phonics test

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I'm feeling a little down. Just had a conversation with my sons teacher, he is in year 1. She said he failed his phonics test 0/40. He's been having 121 support by SENCO he can't read a word, is familar with the sounds but can't put words together. I feel bad for him. Questioning whether I should be doing more with him at home but he isn't interested when we try :( His father, uncle and auntie are dyslexic so I was thinking he might be but they've tried testing him and because he's language knowledge is so low they can't do the test :( I guess patience is the key!

Yes, patience is key.

My DS1 is in year 5 and is dyslexic. He was a total lost puppy in year 1, his y2 teacher picked up on his dyslexia and was screened. He got great help at school and for the past two years has had weekly tution at Dyslexia Action, he has just got funding for year 6 for 2 hours a week in school.

He has gone from being able to do little and being incredibly frustrated to being able to read and write really well, he still struggles but he has the back up, knowledge & understanding to work thing out, get help when needed and most importantly it has not stopped him from being a part of everyday school and enjoying it.

He read a whole Diary of a Wimpey Kid book in one weekend last month, the typeface text is great for him to read! So as a Mum we all want to make it better for them and help, and you can, just not overnight. Little and often is the key. Have school put him on an Indidvidual Education Plan (IEP)? They may do this in y1. Have they given you any pointers on what you could to help? Home should be a place of warmth and safety, not more hassle about words and stuff, he needs to know that when he comes home he can relax about it all, not have Mum banging on about phonics and blending etc. Saying that, you can do simple stuff at home, a few words spelt out at bathtime, looking at the sports pages of the paper (my DS loves to look at Man Utd stuff in the paper, he can't read it all, but loves to try and enjoys). We would sound out a spell rude words eg; poo, plop, trump, wee, bum etc etc to make it fun!

Honestly don't be sad, it is the best time to be dyslexic, so much more help about it all and the age of the computer etc!

watch this, good but may make you cry -

PS: even though I have been through it, I have DS2 in reception and am desperate to know if he is dyslexic, but way to early to tell. Do they do phonics test in recpetion?

Hi, thanks for your reply carocaro.

My son started this school in January this year, the school he was at before was meant to be a good school but on the arrival here we were told that he didn't even recognise letters sounds! Since being here he has improved so much, he can now recognise letter sounds. They have put him on a IEP and he is working closely with SENCO and language therapists, also we've seen the behavioural doctor as his behaviour was bad. We've put that down to the fact that he's had a big change in his life, myself and his father no longer being together, moving away and starting a new school etc. Now he has settled the concentrating will be on the blending of letters. I'm hopeful the school can turn this around. As you say about your son he developed in Yr2, I'm really hoping this will be the case here.

Thanks for your suggestions about home time, I will definately give them a go.

I don't believe they do have a phonics test in year R, my daughter is about to go to school this september and I can already see that she is better at this than he is. So I have my fingers crossed this will be the case.

Thanks again and good luck to you.