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Original poster

Teenage boy's handwriting - please help!

26 replies

MrsPoirot · 08/09/2024 21:22

Our DS2, nearly 15, has terrible handwriting - it's hardly legible - and we're not sure what to do about it. He is doing generally well at school and doesn't have any SEN, but he is going into GCSEs and has chosen to do Politics, for which he is apparently going to have to (hand!)write lots of essays. We think he is past the age where the school would help, as their support at this stage is presumably focused on children with SEN. Can anybody recommend anything helpful in this situation? TIA

OP posts:
DayDreamer324 · 08/09/2024 21:25

Some people just have bad handwriting! Doesn't mean they are not intelligent. As long as he can draft an email that's all that matters these days surely.

Beth216 · 08/09/2024 21:26

Very poor handwriting can be a sign of dyspraxia which is a SEN. It was the biggest sign with ds who was diagnosed at 11. How was he with things like learning to use a knife and fork/ride a bike/tie shoe laces?
If his hand writing is a problem then it should be possible for him to use a laptop. It needs to be his normal way of working for him to use it in exams so worth having the conversation with school soon.

CherryValley5 · 08/09/2024 21:27

What do his teachers say about it? Are they able do read his handwriting in terms of exams etc?

Having bad handwriting wouldn’t bother me, however if it’s to the point where it isn’t legible for examiners to read and he starts losing marks in essays etc then that is a cause for concern.

handmademitlove · 08/09/2024 21:27

Ask school to assess his handwriting - usually.done through the Sendco. Sen is not just about learning difficulties - handwriting issues come under this as well. If needed, he could use a laptop. Are there any other coordination issues? If so, a referral to occupational therapy to assess more generally could also be useful.

VictoryOrDeath · 08/09/2024 21:27

No, but OP is worried about her son getting through school and exams etc.

I do t know what the answer is - we're in a similar situation, and DS's school would be happy for DS to use a laptop, but I'm sure that would come with associated problems, and DS isn't keen.

Have you spoken to your DS's school?

VictoryOrDeath · 08/09/2024 21:28

^don't

Gettingannoyednow · 08/09/2024 21:28

Is it really that bad? Have school said anything? Loads of kids do their work online now, including for exams. You don't necessarily need a diagnosis, just to show that it's the usual way of working.

Cismyfatarse · 08/09/2024 21:29

Ask if he can type. I don't teach in England now but in Scotland you can ask to type for exams.

Gettingannoyednow · 08/09/2024 21:29

school would be happy for DS to use a laptop, but I'm sure that would come with associated problems

What associated problems?

Original poster
MrsPoirot · 08/09/2024 21:30

CherryValley5 · 08/09/2024 21:27

What do his teachers say about it? Are they able do read his handwriting in terms of exams etc?

Having bad handwriting wouldn’t bother me, however if it’s to the point where it isn’t legible for examiners to read and he starts losing marks in essays etc then that is a cause for concern.

This is exactly what we are concerned about. He is losing marks - not just in essays, as he is not forming numbers properly either and therefore it affects his maths exams too - which seems a shame given that he would do really well if he could download his ideas onto the page quickly and legibly!

OP posts:
Lovelyview · 08/09/2024 21:32

Ds 15 has dyspraxia. He was struggling with finishing essay questions and the school assessed him and he is using a laptop for exams. He feels much happier now. Do you think your son is struggling to write fast enough? If so it's probably worth getting the school to assess him for using a computer or having extra time in exams.

OhMaria2 · 08/09/2024 21:32

MrsPoirot · 08/09/2024 21:30

This is exactly what we are concerned about. He is losing marks - not just in essays, as he is not forming numbers properly either and therefore it affects his maths exams too - which seems a shame given that he would do really well if he could download his ideas onto the page quickly and legibly!

Show quote history

Talk to the school, ask if he can type his work. It's not a personal fault or moral failing of your sons. You're not going to ' fix ' this, but he can be supported.

BeMintBee · 08/09/2024 21:37

could be dysgraphia I would get an OT assessment. Would also be pushing school for accommodations for exams now and asking for him to be able to type.

