Baseline assessment, didn't finish.

[AmberJF]

My son started reception this year. He has speech delay, does understand mostly but does struggle when something is new. Speech is getting better but very slowly. His speech therapist is useless, never remembers him or what he's done, doesn't send information out to like she said she would, I feel the sessions are pointless tbh.

Anyway his teacher pulled me aside today and told me they had tried to do the baseline assessment, however he had a complete lack of understanding of what was being asked of him, so basically he couldn't complete it. She has set up a meeting in a few weeks with the inclusion lead to see what the school can do to help him etc.

I am so scared for his future, we knew he was behind with his speech and learning but I guess hearing from his teacher that he has basically failed, I just feel heartbroken and that I've failed him. What can I do to help him? Has anyone's little one been in a similar position and managed to catch up with their peers? Or have they always struggled with learning? I don't believe their is anything underlying, but obviously I'm not a professional (I do work in a sen school so do have a lot of understanding around this area). He is a typical 4 year old, loves his bike, being outside, playing and role playing, he does struggle with playing with others, but I believe this is more that he just doesn't understand what's being played or what others are saying, he isn't scared to try and play with others though. I am so worried for his future, that he'll always be behind and now I'm worrying he'll be left behind by his peers and not a have a friendship group. Honestly I am spiralling. He isn't one for sitting he's very active, although he's loving sitting and looking/reading his booked from school. Please help.

Firstly, you can’t fail a baseline assessment - it is just there to tell the teacher where your son is in different areas. Try not to panic.

it sounds as though school are being quite proactive with providing extra help. It should be sensitively handled and the other children will not think badly of him for having extra help.

also, how your son is at 4 doesn’t dictate his future. My eldest was in special school at 3, achieving expectations for his age by the end of primary school and got good GCSEs before going on to an apprenticeship. Just keep chatting with him, using reduced language if necessary for him to understand and read lots of books, especially rhyming ones and anything where the words feel nice to say and hear.

Has he had a (proper) hearing test?

Is the speech therapist nhs or private?

if private get a new one.

they should be giving you exercises and things to do daily with him to work on his speech.

Was he in a nursery or preschool prior to school?

I was going to ask about a hearing test, but someone beat me to it.

He hasn't failed and he isn't behind his peers he is where he is. You already know he needs help. Don't spiral and worry. School are flagging it to get interactions in place.
As pp said if speech therapist is private change it or complain about her anyway if you are not happy.

And how old is he? Is he a younger reception child.

You can’t really fail a baseline assessment, it’s to show where he is at that moment. It’s good the school are putting support in place. What did his nursery say, they do school readiness.

This sounds so much like my DS, he’s just started reception. Behind with his speech, possible autism, although haven’t had an official diagnosis. We have quickly learned that if you have to rely on the NHS for help, it will take years. If you are able to afford private speech therapy and other assessments it will be worth it. Could you speak to the school about possibly getting an EHCP? I know it’s a long process, but if you were able to get one, would mean that your DS would be more likely get the help he needs, as they are legally binding. It’s good that the school are being proactive about it though. Also, please try to remember that every child develops differently. My son is behind with his speech, but amazing at building, Lego, train sets etc. DH is an engineer so definitely has that side of his brain. Your son will have his strengths to.

Some great advice here. Definitely get a hearing test asap.
If he's active encourage that - plenty of fresh air and running around.
Read to him every bedtime. This makes a massive difference.
Play games with him.. dobble etc. Sing songs with him.
Don't worry he'll get there.

He hasn’t failed, he’s 4! Work with the school to get him the support he needs. Sounds like he needs a better therapist and a hearing test would be a good idea.
Lots of children, especially boys aren’t quite ready for formal school at 4/5, things could be very different in a couple of years.
Concentrate on the things he does enjoy and read to him every night before bed, don’t worry about him reading just yet.

This, whilst well-meaning isn't helpful. He is behind his peers, OP knows this, and the school obviously do too which is why they are doing assessments and trying to formulate a plan. This isn't a slight on him, his personality or his parents. It's a fact based on standardised tests. There's nothing wrong with saying that a child is not meeting expectations/milestones.

Labelling a child as behind or failing is not well meaning or helpful at age 4 and at the very start of formal learning.
He could be a summer born child who is physically younger than others in the cohort. They already know he has speech delay and a poor speech therapist has been brought in to help.
The test is for the school to measure how far they bring a child on in the time they spend there.
More reading less testing in schools would improve literacy no end to start with.

So, I do understand your concern but please try and reframe your understanding of the assessment in a different way to failure.
He has difficulties that many of his peers don't right now and it is right that you look at these and see what needs to be done to support him to progress. However this really isn't failure.

You need to know that child development isn't a linear process, as if a child is on some kind of conveyor belt of learning and development and that if your child is behind his peers on that conveyor belt at one point he will remain so for life.

Child growth and development is much more up and down. Just like physically, children can have growth spurts at different times, some start losing baby teeth at 5 and others at 7, some enter puberty at different ages to others, intellectual and emotional development also varies too.

The absolute brilliant thing is that school have identified that he needs additional help so quickly and are looking to provide it. They will also advise and support you on how you can best help your son.

It's totally understandable that you feel anxious and upset that this has been flagged up, but the aim isn't to label your son as "failed" but to identify the right support to help him to catch up.

It may be that with support your son may move forward in leaps and bounds and catches up quickly with his peers' level of understanding. It may be that this is the start of a much longer journey where he needs additional or different support for much longer. It maybe somewhere in between these. I don't think it is possible to say right now, but please don't jump to a worst case scenario. If you work in an SEN environment it may be easy to assume that it it will mean more serious lifelong difficulties as that is what you are surrounded with day to day.

It may help to realise that actually your son hasn't changed at all. He is still the same lovable, active delightful ( and probably sometimes infuriating) little boy that you have always loved and cared for.

If you can, be pleased that the school are so willing to help. Ask them the best things that you can do at home to help and then be consistent in making time for those activities as much as you possibly can. Work in partnership with the school to do the best for your boy ( I'm sure you know this and are very willing to do this anyway.)

So, for now this might look like saying to his class teacher. "I know you are going to take more advice but in the meantime, what do you think are the most important things I can do to support him.". Then just take it from there.

I don't know your son and it may be that these suggestions are not appropriate but you might try some why and because printables from Twinkle
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-sc-200-autumn-why-and-because-scene-and-question-cards

Also use whatever toys he enjoys playing with and play with him but narrate whatever is happening or give simple instructions or opportunities for speech (eg " Oh no Thomas is going into the tunnel. It is very dark!" " Now he's going up the hill. The carriages are very heavy. Will he make it to the top? Does another engine need to help him". "The paw patrol pups are getting ready to rescue Lego man / teddy etc" "What instructions will Ryder give them?" Simple games like "You have the red Duplo and I'll have the green Duplo, Who can build a tower the fastest? Ready, steady go!". You get the idea and I bet you do some of this already. It all builds opportunities for language comprehension and expression.

Tell me you're not a teacher without telling me 😁 Firstly, no one has hung a placard around the child's neck. The OP knows he is behind in areas, school have confirmed this and are working on a plan. This is extremely helpful.
There is very little formal testing in reception (and they aren't tests anyway), and where do you suppose all this extra reading is happening? In a good classroom there is one teacher and one assistant between circa 30 children.

Oh I'm sorry I didn't realise you had to be a teacher to comment, show support or have an opinion.

If you have the financial resources, I would download Twinkl, and take a look at the Reception Baseline Assessments.

Print them off, see how he did and then look at ways in which you can support him.

If you also have the finances, a private SALT is worth their weight it gold.