Reception teachers should my son know ..

[totallysurreal]

My DS is going onto reception in September. He has had a speech delay, so it has been hard to know what he knows, but it's becoming clearer now.

Should he be able to count to say 20? .. he can count to 4, counts pointing, after 4 he gets confused.

Should he be able to name the shapes? He can only name circle and calls everything else triangles.

He can't use scissors

He can't draw, just does stabbing dots.

He can't explain what happened in a book or what he did.

There's still some time, we are of course at home, should I work on these things or not worry? My mum says he's not behind, but I feel he is very. He's a lovely sweet gentle boy and his speech is really coming on with play. He loves to walk and run but not sports.

I’m not a reception teacher but all that you describe sounds fine.

Being able to use the loo independently, put shoes on etc and able to sit quietly for a bit when necessary are more important than actual education when they start reception. The teachers will teach them what they need to know.

We are only just started April. Do not worry

I would concentrate on using scissors and painting with his fingers to improve his co-ordination.

Look at what he already knows and just add to these skills by a number or shape each month.

Talking is an important skill and the more you talk to your child the more they will develop and tell you what they like or don't like and why.

Hi, I’m a reception teacher of 20 + years.
When you say count. Can he count to 4 by pointing to each object and say the number or does he say the numbers by rote?
The shapes I wouldn’t worry about too much. Does he know his colours?
When he holds a pencil does he have an effective grip or just grab it?
Get him to draw faces, start with the circle going anti-clockwise and add features. Is he left handed or has he not yet decided his dominant hand.
How old is he? Has he had speech and language support? They can assess understanding, receptive language more than just pronunciation. Has he been to a nursery?
Sorry so many questions but I’ll happily direct message.
I’m missing my class at the moment I only have adult children at home 😂

Don’t worry too much I’ve seen so many different children and they all get there in the end. What matters more than anything is a parent who cares and supports their child. By worrying about this you are doing that.

Reception will give your son the chance to develop all these skills, so try not to worry. Give him lots if practice in a fun way if wants to, for example counting cars on a walk or doing some craft activities or helping you 'write' a shopping list. Read lots of books together. Make sure he's toilet-trained and can have a go and putting on clothes, getting things in and it of a bag etc.

I have taught Reception children who used the cylindrical 'palm' grasp and their writing was just lines and circles, who by the end of the year could write legible simple sentences using their phonics for spelling. Children who couldn't hold scissors the right way who could cut fairly reasonably. Could name shapes, count to 20 and beyond. Etc.

Honestly, the progress they can make in that year is incredible!

Plus, you sound like just the right kind of parent who wants the best for their child and will really help then during that year with home learning - and that's worth its weight in gold!

Definitely agree with @littlebearpad that things like using the loo independently and dressing himself are much more important than counting and the like.

If a child is able to follow simple instructions and cope independently with basic life skills the transition to school will be easier for your child and allow his teacher to concentrate on teaching. It is staggering how much staff time is taken up assisting perfectly able, NT children with things that their parents haven't been bothered with...

Lots of play dough will help him strengthen his hands. Make sure he sits well while eating as that will strengthen his core which you need too.
Lots of throwing, big things or balloons first then moving to smaller balls etc.
Don't worry, there's no rush

The only thing that really helps is if a child can recognise their name and any attempt at writing it is fantastic.

When is his birthday OP?

If you can defer, I would. Not necessarily because of where you say he is skills wise, but because of the speech delay. He would probably benefit from deferring if you can.

But if he's not summer born and that's not an option then absolutely don't worry. We reception teachers are used to such a range of abilities and honestly like the PP said, the progress he will make will amaze you.

Oh lots of advice thank you.

DS is 3, summer born. He can count as in look at 4 items and say 4. Or look at 2 dots on a dice and say 2, but 5 or 6 he can't do. He can recognise the written numbers up to 10 too apart from 7 for some reason, but can't count in order, is that rote ? @thisgirlcanmoveon I'm not sure I can see PMs as on the app.

He is toilet trained and just started him solo wiping for number twos at my insistence, as I have a baby too. Yes can put his clothes on / off including socks ( takes ages though bless him)

He isn't interested in drawing anything. Crafts are a struggle, but he will do hand prints, but not finger painting. He likes stamps in ink pads I guess that won't help writing. He grabs pens and seems to hold it like a hammer, with the pen nib pointing up and almost turn his hand awkwardly down, so his marks are faint, jabs / dots. He really reminds me of a teenager if you try to help him hold it correctly 😂. He is right handed and very stubborn, is that just because his mum is trying to help him? I don't think he can draw a circle.

