So I'm not alone! thanks for all the tips - really helpful.
I'm so glad I posted when I did, because I had to see my son's teachers this morning for a progress report on how he is settling in at his new school. The very first issue they raised with me was his slow dressing. Apparently he is the only one in his class to ask for the teacher's help after PE. I could see by their tense faces that it has already caused them grief!!! They said it is unacceptable at his age. They expect to help with ties but that's it. If he continues to ask for help, he will start to get teased by his classmates - for his own sake he must stop thinking it's great to have a 'dresser'. I asked them if they think his manual dexterity is not good and they said it's absolutely fine. Reading between the lines, what they mean is they think he B lazy! They want him to practice doing up his shirt buttons in the chirstmas holidays.
I had never thought of leaving ds in his bedroom to dress himself before he is allowed downstairs. It's something we will definitely work towards. I cannot imagine him getting his head around this in one go - getting dressed without mummy's help AND doing it without mummy watching him. Ahhhh! But it's a great solution.
Janh't tip about keeping most of the shirt buttons buttoned up is a really good idea. So practical - why didn't I think of it?
I've never heard of backward chaining before Tufty, but that sounds worth a go, too.
Unfortunately the uniform is fixed, RobinW, so no polo shirts. It's a real shame - they are so comfortable and easy to put on and we had a stack of them which we used when he was at his old school.
BTW Tinker, total sympathy about your child wanting to be carried everywhere. That old chstnut - my legs are tired - tell me about it! I can still remember an incident last christmas when my son was 6 1/2. We were facing a cold, windy, 10 minute walk to a lighthouse and he was in tears because I wouldn't carry him. I did a really stupid thing once - after a tiring afternoon I actually gave my then 6 year old son a piggy back while pushing my toddler in the pushchair. We must have looked extremely odd, though ds thought it was fantastic and asked for similar rides on other occasions - absolutely no shame, you see!