private tuition for 4 year olds?!

[Walshi]

Hi guys,

I'm becoming increasingly worried about our 4 year old son.

We are a bi-lingual family and our son didn't say his first word until 3 years old. He has now started school but is one of the youngest in the year group. He doesn't recognise what numbers are for example, if you showed him "5" and asked what number it is, he couldn't tell you. He can only count to 10 and this has only just developed in the last 4 weeks from being 1,2,6,5,7,8,9,10!
Every morning and evening we try to teach him either phonics or numbers but he just doesn't seem to take anything in or show any interest in anything for more than 2 minutes.
His teacher says he interacts well with other kids and has started sitting down to engage in an activity if the teacher is one to one. On his report card, all of the academic expectations are lower than average whereas his physical and social are all fine. His teacher has also said that his lack of number recognition and reading skills are starting to hamper his ability to learn any further.

My wife has decided that he just has a slow head and thats it. end of story!

I'm desperate to try and bring him up to a level with his classmates. Has anyone had this before and would it be worth pursuing a private tutor? (if anyone even does that for 4 year olds).

At this age, you can;t really have a full hour session after a day at school. You could try an adapted version pomodoro technique which involves 25 min work followed by 5 minutes break , with a shortened work time, and maybe equal break time.

You need a plan and a progression map. Sitting him on a chair and telling him this is 5 , this is 7 won't take you anywhere.
Write the numbers on pieces of cardboard the size of a deck of cards, and hide them in the lounge and he has to find them in the right order. One adult can play with him, while the other is the judge, so move cushions and books to find the cards. The winner has a lollie or chocolate or points.
The same with letters.
Write also the letters or numbers on the tiles near the bathtub. I used lipstick when teaching time tables.

I would also be drastic, and send the tv / iPad to be repaired for a while . Remove all games / apps from phones and in the settings, in the forbidden websites, list all the ones he likes such as youtube, and other video streaming , gaming sites. Turn your phone into a phone.

GO to the library and take home the maximum amount of books allowed and read to him several books per day. Created a version of the UNO game in which you use letters instead of the numbers.

Look for the KUMON books and do them at home with him. A little bit, not a whole hour.
Stick labels on everything. A big T on the tea box, an S on the sugar, M on milk and so on.

create a domino with letters and numbers. And play every day.

What is the other language? Could you use their way of learning to read? I am French and we use the syllabic method (B+A=BA) which is so much easier than the phonics and is totally adaptable to the English language

Firstly, it is really tough on July/August norms in Reception, especially boys. It does even out by about Year 3. If your son is coping with the social skills side of it, that is a really good start.

Secondly, a few ideas for maths: we had best results with 'making maths fun', especially (1) the game Tot Ten (no longer made but available second hand on ebay), (2) Numberjacks (CBeebies) and (3) anything that involves counting (and then eating) different coloured smarties.

We also found Bond books and LOTS of reading (every night without fail) really important.

If you are worried about how he is doing, then extra practice over school holidays can really help. DS was really upset in Year 1 about not understanding anything in literacy, but we steadily did 30 mins practice every day in the Easter holidays every morning. The start of the next term was a step change better.

I wouldn't try to fit anything more in to term time though.

Thank you both for your replies, there are some interesting tips in both your posts to try.
The second language is Thai so there are literally no similarities at all. It sometimes doesn't even translate into English properly lol!

Its a weird thing having kids at school so young. there should be an option to put June - August kids in the next year, especially if they have been a bit behind to begin with. He has already been to 2 birthday parties with another next week meaning the kids are nearly a full year older than him.

there is an option to put Apr-Aug kids in the next year, the school/LEA have to agree but you have the right to request (gov guidelines)

I totally agree that the age cap should have the flexibility to be raised or lowered case by case.

I also agree that Thai might not help reading English. To be honest written Thai looks terribly difficult to me, albeit I found it extremely beautiful.

The reason I was suggesting the total removal of screens of any size and types is because these have an attractiveness that can't compete with books. The action, speed, rewards in case of games, flashing of action, has a pace on its own. Screens also affect attentiveness.
By reading a lot to him, or the adults reading around him to themselves, you can hep develop a fondness for reading .
I understand a no screen house is not for everyone, a friend of DD1 asked her if we were very poor because we didn't have a tv despite the tens of thousands of books lining every single wall.

Here in Australia, there is a website called reading eggs readingeggs.com.au which some of the mothers at school use. As I said, I am not keen on screens , but every child and family is different .

Read to him however as much as you can. Not the school boring books, but books about things he loves, can be formula 1 car, space ship, samurai, soccer, dinosaurs, big coffee tables books and while reading at normal speed follow the words with your fingers

I think its lovely you are being proactive.

I joined English reception in the summer term aged 5 and not knowing any English or how to read or write at all (I was in nursery in Italy and not due to start school till 6.5)

Anyway my parents got me a tutor (think he was a recent graduate) and we'd have 30min sessions (with an apple break half way!) where I'd practise my pencil skills or tracing letters and he'd obviously chat to me in English and it really helped.

thank you all for your replies, my wife has just been offered a job for which we will need a childminder a few days a week. I have spoken to a semi-retired minder who will be having him 1-2-1 3 afternoons a week and she will be structuring his education accordingly. I have taken on board the tips about following where I am reading with my finger, putting letters on things etc. hopefully we can get him pushed along!!
Ps. My wife is extremely strict with his screen time. He currently only watches on Sunday morning or if he's poorly!!