5 year olds development

[ByOlivePanda]

Just seeing if anyone else's child does these...
My son 5 years old does this habit of pacing back and forth with a peice of string, ribbon anything that flap/flow with his pacing if that makes sense he'll do it whilst making a noise and if I look at him whilst doing he doesn't like it and tells me not to look at him he doesn't mind stopping doing it if we're ready to go out or do something etc he's done this since he was around 3 he doesn't socialise well outside of school but in school he'll tolerate it, he also doesn't do the pacing at school either, he's behind work wise at school he's working 1-2 years behind his class mates he really hates going to school which is heartbreaking does anyone else have any experience with their child doing these and any advice would be great! :)

Surely school have flagged up concerns by now if he's already a year+ behind in development? If not they should be, and if he were my son I would be going to the GP and asking for referral to paediatrician for assessment and also speaking to the school SENCO and class teacher and asking how they are supporting his developmental delays.
I'd also be requesting an EHCP assessment.

His flapping and pacing sounds to me to be stimming, and that with delays in social behaviour would make me suspect he is likely to be on the autistic spectrum (disclaimer I'm not a doctor but have worked in Special Ed with Autism for over 20 years)

At any rate it sounds like he is likely to need support throughout school... time to start making some noise and getting someone to assess .