Reception teacher wants me to get DD referred to Paediatric Development expert

[threelittlerapscallions]

DD started Reception end of September, she turns 5 in the Spring. She has settled well and has made lots of friends. The teacher however thinks I should get her checked out by a paediatrician as she says her fine and gross motor skills are behind most of the other children eg she can't do/undo her buttons and has not written any letters though she is learning to recognise many letters now.

She also does not talk to the teachers much so they have asked me if her speech is OK and I have said she talks really well at home and I know she talks a lot to her friends and her sister.

I tend to think, she is 4, she is happy just to leave it as children develop at different rates. I did mention to the teacher she is hypermobile so did walk late (just after she turned 2). At that time we saw a Paediatrician who said she was fine - just hypermobile children later to walk and to me she seems fine running around and on her scooter etc. She is a bit impractical eg with the buttons and I would like her to start writing some letters but I thought this would come with time.

Should I see the GP and get her referred to paed or should I wait and see as no need to label her if nothing wrong surely?

If anyone has any experiences to share I would be interested.

Gnome that is really interesting. She was fine speaking to her friends Mum today and also to the other children at soft play. Yet the teacher and the doctor yesterday she wouldn't say a word to.

Whatdoido - I see your point though I do not always think a professional is right just because they are a professional. I used to be a teacher myself and I was not always right about every child. A good friend who is a retired primary teacher and knows DD well thinks DD is in no need of any developmental assessment. Having said that I will not dismiss what the teacher says and will look into it further.

It might be worth contacting the Speech and Language service in your area to see if they are experienced with Selective Mutism (some are more so than others, in some areas they don't deal with it at all). If they are, they should be able to assess and diagnose, then provide advice to school.

It does sound like this might be an issue if there are adults she is consistently unable to speak to. You may find that it is dismissed as shyness, but if that's all it is then it should noticeably improve as she gets to know people - if you find that isn't happening then don't be afraid to dig deeper.

Also consider whether she is able to speak at a normal level to her teachers - some teachers will fail to take the issue seriously as long as the child is able to mutter an answer to a question, however this can still be SM if they are unable to communicate at an age-appropriate level.

DD does talk to teachers but much less than she talks at home I get the impression. I will mention the selective mutism thing to the teacher next term - thanks, worth considering.

It has also crossed my mind that she really doesn't like school as she did talk and seemed settled at nursery. It is the Christmas holidays now and DD seems so much happier and every morning asks if there is school and is really happy when I say no! If this continues have even thought of taking her out for a year and Home Edding.

Hello just to update the GP didn't think there was anything to be concerned about with DD. She did paediatric assessment - wasn't referred to paediatrician.

After talking to DD over Christmas her Dad and I realised that school is not the right place for her.....so we are starting on the home education journey. Very exciting and DD so much happier - thanks all for your replies and advice!