Level 4 for reading but only 2b for writing - dysgraphia?

[MandMand]

My son has always really struggled with writing since starting school, at the end of year 2 he was at 2c, now at the end of year 3 he is 2b.

He has moved from 2a to 3b in maths, and from 3c to level 4 in reading, so is generally doing fine and making good progress in other areas.

We have been working through the Collins Easy Learning Handwriting Workbooks at home, and he's been going to Kip McGrath since Easter. He also has extra small group handwriting sessions at school.

Would it be worth asking the school to assess him for dysgraphia, considering the discrepancy between his reading and writing level? He already has an ASD diagnosis, and an IEP, but I'd like to try and get some more focused support in place to improve his writing.

What is wrong / less good with his writing?

• neatness
• spelling
• punctuation
• complexity of individual words
• complexity of sentence structure

If you know that it might help you understand how to proceed.

It's neatness, spelling and punctuation which are the problems mainly - ideas and language are OK as far as I know.

As there is a discrepancy between reading and writing - especially neatness, spelling & punctuation, then the SENDCo should be carrying out some basic assessments & checks to ascertain whether your DS could have an SpLD [eg Dyspraxia or Dysgraphia] which can co-exist with ASD (the SENDCo would have to refer on for accurate diagnosis). Also to check sequencing and ST memory processing. Targeted interventions/support can then be put in place. Not putting in punctuation can keep the assessment at a level 2, regardless of the quality of the content. 'Kung-Fu' punctuation sounds/movements could help when rehearsing sentences before writing... Yes, to having a chat with the Teacher and SENDCo..

Thank-you both. I'm so proud of him and how well he copes at school, he seems to struggle more with writing than he does with his autism at the moment.