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Primary education

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Original poster

Year 1 writing, ds is below expected level

37 replies

LeonardoAcropolis · 15/09/2017 16:39

Hello,

My DS has just started year 1 and will be 6 in November. Just for background, he is having speech therapy as his grammar is still behind but he is above average with his reading, ORT blue. I'll also add that he's never been interested in drawing or painting or craft and in foundation had to be made to do these things and this included being made to go to the writing table.

I had a quick word with his teacher after school today to ask if he'd settled in. She didn't have time for a long conversation but confirmed that emotionally and socially he's fine but academically she is concerned.

She reiterated that his reading is fine but she's "very concerned" about his writing, apparently he can't structure a sentence. I asked if he's getting help in the classroom, teacher said he is at the moment but she will be meeting with the SENIOR soon to discuss each child's needs.

His foundation report said his writing is below expected level so I worked with him over the summer break to help with forming letters (a Schofield and Sims book), however I am a little shocked to hear the words "very concerned". It sounds a little bit like he's doomed?

I have heard good things about his teacher from friends with older children taught by her. She seems very sweet, ds likes her and I trust her judgement. I will arrange to have a proper chat with her next week. What should I be asking? Should he go on SEN Register? What can I be doing at home to help?

Thank you.

OP posts:
SparklingBollox · 15/09/2017 16:45

Hopefully the input from salt will help with the sentence structure.
What have they suggested?
How are his fine motor skills? It's always helpful to work on those anyway.

JoJoSM2 · 15/09/2017 16:51

It doesn't sound good. However, your son is only 5 and I have met a few children who picked up pace as they got older. In the meeting, I'd be asking for the list of concerns, the support that the school will have in place and how to best support him at home.

cupcake007 · 15/09/2017 16:55

How is his comprehension? Does he understand what he's reading or simply read the words? Could you try some simple sentence structuring at home with him?

www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-l-2412-simple-sentence-writing-prompt-pictures

Think link is one I've used with reception children but would be ok to start with. Just in case it doesn't work, it shows a selection of pictures and the child has to write a sentence about them. e.g. A cat in a hat. Then ask him how he can make it more interesting. E.g. A black cat in a hat. Then moving onto something like The black hat in a hat is wearing a red collar.

Don't worry too much, it's still early days in the year.

Sevendaysinaweek · 15/09/2017 16:57

I wouldn't worry too much. Isn't it a bit early to expect writing in full sentences at the start of year 1? I know some can do it but I'm sure many in DD's class (including DD) are not quite there yet. Sounds like his reading is going very well and writing will follow as he progresses his reading I think.

squiz81 · 15/09/2017 16:57

I would maybe get him to do some diary style writing this weekend so you can gauge the problem for yourself. Get him to write a few sentences about his first weeks back at school.

DoubleHelix79 · 15/09/2017 16:58

I'm German and it always seems crazy to me how early children in the UK are expected to go to school and learn reading and writing.

In Germany children typically go to school at 6, sometimes 7. They aren't expected to even start learning letters until then, let alone write whole sentences.

Perhaps it's a little reassuring to know that your son would have been considered quite advanced there.

All I could do at 6 is scream a few letters really badly. Now I have two masters level degrees...

paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 15/09/2017 17:11

Neither of my DSCs who are both doing extremely well and consistently top table types at primary could have written a sentence at the beginning of Yr 1. In fact when my eldest started (now Yr 9 and doing very well) there was no expectation for children to write a sentence already. DC2's writing was totally chaotic in Yr 1, started coming together in Yr 2 and now is above expected level.

So so ridiculous of the teacher to say 'very concerned' at this stage, especially as reading is so good. Pointers on how to help are great are always helpful. There may well be concerns at a later stage but a week or so into year 1?

Original poster
LeonardoAcropolis · 15/09/2017 17:55

Thank you all x

The words " very concerned" just sound so damning. There's no point being sad about it though as thing can only improve, am I right?

His comprehension seems fine, he can answer questions I ask when doing his reading practice and his foundation report said he was expected level.

Good point about the SALT input helping him along, he sees a therapist four times per week and I'm hoping to have a word with her next week too so I'll mention it in case she's interested.

Thank you for the Twinkl link Cupcake.

I'm hoping it's just because he's never been interested in drawing, therefore his fine motor skills are behind. I will be doing more letter practice with him, plus playdoh, which he does enjoy.

This ds is a stubborn beast who hates doing what he doesn't want to! I think year 1 will be a bit of a shock for him.

OP posts:
cupcake007 · 15/09/2017 17:58

There are lots of fun ways to help him develop his fine motor skills. My favourite is using water spray bottles to squirt targets or clean shaving foam off toy cars etc. Xx

CrankyTheCrane · 15/09/2017 18:00

My ds has just started yr1, albeit as an August born so the youngest in his class. He can write his name legibly and if asked can write individual letters that are recognisable.