TheHullabaloo · 08/09/2024 21:40

We have the same issue with Ds, now in his final year of A Levels, his teachers have told him he did lose marks in his mocks due to handwriting, and should consider using a laptop.

His writing is ugly, but legible, if he has time on his side, but in exams he has to write quickly. The issue now is he can't type particularly fast either, slower than writing, so that's putting him off. Annoyingly this wasn't flagged earlier, as I'd have encouraged typing practice!

toomuchcardboard · 08/09/2024 21:49

Would he consider a handwriting course? My daughter had appalling handwriting until just a year at a private school which transformed it. (Nb. The school change was due to bullying, the handwriting change was a surprise)

AlwaysGardening · 08/09/2024 21:57

My DS has awful handwriting due to hypermobility. He was given support in exams - can’t remember if it was extra time or allowed to type.

Pieceofpurplesky · 08/09/2024 22:07

Speak to the SENCO, he will be able to use a laptop in all his exams if he needs to. School will want the best grades for him. If his writing is illegible it makes sense. I exam mark and it's very rare that I can't read the writing.

Make an appointment ASAP as the SENCO will need to collect evidence

planAplanB · 08/09/2024 22:33

He does have SEN - he needs support with handwriting. This is an educational need. He should be given access to laptop or dictation to type his work. Speak to the SENCO at his school about exam access arrangements. His ability to succeed in an exam should not be affected by his handwriting.

Genevieva · 08/09/2024 22:36

He needs a DASH assessment for permission to type in exams. This, combined with typing being his usual way of working, should be sufficient. It’s much more straightforward getting typing dispensation than extra time.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 08/09/2024 22:37

I think ds2’s handwriting is dreadful but his teachers are all happy with it. He’s just got an incredible set of GCSEs so obviously teachers and examiners are far better than me at deciphering different standards of handwriting!

NyeRobey · 08/09/2024 22:39

My DS is allowed to use a keyboard. I don't think they need a DASH assessment, just for it to be usual way of working in class and for the teachers to confirm it makes a positive difference.

My son went from "his written work is good but he's getting about a quarter as much done as we need" to getting grade 9 for English language.

Original poster
MrsPoirot · 09/09/2024 08:23

Thank you all so much for your replies - super helpful! I think we'll speak to the SENCO as a first step and take it from there. I did suggest he choose learning to touch-type as his DofE skill, so maybe he can kill two birds with one stone :-) Thanks again!

OP posts:
GreenTeaLikesMe · 09/09/2024 08:35

He does have SEN - he needs support with handwriting.

That does not follow. "Not being good at something" is not the same as "Having SEN." Sometimes human beings don't do a good job at things because they have been taught wrongly, have missed something critical, or need to work harder at it.

OP, have you worked with him on this? Tried a tutor or something? Surely you've noticed the handwriting over the past 10 years?

With concern about AI, I have heard that some schools may shift back towards requiring more stuff to be handwritten. I think it's worth working on this.

whojamaflip · 09/09/2024 08:36

DS had horrendous handwriting added to which he was very slow at putting things down on paper so constantly ran out of time both taking notes in class and in exams.

I spoke to the Senco at his school at the start of year 11 who assessed him and suggested using a laptop in class and for exams. It was a game changer for him! She mentioned dysgraphia but he hasn't had a formal diagnoses.

He's now at college and is still using a laptop and is flying.

manonmoonah · 09/09/2024 22:12

I posted a similar thread about a month ago regarding DS12 who has just started high school. His handwriting is very poor and difficult to read. I got lots of helpful replies - sorry I don't know how to link to the thread.

Someone posted this link: bubblehandwriting.wordpress.com

I printed off the sheets and it's amazing how much better his writing is when using them. We were all shocked, including DS! His writing is still not great when not using the bubble paper, but he announced tonight that he was chuffed that he wrote something in English and both he and his teacher could read it without too much difficulty! So hopefully some improvement. We're going to keep practicing with the bubble paper and hope that he learns new habits when forming letters. I wish I had discovered this years ago.

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