Classroom support for struggling summer born DS

[kiwidreamer]

DS has struggled with preschool, cut back from 5 to 3 mornings and now as a one on one support person. He does well with that support, defusing his flash points I guess and distracting him from things he struggles with (basically complying with anything that he doesn't want to do). But I'm really worried how he is going to cope in a classroom, does anyone know if it's possible to get one on one support in the classroom - as much for the benefit of other children as well as him.

It breaks my heart that he is playing up so much, he was a wonderful baby/toddler has always been at home with me but from turning 3/starting preschool/DD arriving (all at same time) he has been rather challenging to say the least. He seems to have no impulse control, will not comply with anything he doesn't want to, doesn't think of the impact of his actions, thrives off negative attention. It's not a 24/7 situation, just in exciting situations and when he's not getting attention.

He can count to 20, understands the principals of add/subtract, good with phonics/letter/number recognition so he is bright enough and will apply himself to things he is interested in but is very disruptive when bored or at a loose end. Everyone seems to say the most important skills for tem to enter Reception with are the social skills and in my heart of hearts I know he is just not even close and I'm really struggling with knowing how to teach him by Sept!!!

Any real life stories of 'my boy was just the same and came right' would be terribly appreciated!!

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What does his pre-school suggest? Have they involved anyone from the early years SEN team?

It is possible to get one to one support, but you have to be on the SEN register and it's not easy to get on.

My ds is summer born and currently in reception. He struggled with social interaction at preschool, but the school have really worked hard with him and he's considerably better, to a point that theu had a new teacher this term and she said she wouldn't have picked him out as ever having been a problem. I'd have chosen for him to have another year at preschool if I could, even though he was fluent reader etc. before he started, simply because of the social side.

I'd just add that my ds has hearing problems (glue ear) and this can go with this sort of behaviour. Has your ds had his hearing checked? I notice when he has an ear infection his behaviour goes down hill, to the point now that if he's had a rough day at school I sometimes will get a phone call suggesting I get him checked for an ear infection. They've not been wrong yet!

Your DS won't be the first summer born boy they've had to deal with. Reception will be a lot to do with play, working on gross motor skills before turning more attention to fine motor skills and absorbing what's going on around them, learning without realising it. If there are any specific SEN issues, I would hope the pre-school is picking up on them.

Can you reintroduce the missing two mornings of preschool?

Ds and dd both had one to one support from entry to nursery because I secured a statement of special educational needs before they set foot in a school setting. It was seemingly easier than trying to get one once they were in school reading others' experiences tbh.Dd still gets 20 hours support per week and ds gets full time support and has from the minute he started school nursery he's now 17.
I'd go to your GP and ask for a referral to a developmental paed so that you can discover whether it is simply immaturity or whether there is something else going on.Definitely get his hearing and sight checked, if you have any concerns over speech ask for a speech therapy referral.
Have pre school referred him to the inclusion team or early years service? If not ask them to as these services pave the way for a smooth entry into school.