School says autistic child is on track, but does this work suggest otherwise?

[AnOldLeodensian]

Ok, school is telling me that my child (diagnosed autistic) is performing at the right academic level so does not need further support.

So can anybody tell me how old/what year group they think he’s in based on this small but typical standard of work?

For context - the instructions were to write a couplet using the words bake and cake, his brother Austin likes to bake, and I showed him videos explaining couplets, explained them to him verbally, and showed him examples. This is the result:

It’s not too far behind my year 4 child (also autistic), but the school have honestly told me he’s about two years behind. They say what matters is he is still growing and achieving more, but on his own level and pace.

I have accepted this. I know there are private tutoring options but feel it’s not right for us yet.

Does he already have interventions for all that @AnOldLeodensian?
It sounds like he’s had enough to contend with already - adding on academic interventions may be too much. However, you know your DS and what you feel he may need to reach his potential, whatever that potential is.

Its great you’ve got a meeting planned and hopefully you can get clarification going forward.

I once tutored a kid aged 10. His writing was like a drunk spider, I could not read a single word (and believe me I am good at deciphering kids writing)
But verbally he was incredible. School thought he was behind.
He was autistic, and I suggested that they get an occupational therapist assessment and push for a computer.
They did, he had very soft flexible joints (apparently common with autism) so found handwriting very hard, and he got a computer to use at school.

He went from a few illegible words, to well constructed sentences of text in a very short time.

I think the concept of couplets is pretty hard, so I am guessing that it is higher than the year 1 and 2 suggested.
I would be very interested is what his verbal ability was.

My oldest is autistic as well.
in year 4 he was on a similar level to yours. he is going towards gcse now, and on track for 6-9 across subjects .
However, this didn’t come magically by itself - he had a ton of support from his mainstream primary school (including weekly sessions with a specialist teacher), from home, and now goes to a special school.
My non-autistic younger son (but has adhd) could have done similar in year 1.
I would say your son definitely needs more targeted support, and soon.

My youngest autistic son was the same, terrible hand writing but was also diagnosed with dyslexia at age 10. Once he was able to type up work, he was actually well ahead of the class.
He graduates this year from Uni in Linguistics & English language.