L6 writing exercise - should I be worried?

[Cheongfan]

DS just did a test for secondary entry at a not particularly selective primary school. They've come back saying they need to have him assessed by their SEN department. School has never highlighted this as a major concern and in fact he's normally considered very strong at English. I'm now panicking that I should have been pushing the school harder. Can anyone have a look and tell me how worried I should be? This was 15 minutes and without me prompting (because meant to be exam conditions).

Background is he does have a processing issue but we don't know what's going on beyond that (inattentive ADHD ruled out). He was assessed by an educational psychologist as gifted in reading comprehension and they noticed his written work wasn't great but not a big concern. We had him assessed because we could not get him to produce quality work whilst distance learning and he was extremely frustrated. School have not been unsupportive but clearly didn't think there were any real issues.

Distance learning is a disaster for some pupils- it's just impossible for some to focus when not in an environment where they're constantly reminded to be working (covertly by the behaviour of others and overtly by staff or peers).
And it is by no means only children with additional needs that are struggling with this. It's an extremely difficult ask for many people, children and adults alike

If it's a charity though, could it be asking a company to donate some to children in hospitals etc? Then he can speak about how he enjoys playing and that he thinks it would bring joy to the children?

A couple more thoughts based on your most recent update:

• does having a heavy wheat bag or similar on his lap, help at all with the need to be constantly moving?
• is he in live lessons so seeing his peers working? If not, does he have a close friend where perhaps they could try 30 minutes with a video call where they both have a task to do (so not a chatting call, just a person on the screen who is working, so a virtual equivalent of a person at the next desk)?

I don’t think your son’s second, typed example exercise is much better at all. It is a little better, but not the standard expected of an average 10- or 11-year-old. It’s too short and there’s very little attempt to persuade and no attempt to foresee and argue against any obstacles - and that’s just referring to the concepts, let alone the linguistics, rhetoric and grammar.

Thanks. He has one hour a day of a lesson with the SEN support teacher and one other child (this is just during distance learning, no SEN support when actually in school). This isn't just for English - it tends to be English/Science/Social Studies (or similar) depending on the day. No live lessons apart from that. I might invite a friend over and see if that helps (we're not in lockdown, just schools are closed (yes madness)).

Noted Daisy. He clearly has a way to go then.

I should say, the tutoring isn't about getting him into this particular school. I'm hopeful they'll take him - his reports all back up the idea this is an issue with distance learning and the school is either non-selective or only selective to the extent that they filter out children who aren't fluent in English / have significant SEN. They'll probably be looking at whether he needs a TA (which we'd have to pay for). If this school won't take him we're in non-mainstream territory! They've acknowledged his maths assessment was excellent.

The tutoring is because I'm worried about him having major gaps that his current school haven't identified and that meaning he struggles in year 7. As a parent I just don't feel capable of teaching him how to do this. I've read the guidance but it's not helping me understand how to get him to where he needs to be.

Take the pressure off him please. You are screaming and crying. He is screaming and crying. You are not giving him effective support. I think you could be making things worse. Pull back. Encourage his interests. Let him get professional help from people who know how to help your dad reach his potential. Not turn him off all together.