How old would you assume the child who wrote this was?

[AloyNoraWarrior]

My DS is 9 in Y4. He’s very upset as he said some children in his class have been laughing at his writing. I know he is behind because his school report last term said working towards expectations for every subject. But I’m thinking it must be bad if other children are noticing.

He does have ASD and we are waiting for an ADHD assessment. Last year I asked his teacher if could be assessed for dyslexia because he writes his name incorrectly, but they said they don’t assess children for dyslexia anymore.

I was just wondering how his writing compares to other children his age as I’m not sure what level it should be at. The photo represents his best effort. The second line of the poem is ‘when I am a pest’

This is just so beautiful op. Bless him.

To answer your question, my ds is 6yo with very neat handwriting so I would say younger. I'm saying this based on seeing his class mates writing. However it's concerning that there is no support for him.

I’m a year 4 teacher and in all honesty, it is well below expected level. As a mum, I would definitely have it framed, it’s very sweet and it might be a great achievement for him. Keep pushing for the support and keep him practicing. I agree with above that at that level he would struggle to keep up with the content across other subjects. The bullying is a separate issue and I would speak to the school about it.

www.glsed.co.uk/product/sen/motor-skills/fine-motor-skills/write-from-the-start/g248709?pk_cid=1&pk_keyword=G248709gls&pk_medium=multifeeds&pk_campaign=Google&pk_source=Google&pk_content=BusinessIndustrial&utm_source=Google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJmHmMb_9wIVDuztCh1WgQr4EAQYAiABEgK9mvD_BwE

Hopefully this link works

What he's written is fine for his age in both the meaning, intent and spelling. Probably some classmates are writing cursive script and he doesn't so they tease him. I'd encourage more slow and focussed eye-to-hand control such as colouring in, sewing, knitting , painting, woodwork, meccano models.

(Have you had his eyesight tested to eliminate any vision issues?)

His writing is streets ahead of DH's. DH is 75 and all his life his handwriting would still disgrace a 6 yr old , and always has (school trauma; he's a left hander trained and forced to write with his right hand). Oddly enough, like your DS , he still pitifully hesitates and struggles to sign his own name. When working abroad (before computers), every day he used to write me passionate but barely legible love letters on paper. It's the thought that counts :-)

It hasn't held him back at all. Amazingly the illegible drunk spider trail made no difference to his exam results at school or university and a career as a very talented and successful engineer who can design and make absolutely anything, from the tiniest scale up.

Gah. Links not working for some reason. But they're call Write from the start. Trying a different link www.amazon.co.uk/Write-start-Programme-Perceptual-Handwriting/dp/1855032457/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=52426934559&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInJmHmMb_9wIVDuztCh1WgQr4EAAYASAAEgKjkfD_BwE&hvadid=259133149906&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1007171&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8303172719948945061&hvtargid=kwd-308260171864&hydadcr=13696_1757083&keywords=write+from+the+start&qid=1653650228&sr=8-1

Also to add, my DB couldn't read properly by the time he went to secondary school and his handwriting is absolutely awful. Hasn't stopped him having a very successful career and earning a 6 figure salary. I, on the other hand could read perfectly at 5 and have very neat writing but am nowhere near as successful as my little brother!

My dd (also Scotland) was diagnosed as dyslexic at 7. School had recognised issues at 5 and that was confirmed by a private screening when she was 7. But her school (state primary) supported her by scribing where necessary as they recognised that the content she was able to produce was much better if she wasn't concentrating on the act of writing. She had mostly good support all through her schooling (better at secondary than primary) and is now at university. I believe the private report helped to back up our concerns and was useful both at her 2nd primary and at secondary. It was also used by the university as the evidence they needed to provide support there so good value for money really!

Lots of positive reviews on Amazon from parents of kids with dyspraxia.

It is a lovely poem. I would have thought the school would have clocked that by now he should be trying joined up writing? If schools still expect that? I would push for a dyslexia diagnosis especially as his writing may be holding him back in his other work (in terms of concentrating so hard on his writing he hasn't got the headspace for other stuff).

My DS has a friend who has dyslexia. The most intelligent man on the planet but my word to this day his handwriting is bad. He came on leaps when he had support for his dyslexia.

