Year 1 writing, ds is below expected level

[LeonardoAcropolis]

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.

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.

Any good Reception or Year 1 class teacher will allow their children to write about their interests as part of their child-initiated continuous provision.

Ah,thanks. Reception classes were much loved by my children and although I have always worked with older students, I think the reception and primary classes are the most important.

DS also August born & yr 1 and at home, refuses to even try writing letters, let alone sentences.

OP - would you mind saying when your DS started speech therapy? We discussed referral with school in reception and were told that cuts mean it is basically now just a once per term visit so not much point. DS is now very chatty but still speaks like a younger child - "I not like that" for example.

You need to get him to write a full sentence rather than one word answers

If he needs help at school showing work a teacher home isn't going to get him the support he needs

Go in and listen!

Children should be able to write 'we went to the beach on holiday' spellings mistakes are ok

He needs finger spaces full stops capital letters (in the right places)

If he can use connectives even better, which move on to time connectives (On Saturday / next week/ at lunch time)

These are what they are looking for

You say your DS is having SALT support due to his grammar needs. Does this mean he doesn't speak in sentences? If he can't speak in sentences, he is unlikely to be able to write in sentences (unless the reason for not being able to speak in sentences is due to a physical impediment in saying the words). If he can speak in sentences, there is unlikely to be any reason why he can't write a sentence other than that it might be physically uncomfortable to hold a pencil for that long or he might get bored so his mind drifts & he forgets what he was going to write.
DS can write about whatever he wants on the "writing table" at school but what he wrote would mainly be spelt phonetically & full stops etc may well be omitted.

My child is like this going into Yr 2. I'm worried, they don't seem interested in my concerns and his yr 1 teacher totally fudged his targets. Said he could use punctuation and capital letters - ticked the box with a big flourish. I said that was very impressive given he still wasn't able to write.

Still ticked the box.

I'll do the stuff on this thread and see if it helps. His sibling has complex SN. I keep asking is there maybe something lurking in the background with the younger one but they write me off as neurotic.

Hello again, thank you for further comments.

Slightlyglittered he started when he was three. He had a backing disorder as well as his speech delay so we saw both NHS and private therapists. His backing disorder resolved very quickly but he's still in the system for his delay. Have you tried going through the GP for a speech therapist? You say that you spoke to the school for a referral but has he even been assessed yet?

Greentulips I intend to go in and listen to the teacher, I gave him that little exercise yesterday to see if he could write more than one word, and he did! Thing is, because the teacher didn't have the time to tell me in detail what her concerns actually are. I don't yet know if he is actually unable to think of a sentence to write without prompting or if it's down to immaturity or stubbornness and laziness. I will take that work book in to ask if it's suitable for helping him at home.

penstemon he can speak in full sentences, he needs help with using his words correctly and expanding his use of words.

Everythingsucks that sounds frustrating. Have you spoken to his yr2 teacher and the SENCO?

If he can speak in full sentences, then he should be able to write in them when he develops the necessary fine motor skills. FWIW, DS has also gone into Y1 and has hearing problems which has led to SALT intervention. That has really helped his pronunciation. What has helped his language therapy is me essentially going back a few years and really working on his vocab. If we see a ladybird for example, I make him describe it; name other insects etc. The sort of thing you'd do with a toddler really. We also have adjective games and silly story games. Sometimes I am the only one playing as DS refuses to join in but I think at least he is being exposed to the language. We have also started going to the library and reading a lot of books. These are all big picture books and I am doing the reading but, again, it is language exposure. We might also talk about the language used. I did do all of this with DS when he was a toddler but, in retrospect, he may not have been able to hear me.

Thanks Penstemon, that's a very helpful post with great ideas.

How do you play the adjective game?

Jeez Louise, my ds is 6yo in December and school don't push this hard for writing in full sentences. He cannot read yet, either. He is nowhere near writing. He can write letters nicely, in capitals, but still not complete words (unless it is his name or 'police' which he writes several million times a day!).

We also aren't in the UK.

My DS didn't read until 6, writing in sentences nearer 7. Amazingly though by the end of yr 2 and 7.5 he was at the expected level in the ks1 SATs (ahead in Maths) and is writing well a yr on.

Some just don't follow the required pace and learn in fits and starts. Mine also has grammar issues in speech and is a little babyish in many phrasings.

Hello, just seen the teacher. Feel a bit rubbish so will start a new thread as further questions have been raised.