Speech delayed 4 year old and reading

[sunshinedaises]

My ds is starting school in September so it has got me thinking about his learning. He didn't start talking until just before 4 so he is still very behind with his speech and I still struggle to understand a lot of what he says. Nursery have said they don't want to teach him phonics yet as he can't talk properly. What will happen when he starts school? Can I try to encourage reading now or should I wait until he can speak properly?

Is there something else going on? Has he had hearing checked by audiology? Is there autism? Developmental delay? Auditory processing issue?

Have you done private SLT? I personally wouldn’t rely on local authorities to sort your child out. He needs immediate intervention.

Another one recommending private s and l if you can- makes a huge difference, you will wait years for sporadic interventions from the nhs.

in terms of school readiness, I think they care more about skills like washing hands, following instructions, independence in the toilet, eating, dressing etc. rather than reading. In fact with each school using a different phonics scheme it can be confusing if they learn one way and have to re learn using another method eg my sister taught my nephew all his letters but with proper names eg G - jee, where in phonics it would be guh if that makes sense.

my daughter starts reception in September, she knows her numbers purely through interest (eg wanting to press lift buttons) and can recognise and write her own name. I think by September she maybe will know some letters but I’m not too focussed on it. Her pen control, colouring and drawing is great. She has a childminder who follows a genuine learn through play approach which I really value. She’s as smart as a button and will pick it up no need to rush x

Fight took me till yr 2 to get salt coming in to school,weekly, the 6 week therapy was no good for ds. He is now 15 and never shut up