Following on from earlier, ds who is on a IEP and has seen pead this week about his motor skills, concentrating, socialisation skills, poss dyspraxia, got his school report today. Here is what he can do? Does this seem average or not for a 4 year old? Its seems fine to me, but they were considering keeping him back in nursery. Can count to 8 (more at home), order numbers to 5. Recognise Nos to 10 presented randomly and knows quantitive value of numbers 1-3. Aware of mathematical language, ie. big, bigger, biggest, knows most colours. Can identify 4 basic 2d shapes, square, rectangle, circle, triangle. This week the head told me that he would be able to keep up in his reception class as he wouldnt be able to hold his pencil as his hands are week. The pead said he could hold it fine. She also commented that when she was reading the group a story a plane went over and he shouted out "aeroplane", I said oh yes his hearing is really good now (since he had grommetts...prior to that he had less than 50% hearing) and she said no no no, a child his age would now ignore such noises as they are part and parcel of life, for ds he still finds this noises interesting and so shouts out the fact that he has heard a plane. I would have thought loads of 4 years olds do this but perhaps Im wrong. The comment really hacked me off. We have been tremdously lucky and have been offered places for him in the local catholic school (we are not catholics) and a really good state school too. Now we have to make the choice. I think we will go for the catholic one as the environment there was nicer, quieter and the school as 100 less kids so classes wont be small, 20, but not huge either. They have a mentor system in place for the reception year so that will really help him. I sure his hearing problem is whats affected his development, but even so surely he cant be that different from the average 4 year old, or can he?