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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Original poster

How can I teach my SN child to read and write?

40 replies

magso · 03/05/2007 12:43

My son is 7 and has LD, his understanding is about the level of a 4- 5 year old, has autistic traits, language delay, very short attention span. He is in ms on action + awaiting a draft statement, but currently getting very little support, and hasnt made much progress since starting school. He cannot attend special school ( in our area presently) without a full statement and he is unlikely to get this. He struggles to draw shapes and this is not just his poor fine motor skills! He struggles to hear and recognise letter sounds at the beginning of words, but can recognise the vowel sound in the middle. I am sure school have just decided he cannot be taught. He can learn but needs lots of practice, and then has to relearn things if they are not practiced every day.
I need to be his teacher but feel so ameteur! He recognises about half lower case letters currently, but can't write his 4 letter name (he was able to write it rather big and wobbly before starting school but now has to use joined up writting and that is too complex for him). He comes on so much in the holidays, then looses it each term!
I am newish to the internet and know there are lots of resourses to help SN kids develop, ( like the something special games on cbeebies which he has outgrown now) but struggle to find things and cant get things to work ( hopeless computor skill!)What resourses do others use or find useful? He is a practical/ visual learner and can only stick at something for 5 minutes. Apologies for long post!

OP posts:
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alllli · 30/11/2022 11:34

I understand you very well, when my daughter was 5, she did not want to read or write at all. We bought a lot of copybooks, ABCs, etc. You can try to turn on YouTube videos or play with your child at school. Personally, I try the game for handwriting activities for kindergarten , my daughter liked it. wunderkiddy.com/category/cut-out-templates Printable Cut out Crafts and Activity Templates for Kids. You can try, it might work. there are a lot of coloring books, mathematical problems and recipes

MrsMarvel · 15/07/2007 23:48

Sorry, not the right place for this - have created new thread.

MrsMarvel · 15/07/2007 23:45

I'm thinking of keeping my DD back a year - she's in year 2 now.

Has anyone done this and was it a success?

I've only got next week to make decision.

Original poster
magso · 15/07/2007 21:08

Thanks Moondog. Will ask Salt for list. OT kindly gave pile of finemotor worksheets to keep us going over the summer before we left!

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moondog · 15/07/2007 16:30

Magso,I would ask your school salt for a list of useful resources/books/websites that you can acces yourself.

This is what I do with parents who are highly motivated and express a willingness to do things at home themselves.

Therei s masses of useful stuff out there.

Original poster
magso · 13/07/2007 18:56

Thanks Whizzz, hadnt heard of popat but have emailed for details incase there is a home program. After getting Ds sats results am more worried than ever (his language p levels are as low or lower than when he started school 3 years ago).
Moondog thankyou for your reply, I agree! I think the SALT input was far more useful when I was there (pre starting school)to learn what to do/ how to say things on a day to day basis. Now he is seen twice a term with no ta support and it doesnt reach the classroom or home enviroment (We do get a list of objectives such as working on pronowns but I like practical ideas on how to make this fun like the clapping to rhymes to get speech rhythms when he was younger). Ds is uncomfortable being taken off to a little room and is 'tricky'! Perhaps I should try private SALT again so I can be there! Trouble is the cost!He also needs OT but is too old for nhs ot here (stops at 7).
Is it worth getting the statement more specific if resources limit what is available anyway?

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moondog · 12/07/2007 20:22

Although quality is of equal importance yet harder to measure. For example as a salt,I don't follow the 'once weekly for half an hour in a separate room' model. I rarely see kids outside the class? What's the point? My role is to work collaboratively with the school staff which obviously wont happen if i disappear with children.

A lot of parents don't understand this though which is sad as i can do much more valuable work running say,a communication group within the classroom with the school staff and writitng notes and goals with them afterwards.

Whizzz · 12/07/2007 20:19

Have you seen Popat - I know it is used in some SEN schools. Its actually used in DSs mainstream school as the norm to teach reading to all

moondog · 12/07/2007 20:18

Quantifying is exactly what you should be insisting on.
I have contributed to statements for years and everyone in 'the system' knows that they generally mean bugger all.It has always been a case of making do with what is there.

Original poster
magso · 12/07/2007 20:16

Thanks Moondog sounds interesting and hopeful! Will try and get it from the library!
Thanks Attila, you are right it is 'from existing school resourses' that is why it is limited to 8 hours. It is the maximum the school can afford. It seems odd that a child has enough needs to be possibly turned away from a special school but only warrants minimal support in Ms (and a 3 year struggle to get that much!) What exactly is the legal problem with 'existing resourses'. Should every part of the statement be quantified? ( there are 5 areas of need outlined reading and writting is only part of one of them.) Personally I would like him to get daily help with both (even if it is only 10 minutes each a day)

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moondog · 12/07/2007 18:47

Review here

It is nothing wacko-very much a modern classic and I stress again,very readable.

moondog · 12/07/2007 18:45

Magso, another excellent and very readable book is 'Why our children can't read and what we can do about it.'

AttilaTheMeerkat · 12/07/2007 14:38

Magso,

If any part of the statement says - "This provision to be made by school from existing resourses' - that is wrong as well. LEA's are not allowed by law to be so woolly. Provision must be quantified.

IPSEA's web address is www.ipsea.org.uk; I think they also have an e-mail facility. I've also had to call them in the past; I would suggest you call them late morning (I've got through only at that time).