That looks exactly like my younger son's writing. He is 18. He'll never be able to write well because he is dyspraxic and has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome so he uses a laptop. It's no longer an issue and was nothing but a relief when we gave up working on it and simply decided to make use of teachnology.

The problem here isn't your son's writing, it's the school's culture allowing other children to think that's something they can comment on/bully over.

My son is dyspraxic. His writing is truly awful (worse than that and he is 11) - and that's after OT and a lot of hard work. The moment he's tired or rushing I honestly don't know how his teachers read it - and yet they do.

He's never been bullied for it, his teachers work around (and as I said are amazing at interpreting it), and when the other kids were learning cursive, they just said that it wasn't going to work for him, and for him to continue as he was - he has a laptop now for some work, but things like spelling tests he still writes which is a great accommodation balance.

TBH, I think that he could do with feeling a little more worried about it himself so he slows down and makes it more readable, but the school's done such a good job on his confidence that he's just not worried about it at all (and TBH, it will be fine, I rarely write anything these days myself, everything's on the computer/phone)

This!

In year 1 they are expected to write short stories, poems.... with phonetically plausible spelling as well as the harder works they've been learning. There aren't any particularily diifficult words to spell in that poem, except nothing which he mis-spelt. A fair few reception children could manage that one just trying phonetically. Handwriting isn't that great of course it is a sweet poem for a child of any age to write. But there isn't any content or techniques that would indicate it is written by an older child.

That's so sweet! I don't think the handwriting is too bad. My handwriting isn't much better to be fair. I hope the other kids have been pulled up for being mean.

How lovely OP. Your son can rhyme, use commas, use his imagination and above all, be kind. Ignore his classmates.

I have a friend who is over 50 with SEN, dyslexia and a number of comorbid conditions. Almost identical handwriting.
Is your DS left handed?

Why do you suspect dyslexia? I don’t honestly see any obvious signs of it in that piece of writing eg multiple spellings of the same word, lots of crossing out and attempts at spelling, letters in wrong order, back to front letters, lots of missing letters etc. The BDA have a list of indicative symptoms.
if he struggles to form the letters I’d look at dysgraphia, dyspraxia, hypermobility. I don’t think he would be significantly below a lot of the other children as many are messy at that age, are they just finding something to pick on?

This is my son's writing.
I just spoke to him for his permission to show you his writing.

He has autism.

He is 23 years old.

He got a LOT of criticism for his handwriting all through school. We were told of all the problems it would cause and given tasks to do with him daily.

In September he starts the final year of his BA Hons in game design and development. He has a driving licence and a car.

If you can afford it, I'd go for an Ed Psyc evaluation, rather than just dyslexia. Given what you've said about how labored his writing is, it wouldn't suprise me if there was some dyspraxia or dysgraphia mixed in with dyslexia.
The words are beautiful. Treasure them.

That's his handwriting today I should have said.

There’s two separate issues the bullying which the school needs to sort. But I wonder why there’s a such a focus on dyslexia. How is he with other fine motor skills like doing buttons and shoelaces puzzles and Lego? Get a big pad of paper and some thick felt tips and together draw spirals in circles and loops separated from handwriting and meaning, Show him bubble writing and make signs for his door …. What is the school to trial different writing implements for him they can make all the difference best of luck

My DS is 7 and is learning to touch type. He has issues with hand writing and pen holding. However he has been learning joined up writing since he was 4 but is slow due to pencil grip. He is also being supported around his spellings as he writes phonetically and has processing issues. He is to be assessed for dyslexia at 9. Your DS writing is quite immature for his age and the spellings are a concern as they are not tricky words. Even if dyslexic you can learn to spell its just that your taught in a different way. Your DS needs to get support from school and I am surprised the sen team arent involved.

That is an amazing poem. Splendid creative writing skills and what a loving articulate young man

No idea about age, but I can read it so it's officially better than my hand writing.

It's a beautiful poem though and you should be proud of your little boy. The other kids are jerks.

What a beautiful poem! I would keep that safe ❤️ As for the handwriting, I don't think it's that bad. My sons wasn't great tbh, it's better now at 11, I would tell him to ignore the kids making fun, easier said than done I know. I would see if you could push for a Dyslexia assessment, or if there's any other way to get one.