He's a confident reader, currently reading Harry Potter with very little input from me. However, he's not yet ever written a legible sentence. He'll write some scribbles with a few recognisable letters and tell me what it means but that's it.

Teacher hasn't mentioned it as being unusual, his previous teacher refused to give any of the pupils anything other than satisfactory for everything. Interesting to see how concerned your ds's teacher is though.

SparklingBollox · 15/09/2017 18:01

My dc were the same as your ds. They just weren't interested in writing so their fine motor skills were on the low side of average. I have forgotten the name of them but those fucking little beads are great for improving fine motor skills.
I agree with the pp who said that the phrase "very concerned" seems a bit ott at this point in the term.

squiz81 · 16/09/2017 07:49

sparkling do you mean hama beads?
What about lego too? That's fiddly and good for motor skills...plus fun!

Is it that he can't write letter though or that he can't write in sentences?

SparklingBollox · 16/09/2017 09:39

Yes, Hama beads that's it. Lego is great too and threading, sewing etc.
My dc were ok with writing a sentence, I couldn't always read it though because of their letter formation.

I used to be a ta in year one, a lot of children couldn't structure written sentences, especially at the very start of the school year. How is he doing with everything else ?
Is he doing colourful semantics with the speech therapist ?

SparklingBollox · 16/09/2017 09:40

Tbh I say ok to write a sentence, what I mean is if I bribed them with sweets they would do it.

Original poster
LeonardoAcropolis · 16/09/2017 12:10

Hello again, thanks all for your help full advice.

Squiz he loves Lego, there's a pile on the floor right now! He can form letters, not all of them correctly but they do end up looking like they should. I'll raise that with the teacher.

Thank you sparklingBollox (love the name). What are colourful semantics? I think he's ok with everything else.

Cupcake great ideas, he'll love the spray gun one.

I've just sat down with him and a Star Wars themed Writing Skills workbook. He did very well! A very small exercise, it showed a picture of a group of Jedis and asked which is your favourite. Ds then wrote 'Qui Gon'. Next question asks why. Ds said ' he's the best'. I asked him to write it, and he did! He knew how to spell each word. I'm going to take it to show the teacher next week. He needs more confidence, I'm not sure if he could have done this without me prompting and I don't know if that's expected at this stage, but I'll find out from her next week!

OP posts:
SparklingBollox · 16/09/2017 13:10

Colourful semantics is a salt approach to improve grammar.
It sounds like your doing loads with him.
Hope the meeting goes well.

drspouse · 16/09/2017 13:14

Oh gosh, DS is the same age 🎼 can't even form recognisable letters. We had a referral for OT and did a lot of practice but he clearly needs more, but it sounds like your DS is doing fine.

Jayfee · 16/09/2017 13:29

ok so retired teacher question...at 5 do they not still encourage
emergent writing? if a child worries about being able to spell every word, the writing of a five year old would surely be constrained?

Original poster
LeonardoAcropolis · 16/09/2017 13:31

Thank you SparklingBollox I'll check that out. As far as I know, the salt at the school will be using the system recommend by the NHS therapist, called Blanks Questions.

OP posts:
turquoise88 · 16/09/2017 13:47

ok so retired teacher question...at 5 do they not still encourage
emergent writing? if a child worries about being able to spell every word, the writing of a five year old would surely be constrained?

By the end of Reception, children working at expected level should be able to write simple sentences including words written in ways that match their spoken sounds (i.e. phonetic spelling), and also some common irregular words, such as the, to, be. Their writing also needs to be legible to others.

Original poster
LeonardoAcropolis · 16/09/2017 13:50

Thank you turquoise so if, for example, ds wrote 'fighting' as ' fiting' that would be ok, for now?

OP posts:
turquoise88 · 16/09/2017 13:56

Thank you turquoise so if, for example, ds wrote 'fighting' as ' fiting' that would be ok, for now?

Yes, it would be okay.

Children should be familiar with the phoneme 'igh', although a common misconception is to replace this with the irregular word 'I' as it makes the same sound.

Jayfee · 16/09/2017 14:07

Thanks Turquoise. So is any other writing allowed at different times. E.g We went to the museum and saw a gigantc dinosaur called a Triceratops. I am interested in how much the national curriculum and literacy hour have changed things.

turquoise88 · 16/09/2017 15:12

Thanks Turquoise. So is any other writing allowed at different times. E.g We went to the museum and saw a gigantc dinosaur called a Triceratops.

Sorry, not sure what you mean by this?

Jayfee · 16/09/2017 16:28

I meant if a child wantd to write something, say about a trip or picture they had done, would they be allowed to write outside of words they can spell. When my children went to reception, it seemed much more about play. If they did writing, I can't remember. But, as things have changed so much, I am curious as to how restricted the the activities are.