To disagree with teacher that DD7 needs OT?

[SuperDuperC]

Based on her handwriting and being 'untidy'? Parents evening last week and teacher suggested that due to DDs posture, handwriting and being untidy she needs occupational therapy? I felt like the hand writing and pencil control is down to the gaps over the pandemic and that it will develop but I'm so worried I've missed something, teacher made it sound so serious and I've looked up OT and it'll close nearly £500 for sessions privately as public sessions have a 2 year waiting list.
Anyone with advise? Am I BU to disagree? Am I in denial? Or am I not BU as I know my daughter and that it will improve in time? 😩

*cost £500

What's the issue with posture? Could you see if anyone would assess her for less than £500? Can you work with her at home tl improve it and review in 6 mkonthd?

You can Google activities to do at home easily enough

I think teachers see a much wider range of children than you do, and if teacher is suggesting it I'd consider it strongly.
Even if all you do is see GP and ask for a referral, then you'd be in the queue, and look online for things you can do.

@SleepingStandingUp

What's the issue with posture? Could you see if anyone would assess her for less than £500? Can you work with her at home tl improve it and review in 6 mkonthd?

She thinks that my daughter doesn't sit properly on her chair but I can't seem to see the problem.

@Mumofsend

You can Google activities to do at home easily enough

I was wondering this but not sure where to start!

@TeenPlusCat

I think teachers see a much wider range of children than you do, and if teacher is suggesting it I'd consider it strongly. Even if all you do is see GP and ask for a referral, then you'd be in the queue, and look online for things you can do.

Yes, she's an older experienced teacher too x

Remember the teacher is teaching children of the same age who have had the same gaps in their learning. Unless she is recommending everyone may need to see an OT then there must be a difference. I would ask to speak to the senco and in the mean time work on things which will help her core strength and fine motor skills.

Are her other fine motor skills impaired? There's activities you can do st home to improve them that aren't writing..

Also pencil gripper might help when writing

Teacher will have a good idea what is the normal range for things like that. She will also have a base to compare to with regards to her peers after the pandemic.

I wouldn’t necessarily look at paying private but it can’t do any harm to go down the NHS referal route even if it ends up being cancelled when it comes up.

In the meantime talk to the senco and class teacher about how school and home can help. Look at hand strengthening exercises, trial different pencil grips, look at things like theraputty to help

@SleepingStandingUp

What's the issue with posture? Could you see if anyone would assess her for less than £500? Can you work with her at home tl improve it and review in 6 mkonthd?

Thanks, I did have the idea that maybe I could work with her a bit. We live in a small area and only one main OT on offer (they seem amazing though) but of course expensive 💰

How much do you see her sitting at a desk tho? Esp for several hours? , sitting down so you can see how hse sits will not be indicative of anything. I agree with pp, speak to a GP and get the ball l rolling at least. You can always cancel

I think you'd be best to get your child on the waiting list. When you get to the top of the list they'll assess and either decide help is necessary or they won't.

You could also ask the teacher to discuss with the senco if there is anything they could put in place now to help support your dc.

I'm not sure on what basis you are disagreeing. The teacher isn't an OT so she can't diagnose anything but she can suggest the involvement of other professionals might be beneficial.

Take the advice or don't.

Is it possible she could benefit from an assessment to see if something like dyspraxia or hypermobility is causing her problems? I would always be happy to know more about how I could help my child. OT would help her manage the issues which are causing problems. Is it that you genuinely don’t think she has any issues, though? Or that they don’t rise to the level of needing any intervention? I’m not being nasty, I’m trying to gauge where you are with it.

@Abcdefu

Are her other fine motor skills impaired? There's activities you can do st home to improve them that aren't writing..

