they were pleased with the progress made by him.

School are concerned still about his speech (I'm not) but don't seem at all concerned by anything else. His speech therapist told the school that they need to take things slowly with my DS but they don't seem to be listening.

[amberflower]

It sounds to me like you need a good chat with the SENCO then, particularly if they are ignoring SALT advice; he should definitely have some kind of assessment by an occupational therapist as that should really help with the fine motor stuff.

I'm sorry you're having so little support from the school.

[daisy71]

Hi, just replying as a teacher. It is normal practice for children to only be assessed for dyslexia in Year 3. The thinking behind this is that children develop at such different rates that it would be wrong to diagnose and label at such an early age. That's the official line anyhow. I however have often picked up on dyslexia early in Year2- I think as a teacher, you are programmed to see the signs. Our SENCO uses the Lucid Cops system to screen for likelihood of dyslexia from the age of 5. It doesn't provide a dx of dyslexia, but gives a nod in that direction, and allows me, as a teacher, to plan accordingly. I'm surprised that your DS is being asked to write spellings if he has dyspraxia-surely these could be done verbally with a T.A.? I'm quite sure that he isn't the only child in Year 1 unable to write. He's 5 ffs! Our school are still doing a carousel of activities at that age based on learning through play. They certainly aren't given formal homework or spelling tests.
Just my opinion. Not sure if it's helpful or not.

[daisy71]

Oh and that's a crock about the IEP too, unless my school are absolutely leaps and bounds in front of others in terms of our special needs, which somehow I doubt.

[amberflower]

Daisy - that makes sense about not assessing for dyslexia till year 3 but it doesn't seem right that the school say no IEP is needed till then either?

I completely agree re the homework/spelling stuff. Unfortunately most if not all of the state schools round where we are give both weekly homework (nightly in some cases) and formal written spelling assessments to children from reception!

[misscutandstick]

both my sons (aspergers and autism) have IEP's and they are in (MS) NURSERY! So obviously its never too early to have one!

[daisy71]

Well quite amber flower, see my next post saying that it's a crock! Never heard so much rubbish in my life, if a child needs an IEP, they are given one on entry into any school and as other posters have stated, their children have them in reception. Sounds like madusa's school are spinning a yarn to me.

[MoonlightMcKenzie]

My ds isn't even 3yrs old, never mind being in yr 3, and HE has an IEP.