Would a gap between levels indicate a problem?

[121prob]

ds 8 is just going into Y4, he was assessed before the holidays as being level 2b for writing, 3A Maths and 4B for Reading. He entered Y3 on a level 1b so has improved by a whole level but this big gap between reading and writing seems to indicate a big problem to me.

He does have SN and an IEP etc but school are saying it is normal to be better at reading than writing. Would you expect a gap like this?

That indicates a big problem with writing to me.

That says his reading is 4 years ahead of his writing!

Of course school are telling you not to worry, it's not a problem, they know what they're doing. That's what they always say. otherwise they'd have to do something about it

What bit of writing does he struggle with?

• physically doing it?
• getting his thoughts on paper?
• getting his writing to make sense?
• handwriting?
• spelling?
• understanding the task?
• puntuation?
• vocab?

How old is he?

Is his work better if it's done on a computer?

Is his work better if it's dictated to you?

What is his SN and what does the school do to support him? It isn't unusual to be lower in writing than reading, but I'd say that gap was large enough to cause concern.

It's fantastic he's made a level's progress in a year! What changed in year 3?

His SN is Autism.

all of the above really Indigo, apart from Vocab which is amazing. The Ed Pysch reccomended he use a comp for the majority of written work at the end of Y2. This hasn't been implemented with the reason given as "his target was his handwriting".The main improvements in Y3 I would say are letter formation, he was still writing b d wrong way around etc. His grammar is Ok.

He mostly fits the criteria for dyspraxia as well, he has immature fine and gross motor skills, but has good hand eye coordination so this was ruled out, The physical effort of writing is part of the problem.

He was only dx at the end of the last term, and support is now being put in place for him with a 121, other than that he doesn't have any adaptations, pencil grips, slanted desk etc.

For homework I scribe for him, because he gets so stressed. Whe he writes a story on the comp at home, it can run to pages and pages....but it is mainly pages of all his obsessions merged into one long monologue. The beginning of a paragraph may be about Hitler, Stalin the end about space time continuem.

He is a bright lad, but isn't able to show it in his writing and I don't know how to help him. His sister has just gone to hs and has been top of the class all through primary, I would say he easily surpasses her intelligence wise, but not on paper.

What should I do?

Have you looked at the possibility that it may be Dysgraphia?

At primary school my ds also had a reading age way ahead of his writing level but is not on the dyslexia range. It can also be hereditary (my dh was very pleased to finally have a reason for being unable to spell!)

This is all very familiar (my DS has ASD)

There are 3 different problems here:

1. Physical problems

If you want to help him physically you could try:

• an OT
• a move-n-sit cushion
• a writing slope
• pencil grips

I did all of the above for DS. Just bought the stuff myself and brought it into school. It helped a bit.

I didn't want DS to use a computer, I wanted him to learn to write.

1. Spelling

I'd ignore this for now, as it wouldn't make the top of my priority list. When it does make the top of your priority list do 'Applex & Pears' with him.

1. Not being able to order his thoughts or structure his writing

This is something school can't really help with - hence they won't admit there's a problem with this.

I did 2 different neuro-developmnent therapies (Retained Reflex Therapy and Tinsley House) to resolve this problem.

I personally don't think anything else would have helped.

And we got there in the end. DS has just finished Y6 and got a L5 for writing (he even sat the L6 paper)

Start of Y4 he was a L2
Start of Y5 he was a L2
Start of Y6 he was a L3

If you think his dysgraphic type problems are a significant issue, you could ask your GP to refer youto a paediatric occupational therapist. They would be able to make recommendations about what would help in the way of exercises, pencil grips sloping board etc and would try and work wit hthe school to implement these.