Advice and support on what i can do.

[Harleyisme]

Have a 5 year old in reception class has sen but no diagnosis. He entered school on a baseline of 22-36 months in the majority of areas. We had a taf meeting yesterday telling us how much hes struggling and that they have started pulling in and providing support.

We had parents evening tonight. She said nothing about is learning till i asked what to do about his phonics homework as he's not willing to do it as hes struggling she said she didnt see him as struggling hes just alot slower than anyone else at learning to not read some nights and do the homework instead. She then said he really needs to learn to hold i pen i spent the last 12 months trying to build up his fine motor skill activites and pincer grip doing bead threading using tweezers to sort beads drawing with pencils drawing in different substances ect. She then gave me a booklet to start learning him cursive writing. I have tried allsorts to help from advice from everyone to making phonics games pointing out letters and sounds when we are out and about. We tried how to teach my monster to read but its to fast paced and he wasn't retaining it. We have tried watching alpha blocks. What else can i do?
She litreally said all she could say about hom is hes happy has a smile on his face alot and is making friends. That there was nothing else she could say. What can i do where do i go from here to help him?

Anyone

You seem to be doing everything you can. He's happy - that is so important. Try again to push for a diagnosis as it might help.

It's only been half a term so far. The fact that he is settled and happy is important and a good start. It may well take time for the phonics work to embed and start to click. Take her advice and alternate the phonics work with other things - you don't want to make reading a big stress for him. Keep it fun and light.

The fine motor issues can just be a developmental thing, and it will come in its own time. My DS really struggled with his pen grip and letter forming for a long time, and it was just a question of his development getting to the point where he had fine enough control.

Theres no stress around reading we do it everynight as he loves it he currently alternates between a book we read to hin and wordless books. We try with the phonics homework he wont do it.
They want me to start learning him cursive writing at a letter a week and take in what we have done at home and work on him holding a pen. I have been working on him holding a pen for a year by developing fine motor skills with activities and games. I don't know what else to do for either phonics or writing. I have done games for phonics too try to make it fun watching alpha blocks and playing on apps. I agree hes only been there for one half term and its not us wanting to push him its them asking us to do it with him.

I would teach him some sight words. His name first. Then maybe dog or cat if he has one or likes them or car. Maybe take a photo of him and put in words eg John has a car. Look at the car. Make his own little book. Constant constant repitition. Do it with some words he is interested in. I'm talking about 5 mins a day. Do not over do it. I have taught dc with special needs to read for years and l find making it relevant to their life is most important. He will get there although he will be behind his peers.

Thank you june i will try that. He will try things more if its more about him.