DS is in Y1 and you can't read a word he's written. You can just about tell if he's writing a T or an O or maybe that could be a Z or an S, maybe, but beyond that it's guesswork. All the letters that have a curve and a tail (a, b, d, g, h, p, q, y) look the same as they are a circle with a random line or two somewhere on them. Also everything is enormous and all over the page (he'll start somewhere in the middle, write the letters in order, but end up in the next county).
We're hoping for a referral soon to investigate dyspraxia.
The class has spelling tests and they are sent home with words to practice - and they have a Big Write each week, and various other writing things in class. He does practice at home and if I ask him the letters in the word he can sometimes get them.
So, not surprisingly, he's just come home with a report saying "not meeting targets" in writing and SPAG (though he can do phonics quite happily and is fine in reading, just needs to speed up a bit).
I think I'm most concerned that his writing isn't improving, but for his own well being I think it's a bit unfair that he gets 0 every single week in his spelling when he can usually try one or two of the words and quite often (if you watch what he's writing and he tells you which letters it is) gets them right.
Firstly any tips for really helping his writing? We do practice pencil skills most days, nice grips on pens, please don't tell me about "strengthening his shoulders" as I have looked it up and it has not been shown to help, he's not great at other fine motor skills either but frankly it's enough hassle to get him to practice his pencil skills so it's going to have to be something he'd really LOVE to do (sorry I know that is NOT helpful - oh and also he has zero interest in Lego)
Secondly is it fair to ask the school not to make him write out his spellings? Should they be letting him skip the test? Or letting him do it in plastic letters or something?