If you do decide to appeal I would say that SENDIST (appeals panel) do not sit during August.

Original poster
magso · 12/07/2007 13:05

Thanks Mrs M, Moondog for your help. Yes we have the final statement. Unfortunatly it names only 8 hours support a week, which I know is not enough. However the schools panel voted to allow FT MLD special school!
So I wasnt planning on appealing until last night! I hear the MLD school think he may need a more specialised place (because of the ASD trates) than they can offer and may refuse him a place.
If he cannot go to an mld school (no asd specific places available locally and DS has no full diagnosis of asd) he will have to stay in MS. So 8 hours support for a child who has made no progess (actualy lost some skills) in the last 3 years will not do!
Moon dog thankyou for your comments! I will approach our slt. I got a book on dyslexia from the library, and Ds ticks all the boxes (1 centiles for auditory memory,complex language, mispronouces words or mixes sylables etc) except he also has lowish IQ, so obviously cannot have dyslexia as usually defined.
Mrs M Ds had a recent hearing test and all was well. The audiologist said his ears were fine it was the bit in between! He often mishears words, forgets words and phonics is beyond him yet!
I will work over the holidays (have bought various packs and books!). But looks like I may also be gearing up for an appeal!!

OP posts:
moondog · 11/07/2007 13:49

Sorr,y I mean salt (speech and lang. therapist.)

Reallytired · 11/07/2007 10:49

What is a slat?

moondog · 10/07/2007 22:08

I would recommend input from a slat too.They (we,for I am one!) know a great deal about phonolgical skills,arguably more than teachers.

I have taught my own child 9who has language difficulties) to read and write using my skills.

MrsMarvel · 10/07/2007 22:06

oops sorry I mean your son!

MrsMarvel · 10/07/2007 22:05

Hi Magso, hope things are better now. Have you got your statement yet?
I've read through this thread and one thing that bothers me was that you said that ds does well during the holidays but it stops during termtime. This indicates that things are seriously wrong at school and I would try to document this if you can, ready for an appointment with an adviser. Eg. IPSEA or NASEN. Parents for Inclusion may also help, and also your LEA should have a Parent Partnership Service.

The other thing that I wondered about was whether he has had hearing tests.

As a SEN parent I often forget that some people see my DD and don't know how to handle her - they then get defensive or just ignore her. I never understand this at the time because to me she is perfectly normal. I can accept that kind of behaviour from strangers but it's unacceptable for your school to treat your daughter like this and not get her the help she needs.

Original poster
magso · 17/06/2007 16:52

I know Ds will get a statement. What i fear is that it will not help enough. Sadly I feel half the battle is with school! They have to support (all newly)statemented children from their own resourses since the new system, so obviously it is best to have the least support documented. I have named a MLD school as I really dont think DS school want to support him. I am told it is unlikely he will get the MLD placement yet, so I still need to get more detail and quantification in the statement in case DS has to ride out another year at his present school. I am in favour of well supported inclusion but this is not happening locally. It feels like nobody is on our childs side!! I have tried to ring IPSEA (about 5x each day since Feb) and never got beyond the message machine!!! Anyone recommend a time?
Thanks for your advice and concern.

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cat64 · 15/06/2007 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

minorityrules · 15/06/2007 18:49

Google IPSEA to get their number. They are run by volunteers so may take a while to answer but they can help and advise you

As far as I am aware there is only one kind of statement, draft just means it isn't the final copy

You are being treated very badly and you will prob have to fight the LEA as they are only interested in not giving funds to support children with additional needs. You don't have to agree to the statement either and you have a right to appeal

Please phone IPSEA and also try www.specialkidsintheuk.org
There are parents there that can advise you on how to do this much better than me

I hope you can get this sorted

hodgeymum · 15/06/2007 15:46

gosh it sounds like it is you get huge variations in support offered by LEAs.we are at the proposed statement stage for our 5yr old ds who has language delay and social communication problems,we were hoping for some classroom support but they have offered him a full time place at a language resource centre.What is a MLD?sorry i am a bit new to all this!I will keep my fingers croosed that you can sort something out at the meeting,hope your parent partner can help with all the red tape.good luck!

Original poster
magso · 15/06/2007 10:42

We have the draft statement but it specifies 'This provision to be made by school from existing resourses'. I am fighting to get hours put in but so far school and lea have said he only needs 6 - 8 hours a week, though we could get it to 10. This is hopelessly inadiquate to my mind ( Ds has complex needs- reading is just one need and he is now very behind after poor support for 3 years). It is too few hours to allow Ds to thrive and also too few to qualify for a special school where a 'full' statement is required what ever that means. Does any one know if hours are still put in if a MLD school isnamed on the statement?
We do have a lovely parent partnership lady who is coming with us for our meeting with the LEA. However she does not know my child and I sometimes wonder if I am the only one who does ( I know how small and slow each little step forward is)!!!
Thanks for your support.

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minorityrules · 15/06/2007 00:41

If you are awaiting a draft statement, I would have thought that meant he IS going to get one. The draft is just to check everyone is happy with the statement (I think)
His statement should list how many hours support the lea think he is entitled to/needs
(this will of course be different to what you/school thinks he needs)
Whatever is written in the statemnt, the LEA must supply

Sorry can't help with helping your child to learn to read but I would contact someone like parent partenrship or IPSEA for advice