Why is my child lying on floor to write at school?

[Smith888]

For several weeks my child's state school has had a trial with a "new form of education." Kids can sit wherever they want, with whomever they want, they can lie down, stand up, sit on bench or table. I have been told sometime back my child apparently does "amazingly well" writing whilst lying down, which initially made sense as doc says wrist is very stiff. Well I thought this was a one off experiment, until I saw my child's workbook last week and schoolwork has very much deteriorated not improved. I now hear from my child - after TEN WEEKS of this experiment - that its back to the table again, because teacher has now noticed handwriting is in fact worse (I have not brought this up) but because everyone gets to do whatever they want, my child sits alone.

So other parents are noticing the same and being told that their kids work has drastically improved, when they are noticing the opposite. I get the feeling the teacher is under pressure from HT and doesn't have a choice but to promote this.

Has anyone heard of this style of education? Shouldn't the school consult with parents beforehand? Am I mad, or would it make more sense for a child to see an OT if they can only produce good handwriting lying down?

@picklemepopcorn, having gone through extensive therapy to correct my older child's proprioception and vestibular processing, I would normally be a huge advocate of this method of learning. I am aware of what sensory breaks can do for children in general. Seeing the results of this method, which is full time, however, with my younger child I am obviously having doubts. Ironically with PE and playtime are being cut this seems the solution at present. Behaviourally parents also complaining that the children are becoming quite rude and refusing to follow instructions at home because it's not their choice lol.
I suppose it's natural if a kid is benefitting greatly from the structured environment, the flexible one isn't going to help - it's the luck of the draw.
If only someone could explain the benefits with concrete evidence in workbooks (not a deterioration like in my DC) I would love to believe it is for the greater good...

@Fairgame84 thankyou!

Which muscle groups does lying on the floor to write develop and why does virtually every OT/PT give the advice in the first reply to this post?

Sorry, are you saying OTs and PTs advice children to write on floor when they have difficulty? I don't quite understand your comment...
If yes, then presumably a referral to OT not needed?

In the trial I believe the handwriting and content improved, but after that downhill. I am wondering if it has something to do with the space eg in the trial the space was larger more open space, but full-time is in a small room. My DC complains it's too noisy - it has always been noisy even before trial,and to add to this DC always chooses to sit near the chatty kids. Perhaps that's why DC is now on a table alone. This might make sense as my older child has milder auditory difficulties, but I have no idea how that might impact a child's handwriting....

No, IME the advice from OT is almost always the same as is drspouse’s reply - sat properly in the right size chair, with the right size table, feet flat on the floor and a writing slope if needed. I really can’t see any of them agreeing that lying on the floor to write is the right position to help develop proprioception or correct muscle control.

It’s bonkers.

Rafa, what I didn't get from Op was, that they were allowed to do anything while writing, but the teacher decided it was no good for OP's dc, so now the teacher wants the dc to sit at the desk. So, while I do totally agree with drspouse and your opinions about lying on the floor is not good idea for some children, I didn't get what's the problem for Op's dc, who was asked to sit, but not told to sit on his own, I assume.

Rafa, the advice for good posture for writing isn't necessarily the same as the advice for how young children should spend their time.

In countries where learning is play based for longer, children's arm and shoulder muscles, their core stability etc, are better developed before formal learning begins. Our children won't have developed those muscle groups as well due to a more sedentary lifestyle.

@irvineoneohone Correct. DC has not been told to sit on own, it's just how it's panned out. DC has previously chosen to sit with friends and they prefer the floor. The kids at DCs previous set table sit on a bench and there is no room left there. DC was initially sad about it but doesn't seem to care now. Besides when TA takes over class, DC is straight back on the floor with friends!

DC says a slant board was used once/one day. How long does a child trial out a slant board?

My issue here really is that after two months DCs handwriting has deteriorated, and seeing as DC is now mostly sitting alone at table it's kind of lonely. Does any kid want to be the one alone at the table?!! I had always been told that being happy at primary was the key to learning. Luckily DC is sociable and has loads of fun in the playground.

I think you should meet with the teacher to discuss how they are defining 'improvement'. It may be that the initial trial yielded good results but that now the strategy is being used full time it has been watered down or is not being well regulated.

As a teacher I would be happy with a short term decline in handwriting standards if other measures were improved with the view of building back up to good standards eventually.

I have been given advice by OT for a child in my class which was to allow him to lie on the floor or kneel at a bench as it will help strengthen core muscles which in turn improves fine motor skills.

My eldest daughters handwriting deteriorated badly in yr2/3 because they taught more joined up, it took another 2yrs to become legible again and they sat at tables. The teacher told me it was common for handwriting to go messy in yr2-3 due to what they were teaching them to do (seemed bonkers to me but they were right). Ironically my youngest in yr3 (sensory child) would love this style of lying on the floor working (she does it regularly at home) but they don’t do it at their school. What do they do when they get to years 5-6 when surely they have to sit at a desk due to the volume of work they need to do as prep for secondary school?

It is a method. Google it. Lots of info about why they do it! It’s about strength and building up good technique I believe. There is more to learning to write than just being able to manipulate a pen.

Oh dear. They’ve been swallowing the theories of John Hattie without applying their critical faculties. Look him up...

Or maybe it’s Heppell. Either way -waste of time

Hope, I am not sure, without knowing the aim of OP's school for doing this, you can't just say it's waste of time. At least they are asking OP's dc to sit at the desk.
My ds's writing was perfect when printing and deteriorated during transition to cursive. It wasn't just the technique, but also the strength of muscle was a factor here when he needed to write more and longer, and we did lots outside of school to address the issue.
And he had long time of couldn't concentrate to write just sitting at the table. He has written diary or writing original stories really willingly during holidays lying on the bed.

The trouble is that children associate lying down to do anything with relaxing and having fun, so they tend not to be anything like as conscientious with their writing or maths or whatever. We tried it in my school and it wasn’t a success.

It wasn't a success for all of the children?

Op suggest the school is addressing that issue, by telling OP's dc to sit, so, they are actually assessing the situations.
My ds is more creative when he is relaxing and having fun, rather than sitting rigid at the table.
So, it really depend on what they are trying to achieve, if they are trying to achieve neat hand writing, sitting maybe better. But if they are looking for better content, this approach may work for some. And the fact school/teacher suggested that OP's dc should be sitting at the table means they are not just doing this without thinking about individual children.