Ds will not do playdough. We have it and he will run it over with a car to make track marks or a mud slick, but he won't handle it, so I assume that won't help with hand strength . I could maybe get him to roll one 'sausage' with encouragement per session. I've tried to get him to make rocks, but he won't.

Speech has been assessed, but not understanding as I hadn't flagged it before. Reassessment was due just as they started cancelling face to face appointments recently, so only go a telephone call. One of things to bring up was his understanding, as never been assessed on receptive language. I mentioned it on phone, but SALT seemed to think he's just slower processing? Last assessment was October 2019 and he was assessed as up to 1 year delayed in expressive speech. Hearing has been tested multiple times and no issue ever found. No speech support given. Preschool try to encourage him in a small speech group.

He can't catch, but will throw a ball for the dog. He has no interest in anything sporty so far, not particularly coordinated. Can scoot though but not that keen would rather walk if I suggest it. He can't balance bike. Reminds me of forest gump as he loves to run could be all boys that ?

DS doesn't know letters. He can say some letter names or sounds but can't point them out correctly. Haven't really tried that much. He might pick something up and say look mummy b when it's a h for example. He'll try to read the post.

He does go to preschool 4 mornings or did until Lockdown . He can find his name on the table to add to the board. Preschool do not work on any letters/ numbers/ shapes as say they don't need to prepare for being 5 when they are 3/4 !

They're right.

Speech, motor skills, independence, enjoying songs and stories - that's what's important now, not numbers, letters or shapes.

He sounds like a typical 3 year old boy. Nursery are right he needs to be three rather than preparing to be 5.
He’s interested in letters and sounds so is ready to pick that up when the time is right. He’s already connecting the sounds to letter shapes. This is great at his age. You can sound things out for him to hear the words such as can you pass the p-o-t and see if he can hear the word.
He can subtilise - know amounts up to 4 so has an interest in numbers. This is totally fine at his age.His next step will be to count objects saying 1 number for 1 object and knowing that the last number he has said is how many there are.
He needs to develop gross motor control before his fine. Things to try catching bubbles that you blow, give him a paintbrush ( as in decorating brush) and bucket of water on a dry day outside to mark make. Catching a balloon or hitting it to stay up. Waving a long ribbon around to make circles in the air. He needs to have strong shoulders in order to facilitate wrist and hand movements and a core strength to sit. So any playing outside climbing Jumping will help this.
He sounds like he’s going to be ready for school. The things I’ve suggested are just next steps for him and ideas you can do while pre school is not running not things he needs to do before he starts school.
Hope this helps. The main thing don’t force anything and go with his interests and what he enjoys doing.

Try play dough in a bag, it might be a sensory thing.
Does he like to cook, stirring builds lots of muscles.
Sand? If you wet the sand it's then heavy and harder to manipulate.
If he can't write then use letter magnets on the fridge to put his name in the right order.
Have a look at number blocks on tv, I really like it.
When you go upstairs count each one, he doesn't have to join in. Then you can progress to putting the number on each step if it helps.

And just using tools on play dough would help.
If you've seen pencil grips or chubby triangle pencils but I wouldn't stress about that bit.

I had plungers that made stringy playdough "hair" then we used scissors to chop it off.

Is he your eldest? DD2 is same age and can count to 20, good with her drawing etc but I put a lot of it down to copying DD1. DD1 also a summer born and went to school perfectly able to use the toilet, get dressed and count but observing other kids (often ones nearly a year older than her) she was far behind in her writing and reading. Her reception year it was so amazing what she learnt, at the start I couldn't imagine her reading or writing but she's catching up now and doing great.

My daughter is also starting in September, or more likely autumn half term or January when they reopen.
She can count to 20, but only recognise numbers to 10. She knows some of the simple shapes, star, heart, circle, triangle. She sometimes gets squares and rectangles muddled so I wouldn’t say she knows/ has mastered those 2.
We are working on her writing her own name without being reminded on letters, she knows all the letter sounds and we’re working on using phonics to help her spell and read simple words. Needs to work on letter formation a lot too, a lot isn’t readable.

With explaining what happened in a book, have you tried asking him after a few minutes, if I ask her about it straight away I get ‘I don’t know’ but if I ask in a few minutes I get an answer! They might need a few minutes to digest. There are some scissor skills books you can buy, we had the kumon one when she was a bit younger and it was good! Leave pencils and a colouring book or paper out and I’m sure he’ll improve