Also pencil gripper might help when writing

Not really, shes perfect with cutting/using utensils/dressing etc and was always ahead when younger I think that's why this is a shock. Also I took her messy side to be normal 😊

@FloraPostePosts

Is it possible she could benefit from an assessment to see if something like dyspraxia or hypermobility is causing her problems? I would always be happy to know more about how I could help my child. OT would help her manage the issues which are causing problems. Is it that you genuinely don’t think she has any issues, though? Or that they don’t rise to the level of needing any intervention? I’m not being nasty, I’m trying to gauge where you are with it.

I think you've described what I mean, they aren't at the level of intervention, or at least I thought not. I'm just feeling awful that this dont something I noticed

My youngest had occupational therapy for fine motor skills and handwriting was the trigger but we soon unravelled with the OT that it was part of a bigger picture. In our case it fed into him getting a dyslexia diagnosis as well as massively helping him with his fine motor skills and his speed and stamina when writing. Like you I thought messy handwriting is really not a big deal on it's own, but I was aware that he disliked writing because it was physically tiring. All those things are connected and improving his fine motor skills has made writing less tiring. For our son there was a sensory processing element too. For your DD there may be a muscle tone or dyspraxia element or something else which an OT could help you get to the bottom of.

Addressing things early is helpful especially if, as it turns out, messy handwriting isn't the problem but a symptom or sign of something slightly more organic which can be addressed and may matter more the older she gets.

You could flip your argument about the pandemic, and say that because of the pandemic your daughter needs some extra help acquiring the skills she would have picked up by now in normal times.

If you usually trust and respect this teacher, I'd listen to her advice.

@BlackCoffeeInAPoolOfSunshine

My youngest had occupational therapy for fine motor skills and handwriting was the trigger but we soon unravelled with the OT that it was part of a bigger picture. In our case it fed into him getting a dyslexia diagnosis as well as massively helping him with his fine motor skills and his speed and stamina when writing. Like you I thought messy handwriting is really not a big deal on it's own, but I was aware that he disliked writing because it was physically tiring. All those things are connected and improving his fine motor skills has made writing less tiring. For our son there was a sensory processing element too. For your DD there may be a muscle tone or dyspraxia element or something else which an OT could help you get to the bottom of.

Addressing things early is helpful especially if, as it turns out, messy handwriting isn't the problem but a symptom or sign of something slightly more organic which can be addressed and may matter more the older she gets.

Thank you, I think I needed to hear this 🙏🏻 I think I may be fearing other stuff coming up but of course I need to find out. Can I ask how it all went? Did your child respond well? I'm going to look into booking the local OT I think

@Postitmug

You could flip your argument about the pandemic, and say that because of the pandemic your daughter needs some extra help acquiring the skills she would have picked up by now in normal times.

If you usually trust and respect this teacher, I'd listen to her advice.

A good way to look at it, thank you

Take what the teacher has said and go to the GP. They will assess her, and send her on for NHS assessment if they think it's necessary. The OT services where we are have an online set of videos which you can follow at home before you get to the appointment stage I'd assume most do similar as it was a covid/cost saving effort. See whee that goes and go from there.

I wouldn't immediately jump to paid for services. School can also make an OT referral and if this teacher thinks that it is relevant then she should be doing that too.

Poor posture could mean problems with core body strength which is linked to dyspraxia.

I'd google what you can do at home but they clearly suspect some SEN, probably dyspraxia. At least they've picked it up but they should push you through support, not paid for, timescales are ridiculous at the moment though.

Please don't dismiss what the teacher is saying. My best friends child has a developmental disorder which I think is proprioception disorder. She got a diagnosis from the OT. They recognised the challenges. She struggled with the things your daughter struggled with. She is still suffering in school because not enough adjustments have been made. She has other challenges as well which go along with her disorder like not being able to remember things easily etc. Get your daughter on the list, get her checked. If it is age related she can be discharged. If it's more at least you have started the process.

Have a look at
lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/application/files/2915/2285/5110/1st_Move.pdf

It's a resource for developing fine and gross motor skills and might be useful!