Should I be worried about DS1 handwriting/writing, and overall progress

[chimphead]

Hi, I have just been reading thread about parent not sure of what to look for in progress of child. Was she being naive or neglectful. Many replies said she should not just rely on schools feedback and judge for herself. This to be seems harder than it seem. I have tried to look at NC levels and what age child should be doing this or that. But then I am told that every child is different. I have ask school repeatedly how DS (age 6 Y1) is doing to be told he is fine. However I have had concerns about social skills , playing with other children, motor skills both gross and fine, from way before starting school. And since starting both writing and phonics. I approached SEN who said they would do observations, but to be honest I am very worried about writing. DS is extremely resistant to doing work at home. Please can I have your views on 3 pieces of writing. I am dyslexic myself and also have sensory issues. I am sure DS suffers similar too. Thanks

Hi, Anyone. teachers. I think school should be doing more to help DS writing skills. I have tried at home. Bought writing practice book recommended on here. Tried all sorts, however so resistant to do anything at home. Breaks down into tears. As far as I know he does no extra writing at school. He also can not do buttons or open packets ect. He struggles to dress himself.
Please advice needed, can school do more to help.
Thankyou

I also had (have!) a ds who is and has always been bad at fine motor skills. He didn't actually learn to write properly until Y1 (just about managed his name with the letters the right way round towards the end of reception) - I can't remember exactly what his handwriting was like at the end of Y1 but it was not great.

School did lots of handwriting practice with the whole class, differentiated according to ability so ds was tracing letters and some were learning joined up etc. I think every morning. We also had a concerted effort at home which helped. I got a handwriting book, set a timer and made him do 10 min as soon as he got home. Could be any kind of letter formation so if he didn't want to do the book we did finger painting, chalk on paving stones, anything.

I think a lot of this was developmental as he also couldn't do buttons, bad at lego etc. He is now nearly 8 and his writing is fine (I think he has a bad pencil grip but that's another thread) and buttons are not a problem!

Hi chimphead,

Not sure why no one else has come on your thread to help yet, I'll do my best but am only a parent.

Firstly, by the end of year 1 it is hoped that children will have reached level 1b/1a of the National Curriculum (NC).

In case you do not already know how levels work, the first level of the NC is 1. Each level is split further but the letters c, b and a. 'c' is the lowest level of attainment, then b and finally a. So at this point in time a 1c would be a bit below where he's expected, a 1b is ok, and a 1a then no concerns. You can ask your son's teacher what level he has achieved so far.

Levels are being abolished from this September, however I still think this information will help you, because there are concrete examples for you to compare with your DS's writing:

This is a link to examples of writing judged to be at 1c

This is a link to examples of writing judged to be at 1b

This is a link to examples of writing judged to be at 1a

Now if you have concerns about writing and fine motor skills then please read the following thread, where mrz provides a long list of activities that will help children improve their fine motor skills, which will ultimately improve their hand writing.

I suggest that you work on a few of these exercises using materials you already have to hand and gradually find the ones that your DS is most happy to do each and every day.

At the same time try and encourage him to make up and dictate stories, letters, lists etc., whilst he is building up the strength in his hands and fingers with the exercises. This is to try and help him see that even if it is something he finds difficult now, there is value to getting things from his imagination onto paper.

This will also ensure that he works on many aspects of composing writing, without the current stress he is experiencing. If he is not confident with punctuation, explain it to him as you write his story/list or letter. Gradually you can encourage him to write the first line of the story, the first few words of a list, add the punctuation. You may well find that he enjoys writing much more as a team, at least for the time being. Little and often is the key.

Your other path is to see if you can get him referred to an occupational therapist, who can assess both his gross and fine motor skills. The ability to do this will depend on your area and I'm not able to advise you more than this unfortunately.

Finally have the school given him pencil grips to try? There are many available, although he is likely to prefer one or two of the various shapes. These can be particularly beneficial with ensuring he has the correct tripod grip when holding a pencil.

Apologies liege - cross post!

Thankyou both, I have a lot to think about. I have been looking for examples like that. He has been given pencil grips and a special pencil to write with.
Hopefully it could be just developmental as he has met most of his milestones late. I need to be inventive in trying to get him to do fine motor skill training. The main problem he has is that he gives up very easily. He gets extremely frustrated and angry as soon as he cant do a task. He has never ever completed a jigsaw for example and would refuse to do one. This carries on in everyday life. He wont join in party games in case he loses or go on a climbing frame because he cant get a leg up. He is a master avoider and excuse maker. He has started to enjoy lego now.
Another that worries me is that although he has a fantastic imagination, he cant think what to write. When asked ''What would you buy with 10 pounds'' he wrote I wud bay sum food.
I presume end of school report will give me levels and I think I will have to see teacher to see what steps I need to take.
He is currently seeing GP because he has started to wet himself daily now, although rarely at school. Other issues like extremely fussy eater and sensitivity to touch, he does not like to be hugged or play fight with other children. Sometimes give me cause for concern. Its so hard to gauge if he is just late developing or there is something more going on
Thanks again

OP, thanks for putting photos of your DS's writing, it makes it so much easier than describing. My DS has handwriting issues and people in rl seem to always say 'oh, my dc has bad handwriting too' then I see their child's writing and I am so I hadn't been writing on these sort of threads much!

The summer holidays between year 1 and year 2 we did lots and lots of craft activities, I let him come to the toy shop and choose stuff. We did aqua beads, hama beads, clay, painting, chalking outside, pipe cleaner things covered in wax (can't remember what they were called but they were particularly popular), threading etc and not much writing. We didn't do things he didn't want to do e.g. colouring. It seemed to have a positive effect.

We do writing for a few minutes each evening too, perhaps 5-10. We are very slowly getting there.

Btw in year 1 my school organised an OT to come in and do stuff with him, they have given him paper with various spaced lines to try, given him various pens and pencils to try and had the TA spend time with him. The teacher/TA also scribed for him some of the time so he wouldn't get frustrated at not being able to get his answers down. This has stopped now he is in year 2 but he does use a computer to type instead of writing some of the time.

Thanks for taking time to reply. I looked on Amazon for those pipe cleaner things. Wikki sticks I think. Will do as suggested and do lots of crafts over holidays.
Will also start using tablet to write stories, so he is not struggling to do two things at once.
I presume I should have a clearer view of how he is progressing after I receive report. If not I will speak to teacher.

Thanks again