Reception child not interested in reading and writing

[Thisisgreen]

DS(4.10) is in Reception and while he absolutely loves being read stories, he is still showing no interest in learning to read. The same goes for writing and when he reluctantly writes his name it’s a mess.

His teacher said again today that he understands some phonics sounds and not others; not good at all with blending words either. Getting him to read the books he brings home is just hopeless - he is not interested. He has daily phonics sessions in a small group (in addition to the class), was assessed today and will be assessed again in February by which time if there is no improvement they will ‘do an intervention.’ I no idea what this actually entails as it was a quick chat at pick-up and other parents were waiting to speak to her. Does anyone know what this might mean exactly?

She thinks he is not interested and lazy, rather than there being any learning issues at this stage, and he tells us ‘I don’t want to read, I just want to play.’

While I think England start formal learning too young at 4 unfortunately we have not got a choice and the school are not happy with him

‘Doing an intervention’ means having extra help (either 1:1 or in small groups) usually from a TA (but could be another qualified teacher or even using laptop/tablet) sometime during the school day. This might be when he first arrives at school, during assembly time or in the afternoon. It will probably be at least 3 times a week for it to be effective, but some intensive interventions happen every day.
Read to him as much as possible. When you read, show him how you “track” the words on the page by using your finger to point to each word left to right that you read. Read a variety of books including nonfiction. Let him pick the books since choice makes everything more interesting. Before you read, look at the cover, title, and pictures to help you make a prediction of what the book might be about.
Take him to the library and let him enjoy the process of picking out his own books (it doesn’t matter if he can’t read it!). Try to avoid interfering too much in the selection process – the main goal is to give him a sense of ownership and enjoyment over what he reads. Talk about the books, ask him to point out the title, and see if he can recognise words in the blurb. Let him become familiar with the components of a book.
I hope this helps.

Turn the books into a game. If you've got a photocopier, copy some pages and cut out words, he can match the words and gets a point when he finds one. Have a look at the book first and find the word they're focussing on. Ask to keep a book for a few days. Try not reading the book, hide the words and look at the pic with you taking it in turns to guess what the story is. Then laugh about being wrong and you read the book to him in the bath etc. Have two sets of letters for in the soapy bath, he can find them in the water and match them.
Have a whiteboard, we had a massive one. Just do drawings at first, then you write cat under your pic. No pressure.

Not feeling great so hope you get the gist.

There are apps that do phonics sounds.
I think by 4.10 the majority would be able to do the sounds and write the letters.
I think at least 50% of Aug borns hit the eyfs target (around may time).
Alphablocks is great (cbeebies).
But you have a lot of time and dc1 wasnt really writing at all till the feb and still hit the eyfs targets.
Doing things like invitations and xmas cards can really help

Without trying to be alarmist, it is a possibility he has Dyslexia. This is a good screening test you might do to find out if the chances of him having Dyslexia are high, dyslexiagold.co.uk/DyslexiaScreeningTest

Dyslexia occurs in about 10-20% of children so it's not uncommon and nothing to get to worried over but you should find out.

This was my son and now, in y1 age 5.7 has it just seemed to click and he's come on in leaps and bounds (albeit still not quite up to speed but I'm not worried). For my DS its a confidence thing, if he's not good at something he doesn't want to know and the more he's pushed the more he will stand his stubborn ground.

He has a lot of help from TAs and we only engage at home on his terms (bribery helps )

Yep alphablocks and numberblocks were a huge help.

I think these little ones are expected to be too perfect these days. Exactly the same age as my DD. She started reception this year. She's not grasping the routine enough and spends too much time doing art. They are currently waiting for me to get her eyes and ears checked even though it's just her being her! The last two weeks she's improved much more. She's just started to read some words. She can write her name but she's lazy with it. If I sit with her and tell her the letters she can do it. She comes home from school and has wrote things like stnn for her name. I don't think she finds it easy to concentrate.

My daughter loves bedtime reading. Magical stories and Peppa pig books for example....my son's boy isn't writing yet and can't do his name. He loves factual books like dinosaur facts, ocean facts, space books! So they are all different.

Try get him to draw letters in sand or on an aqua mat. You draw him some letters in dots and let him do them. Don't nah him though. My child got so mad with me on days she didn't want to do it. Get him a new set of colourful pens to inspire him to write.

I also say silly things to get her to enjoy it like a biggggg round circle and flick for a. A line and a quick dot for I

I know exactly how you feel when you feel pressured. They seem to focus alot on what the kids can't do. But really they will be interested in a variety of things and simply just not fit in the same box as everyone else.

For a child may like drawing but another prefers sand and water. Some like reading. Some like role play. I think it's a shame they have us worrying like this already. Still so new to him! I bet he has lots of skills and talents. He's just not ready for a desk yet.