Talk to me! Has anyone managed to get a primary school to support touch typing for english/written work?

[tartanterror]

We aren't having much luck. We have EP and OT reports suggesting keyboard use for extended writing. (Also in an EHCP finalised June 2017). However after an initial trial with a Neosmart keyboard nothing happened. I didn't chase this as his handwriting and confidence has come on brilliantly, but really as demands increase going into Y5 we need to be looking ahead to get his typing skills up before he heads to secondary school and has lots of notes to take..... I need to hear some success stories and know it is possible to get a keyboard - or possibly a voice to text processor..... please come to reassure me and tell me how you persuaded the school to put this in place?!

Is it named support on the EHCP?

In our LA, the school requests the LA to come out and do an ICT assessment which then entails the Specialist coming out to see what systems could be of use. I think about 10 children in our school use laptops for their work (primary) and some have iPads as well to help record their work/access the curriculum.

If you are getting no joy from the school, contact the Local Authority and ask them for advice. Search for your County’s Local Offer and there should be some advice.

If you are happy to tell me what you local authority is, I can have a look at what you need to do.

There's a thread on the one of the SN boards which is discussing just that. I'm at that awkward point with DD2 at the moment where she's a bit too young to be able to push for this (and she has speech issues making voice recognition not really viable either) but by heck I'm going to be pushing for it when she's a bit further up the school.

Thanks lookslike I've dm'd you :)

My son is just going into yr2 and uses a laptop at school. He has dcd and without it he would not his targets without it. Had to push hard for it though

My son used a laptop at primary school but was so bloody slow he ended up preferring to write. It's not easy for maths either - harder to think on screen if you're dyslexic. You have to be very proficient at typing to make it worthwhile.

We also used dragon voice recognition software. Again, ds was a bit lazy on it. And didn't like being different. Physically a barrier to imaginative writing - better to transcribe later for him.

Touch typing speed is key if you're going to use a laptop. Great skill for anyone.

Ds now 21 and chose not to use laptop for secondary exams.

Interesting thoughts. Thanks wentmad and tomorrow

All the children in my class (HFA) use a laptop for any written work longer than single sentence type answers.

It means they can't get 'Greater Depth' for writing, which is a shame in some cases where they are capable, but better than them hating writing/ refusing to write at all.

Ah thanks for this ladypeacock

I've just looked up the national curriculum for Y4 and it lists out separate items under "writing" - spelling, handwriting, writing (composition), writing (vocabulary, grammar and punctuation).

So are you saying that if he, say, completely smashed 3 out of the 4 targets, but if couldn't meet the handwriting portion due to "reasonable adjustments" for SEN then he would be marked down?

That sounds completely wrong - I hope I've misunderstood!

Yes, at end of KS2 they are not allowed to be given 'greater depth' as their official teacher assessment for writing unless their handwriting meets the statement in the TA framework.

It specifically states (somewhere) that pupils may use a word processor but then cannot be given greater depth.

Although, to be fair, that might have only been in the original (ridiculous) Govian teacher assessment framework (in the 15/16 year). I haven't had a pupil working at greater depth since then so haven't actually had reason to question it.

They have made the TA for writing more flexible, so it may have changed. I am going to try to find out.

Anyway, I can 100% guarantee word processed work is fine for pupils working at expected as we were moderated externally this year and they didn't bat an eyelid at my kids' books.

"maintain legibility in joined handwriting when writing at speed." Is required for the expected standard at the end of KS2 but ...

Ignore me (I think!).

It said this in the 15/16 framework:

Where pupils are physically able to write and meet all of the statements except for being able to produce legible handwriting, they may be awarded the ‘expected standard’ but cannot be awarded the ‘greater depth’ standard.

That statement has been removed so presumably it is now OK to give 'greater depth' without the handwriting.

Thanks!

Update: we’ve customised an old keyboard with stickers coloured by felt pens, and signed up for Englishtype junior with a prize if he gets to lesson 6 before term starts..... he’s loving it so far. Fingers crossed he can learn to touch type before Xmas and then a keyboard in class might be more achievable 🤞🏻

Following with interest. My DS is supposed to be using both Dragon and a laptop to type with in school but looking through his work at the end of the year there was very little evidence of this actually happening. All very frustrating as handwriting is definitely NOT to the way forwards for him and I need school to actively support him getting up to speed in another method. I've been told he can type for his SATS but unless he gets significantly better, that's not going to help in any way.

ilovesushi you May have to become that parent and put pressure on for your child to get what they need. Also if any professionals connected to your sons Sen can do the same it helps.

Tomorrow I am so fed up of being 'that parent'. I have the conversation, think things are set up, look away, and nothing is happening all over again. What makes it harder is the school seems to think he should be up and running with touch typing if he's not handwriting. How and when was he supposed to miraculously absorb these new skills? We do stuff at home, but like any dyslexic kid it takes a lot of time to learn certain new skills. The attitude seems to be - oh he's not typing at speed therefore give him a pencil instead as the default option. AAArrrggghhhh!!!!