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Original poster

Child struggling academically

20 replies

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 16:48

My DS is coming to the end of Year 2, he is a fantastic reader, reads expressively, fluently and with strong comprehension. However, he is a very reluctant writer and is going to end the year not at expected level for writing. We are upset and surprised as in November he was sailing along towards the top of the group.

He has had some issues with friendships and bullying and has had a tough time which we think is a large part of what has been going on.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help? His teacher is not helpful and can’t really see any issues but his writing is no better than it was in Year 1.

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xmasdealhunter · 09/05/2025 16:57

Is it a 1 form entry school? If not, could you ask the school to make sure that next year he is in the other class, away from the dc who were bullying him?

What is it specifically he is struggling with in writing? Is it handwriting or is it more creative writing/ answering questions based?

Fearfulsaints · 09/05/2025 17:07

I think you need to separate out the writing and the bullying issues.

The bullying and friendship issue is more important to see if he has support in making friends etc..

I know being upset can impact on attainment but it would presumably impact in other areas too - which is why I thought separate it out.

The teacher really should be able to tell you which areas they are struggling with, so you might have to go ask again. Is in punctuation, spelling, purpose, stamina

Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 18:17

@xmasdealhunternot sure specifically as DS is not putting pen to paper and can spend an hour not writing anything according to the class teacher. Teacher doesn’t seem to offer any suggestions or know what to do, so we are wondering what we could do at home to help boost the writing. Not sure where to begin though. Handwriting is legible but unable to join which DS says he must do now

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Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 18:17

It’s a one form entry school and main bully is now sat next to him, really not sure what the teacher is doing

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xmasdealhunter · 09/05/2025 18:22

I take it you've spoken to the teacher/ she is aware of what is going on? Is there another school in the area, OP? I'd consider moving him personally. He could start afresh somewhere else in year 3.

Try making it fun when you practice at home. Different writing utensils (practice writing joined up with a finger in flour on the table, use thick and thin crayons, felt tips, pencils etc). Different coloured paper. Make it more about 'hm, I wonder what the white crayon would look like on black paper? Let's write out this sentence and see' rather than focussing on the writing. Apps like KhanAcademy Kids have a writing section that is presented in a fun way, particularly if screentime is a novelty.

Meadowfinch · 09/05/2025 18:31

OP, my ds was the same, one form entry, great on everything else but fell behind on writing.

Don't get upset or draw attention, it's just a hiccup.

Instead make it your dc's job to write the weekly shopping list for you. Let him add chocolate or Smarties or whatever if he writes them.
Reintroduce birthday cards, get him to choose, write & post them to gran, aunts etc. Any other small writing jobs that are short, useful and fun.

He'll be fine.

WibbleWob · 09/05/2025 18:44

Maybe arm strengthening like playing tennis or swimming might help too?

starlight128 · 09/05/2025 18:53

My DS was in a similar position with his writing last year at the end of year 2. We got him an English Tutor who said that he struggles to know what to write as well as how to write. We also used Teach Pips for daily practice, which i thought was great as it gave him structure, and used letter lines handwriting paper from Amazon. He asked to do it each day as he had a sticker reward chart for his effort. His teacher said recently that he has now caught up.

Elisheva · 09/05/2025 18:57

You are allowed to ask that your child does not sit next to his bully. That is a perfectly reasonable request.
If the teacher is not being helpful I might ask for a meeting with the SENCO and ask how the school is supporting him and what you could do at home.

TeenToTwenties · 09/05/2025 19:01

What is his handwriting like?
What are his fine and gross motor skills like generally?
Can he talk expansively adding detail and order his thoughts logically?

ie.
. Is it a physical issue that it just hurts to write
. Is there an underlying issue such as dyspraxia / executive functioning
. Can he dictate a story verbally
. Does he just not know how to get going, to generate ideas
. Is he worried about doing it wrong (eg he can't do cursive so does nothing)

If you can identify where the blocker is then you have a chance to unblock. But otherwise you may spend ages on the wrong problem.

A half-term & summer holiday diary might be a way to work on things over the summer. Each day could have a different focus.
e.g.
. use 6 adjectives
. print rather than cursive, write 6 sentences
. good use of fullstops and capital letters
. short story
Only comment on the focus for the day. Otherwise praise only.

Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:11

@xmasdealhunter thank you for this. Yes we’ve considered moving him for Year 3. We went to look at an independent prep yesterday and the difference in what they are capable of compared with him was very worrying, and I worry that he’d be so far behind it might put him off even more. Thank you for the suggestions on just getting him writing in a fun way at home.

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Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:12

@Meadowfinch thank you very much for this. It’s good to have some perspective on it. How is your DS with writing now?

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Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:13

@WibbleWobgross motor stuff is one of his strengths - he swims like a fish and loves monkey bars etc.

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Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:15

@ElishevaI did request this and he was moved to the front by the teacher, but 3 weeks later his chief tormentor was moved next to him… He says it’s much better though as at least the teacher can see him now.

I think the teacher is very weak/doesn’t have much classroom control as all the incidents taking place are happening in the classroom, not in the playground/corridor

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PullTheBricksDown · 09/05/2025 21:16

Elisheva · 09/05/2025 18:57

Yes. In fact that would be my request first thing Monday. If the teacher didn't act on that straight away I'd go to the headteacher citing the school's anti bullying policy or asking if they have one. The writing is a longer term goal, but this is the immediate thing to fix.

Original poster

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:46

@TeenToTwentieshis handwriting is clunky and looks like that of a Year 1. Probably too much pressure. He is a brilliant artist and loves creating pictures, colouring etc. and gross motor as mentioned above is a real strength.

He can tell a brilliant story - so I think the ideas are all there, but I think that he writes so little that he just doesn’t have the muscle memory or stamina to write any more. Perhaps there’s also fear of doing it wrong as the discrepancy between his reading and writing is there.

These are excellent ideas - thank you

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xmasdealhunter · 09/05/2025 21:48

@daffodil2025 If it's a nurturing prep, he should catch up quickly, so I wouldn't let that put you off making the move, particularly if he is strong in all other areas, as it's most likely just a mental block with the writing and with a bit of practice at home and some proper support from the teacher, I'd imagine he'll be just fine.

Monvelo · 09/05/2025 21:53

My ds is in year 3 and writing is also his weakness. I've heard sometimes it just takes more time. People have said it's a boy thing but I can't say it's that's true or not, certainly my DD had tidy writing at his age. What I've done at home once a week is do either some doodling or handwriting from a book or some hand strength exercises eg cutting, using pegs. We've also got an app called cursive writing wizard, just to practice letter formation.

Meadowfinch · 09/05/2025 21:56

daffodil2025 · 09/05/2025 21:12

@Meadowfinch thank you very much for this. It’s good to have some perspective on it. How is your DS with writing now?

It still isn't his favourite pastime, but he has 10 good GCSEs including 2 x English.

It seems to go in steps. His spelling was terrible and then in year 7 it all came together and suddenly he could spell as well as me. He's halfway through A'levels now and is doing fine.

TeenToTwenties · 10/05/2025 07:38

Maybe try a 'wondering why' technique with him over the weekend.
I'm wondering why you don't write as much as the others.
Could it be ... no ideas, get distracted, hurts, can't do cursive, worried about getting it wrong ....
and see how he responds.

From everything you have said so far it does seem as if it could well be the mechanics of writing that may be holding him back (if you are sure he has ideas) and/or fear of doing it badly. In which case regular writing practice via play, sneaking it into to life or a diary over the summer could make a massive difference.

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