If there are any ed psych/teachers about

[SarahTancredi]

How old would you say this child was. And would this worry you I said 9.

Sorry pic is cropped a bit as dont want anyone to identify it as their homework ( this is not a teacher bashing thread ) but is there an age it would concern you. This is my kids work . Yr 4

I teach Year 4 at the moment and would be giving extra support to a child if they were writing like this in my class. It resembles the work of a child early-mid year 2 (from my experience). The spelling is very inconsistent. They have used phonics to help them spell some words but it looks like they have tried to guess others.

Can't comment on the task or the content. I can read what it says and would say it falls into lower end of year 4 for neatness and form. I don't know the history or progress of the child, their starting levels and any barriers to learning. Their attendance, any group he falls into or the schools focus and their expectation levels and results, are all unknown.

She does get some extra support. But her spelling remains inconsistent and this is on the neater side of what she can do..some work can be scruffier.

I suspect dyslexia however we cant afford the test and no ones been out to see her. I was just after a second opinion if this would flag up as potentially being from.a child who struggles more than would he normal.

Looks like the sort of work many year 2 children would produce.

Heres another example

Can she verbalise what she wants to write but struggles to get it down on paper? What does her teacher say? I think she should be getting extra support.

Yes shes quite good with coming up for ideas. She just sometimes forgets what she was going to write ( she was given a sound button) she is getting some support.

I suspect dyslexia however we cant afford the test and no ones been out to see her.

I doubt anyone will come out. Most schools now won’t fund dyslexia assessments and many LEAs have decided a blanket ban on their EPs carrying them out. The schools will instead identify areas of weakness within a literacy difficulty and focus on plugging that gap.

From looking at the spelling patterns I would suspect some dyslexic tendencies. She needs a cumulative synthetic spelling programme. Look up some apps that could help on the Call Scotland website. Set up a meeting with your SENCO and ask what supports are being put in place to support your child's literacy difficulties. Try to set up regular progress meetings with school. Look up Phonic Books readers which support synthetic phonics programmes.

Shes been on "interventions" since yr 2. For hand writing , spelling and stuff. She took a while to "get" phonics. Failed the screening first time round passed on second. I think she misses sounds out roo which doesnt help I'm.assuning that's all part of it.

The teachers and senco at parents evenings just seem to say shes working hard and give me the targets they have fir her but no one really wants to say one way or the other if they feel there is something. I did have a meeting with a senco a year ago but they have since left and I haven't met the new one yet.

I know theres nothing much more they can do than they are already doing. I just wanted confirmation I guess that in not imagining the problem. I will definitely look at that web sites for some apps so thank you. I will also ask her teacher if she is still having the extra help ( dd can never remember much )

Her reading is thankfully alot better than it was she didnt get biff and chip books really at all. Not convinced she decodes books . Think she is more a sight reader