What age child wrote this ?

[Star1223]

I recognise it is a wide spectrum but just wondering what the average thoughts are, am wondering if my sons age is consistent with his writing ability.

I don't help him with the spellings, as the school wish for him to use the Phonics sound to spell.

Depends where you are, if it's a Play based approach age 5-7 I'd say this child is around 8+ as they show understanding of some spelling rules and attempt to try their own. If it's formal learning approach from 5-7 I'd say 6.5 as the have been learning handwriting with entries and exits, can self correct and understand plural use. This child is very capable IMO and will quickly develop further skills.

@weefella good point about the lined paper- I should get wider writing paper instead of using my writing pad! Thank you

@Xyz1234567 sorry I wasn't clear, I help him sound out the words but won't tell him what the spelling is - when I have done this in the past the school ask me to encourage him to use the phonic spelling firstly while he's building up his writing skills.

He's learning along the way the spelling rules ie he can spell words like home, and knows the tricky spelling of school. **

That's really quite worrying.

@Xyz1234567 and for example, for the word out, if he asks is it ow or ou I will tell him.
Thanks.

It just means their level of expertise and ability to analyse applied skills is likely superior. They know when each skill is picked up and the progression it takes to get there. Would you criticise a Dr for knowing how to diagnose pneumonia or an electrician for knowing how to rewire a house and spot faults. Duhhhhhh.

As a fellow teacher I disagree

Age 4 ?

I suspect they are saying he is behind as it's not cursive and they are generally taught to write with the "loops" of whatever in reception and actually join in yesr 1. But he is very neat and legible and personally I think that's better

I’d have guessed y1. My daughter is reception and not writing as well as that yet (despite being a very competent reader, comments on here are making me realise how big the gap between her reading and writing is actually…)

Also a teacher but haven’t taught that age range for a really long time!

My odd little three year old writes better than that. He’s an anomaly but it shows they’re really all different. Until they’re not.

Six

Is he writing with a pen? Surely it should be pencil so he can correct himself? Wider lines would be good too. I nannied for a little boy who was writing like this at 6. It was such a fine line to tread helping him to recognise where he was going wrong without discouraging him. The teachers wrote him off even at that tender age! It broke my heart. He was the darlingest little boy, so sweet and friends with everyone, and very creative - he built the most amazing dens! I don't know why children are forced to run before they can walk in this country. It's so demoralizing for them.

7 or 8.

This!

Kids write like this at 7 or even 8 where I live. And some of them still end up doing degrees in aerospace engineering, economics, ancient Greek, in universities that are in the top ten in the world.

The only problem here is that he's in school in the wrong country.

@WestAtlantic and @QuillBill DD has done 1 week in this school and it's only her first year at Uni so only her 2nd ever placement (and not in charge of the class at all obv) and it's a big class so like she said she's seen some children with handwriting like that in the class she's in hence the "it could even possibly be a year 4" comment.

OP IMHO for a just turned 6 yr old in year 1 it doesn't stand out as sen but great if he's being offered extra support.

@WestAtlantic and @QuillBill DD has done 1 week in this school and it's only her first year at Uni so only her 2nd ever placement (and not in charge of the class at all obv) and it's a big class so like she said she's seen some children with handwriting like that in the class she's in hence the "it could even possibly be a year 4" comment.

I've been teaching KS1 for thirty years and that writing in year four would be a major concern.

Well that sounds good! His actual letter formation looks good too. Maybe using a thicker pencil with a pencil grip might help, as well as wider lines on the paper.
Some children develop their fine motor skills more slowly than others. Activities such as play doh, Hama beads, colouring in and threading beads can help there.

My son was a complete pudding at junior school (at the end of y2 he could not write his own name) and it was the same at secondary school. Bottom sets for maths and english all the way through gcse. His brain did not seem to switch on properly until y11. But he finished his masters in engineering last year, has an amazing job in a deeptech company and is now looking at phds at top unis.
Which is a roundabout way of saying this a long game. Keep supporting him and he may well surprise you. They all develop at their own speed.

His handwriting is still awful and he can't spell for toffee, but none of that has stopped him.

I would say reception too. Definitely significantly behind for year 1.

Spelling and handwriting I usually tell parents not to worry too much as some children just pick it up later.

For this piece of work alone, I would say to work on keeping writing on the line and capital letters for the beginning of sentences.

If you Google the English NC for year 1, you might be surprised at everything they are expected to do by the end of year 1.

Aged 5-6 possibly 7?

Reception really 🥱

Excellent writing, very easy to read. Better letter shaping and also neater than my 11yo.

Also just wanted to add that I could make out exactly what it says (to him) supposed to say.

Today I went fishing with my daddy
I caught 3 big fish. We had lunch then we went home.