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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Original poster

Reception will he be ok

37 replies

raymondanddebra · 16/10/2021 17:27

My son is due to start reception in September 2021 and I'm just wondering if anyone has been in my position which I will explain below, and have you had a positive outcome

So my son is just over 3.5 so will be 4.5 when he starts school. At the moment he has been going to nursery for the last year for 3 hours a day and had made good progress and loves it there

However he is behind with his speech. He copies lots of words and knows colours numbers animals and animal sounds, shapes etc but the issue is when he wants something he doesn't request it, he takes you by the hand. So great Vocab with lots of copying etc but if he needs something b at school like to go toilet for example then I hope he will be able to ask. It's this sort of thing I'm worried about.

Nursery are in the process of applying fir an EHCO for him bit I just worry he won't be able to ask toe what he needs at school?

He has various 2 words like lift open and lift close that he's learnt from copying me and various other 2 words. He says "I want to go door " Altho not very clear. He's quite behind on his longer sentences

Anyone been in my boat and how did it work out

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Original poster
raymondanddebra · 16/10/2021 17:28

September 2022 that's meant to be

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minipie · 16/10/2021 17:30

Honestly a year is a huge amount of time for this age - think how much he’s changed in the last year. His speech is likely to come on loads in that time especially as it sounds like he’s at a great nursery who are helping him. I know it’s hard but try not to worry just yet x

minipie · 16/10/2021 17:34

PS my DD didn’t have speech issues but has other issues and at 3.5 she still needed a nap after a morning at nursery and was having behaviour issues… she managed fine at school with a bit of extra understanding and flexibility

Bryna · 16/10/2021 17:45

I know a girl who started school with my DD who had very minimal language, she had cards with icons on to help say what she needed, toilet etc

Does your nursery not use something similar??

Anyway fast forward they are now in year 11, and her language caught up many years ago, so please don't worry!

Wildflowers2020 · 16/10/2021 17:46

My daughter had speech delay related to ear infections when younger and began SLT earlier this year. She started reception this September and I was worried for much the same reasons as you, great understanding and vocabulary but she couldn’t articulate well and she needed gestures to be understood (in addition she is born in August and the youngest in her year).
Every child is different but the progression since starting SLT and now school has been rapid. She now uses full sentences and her speech is far easier to understand. A year definitely a long time. I wouldn’t worry yet but if you haven’t tried speech therapy it’s worth exploring.

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 16/10/2021 17:58

Hi everyone thanks for the reassuring replies

Yes we are doing speech therapy and have been for the last year and he's come on so much. At 2.5 he only had about 5 words. Now tons and copies Lots and finishes songs etc

Picture cards sound like a good idea for toilet etc. He isn't actually toilet trained yet. That's not a concern of mine as I'm certain he knows what to do it's just if we ask him a question it's heads or tails as to whether he will answer - so as it's a stressful thing to do and I'm anxious I have put it off for now and worst case scenario I'll crack next summer hols Altho I hope to start trying again early next year if not sooner.

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NoNayNever · 16/10/2021 19:53

I'm a TA in a Reception class. Once a parent has accepted a place at our school, the teacher and SENCO work with them and any relevant professionals (including nursery staff) to find out what support is needed for their child.

Once the child has started at the school, they usually have visits from the SALT (or someone from whichever services are relevant to their needs) to give further advice on how to help them to make progress.

This year I have a couple of children who take my hand and lead me to whatever they want/need. We also use this as an opportunity to introduce symbols or photos to reinforce that. So if, for example, I see that a child is leading me to the toilets I can show the relevant picture to them. The idea is that they associate the picture with the place or object that they want and so eventually will just be able to show the picture to me when they need something.

Even if toilet training doesn't go to plan, we have a designated area for changing pull-ups or nappies if needed. We also work with parents who feel that their child is ready for toilet-training.

Even if he had to start school tomorrow, your DS would be fine in Reception. As he actually has another year to go, he's got a lot of time for his development to progress even further.

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 16/10/2021 20:23

@NoNayNever that is so lovely to read thank you so much I feel much better

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simonisnotme · 16/10/2021 20:30

theres plenty of time between then and now so try not to worry too much at this point
you could always look at ,singing hands' on you tube and learn a few Makaton signs alongside the words and as pp^^ said pictures of things to point at

inthewest · 17/10/2021 19:08

Have you looked into using makaton at home op? I have quite a few children needing speech and language support, with 2 selective mutes. We've been gradually adding in new signs over the past few weeks and it's a great way to support all learners with their communication (also fantastic when a child is on the carpet desperate for a wee but doesn't want to interrupt the lesson! Like others have said, you've got over 10 months before he starts, and with nursery's support, it sounds like he will be getting the support he needs.

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 17/10/2021 19:27

@inthewest 11 months as he starts in September

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Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 09:09

I get the feeling nursery think he should go to a special school but I don't know why. I'm hearing so many positive stories from this thread so it seems with the right support he will be fine. If i speak to nursery about it they just say keep my options open and I can apply for both types of school. But I do believe it's only really the speech which is the main issue and so I dont know why they are so keen to advertise these special schools to me. Why are they doing this? He's at a mainstream nursery and is fine

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Legomania · 18/10/2021 12:17

Op, I would put them on the spot if they are hinting at special school as it would seem they could they feel his difficulties go beyond a speech delay.

I know that the EYFS team at my dcs' school are planning to start nursery visits as they are concerned that some children's additional needs aren't being adequately flagged by the local nurseries in the run-up to school, to allow the school to put support in place.

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 14:39

@Legomania What do u mean by put them on the spot

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Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 14:41

Also I think it's cos he's not toilet trained too but that's mainly as I don't feel ready yet as I get v anxious. And he doesn't have friends there he plays alone but I do t think that's an issue personally

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Legomania · 18/10/2021 14:46

@raymondanddebra I just mean ask them directly what their concerns are, if they haven't spelled them out.

I don't have direct experience of this dynamic, but I know nursery staff do sometimes hold back, especially where the parent is a paying customer.

Legomania · 18/10/2021 14:47

Xpost though they do see a lot of children so are in a good position to be able to spot any slightly unusual behaviour

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 14:52

@Legomania no we aren't paying. I just feel like with the right support he should be fine in mainstream and I at least want to give him that chance. Do you have any experience of children that have been like my son, gone to mainstream and been ok in the end?

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Legomania · 18/10/2021 15:06

I don't, I'm afraid, can only speak in very general terms as a nursery/ ks1 school parent.
But there will be a lot of threads on here posted by people with similar concerns.

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 15:11

Ok but why did you comment then? As my op says I only wanted to hear from ppl who had experience in this or as another person commented who is a reception teacher then of course that's useful. You are neither so you replying is just a waste of time

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Legomania · 18/10/2021 15:16

Charming

rhowton · 18/10/2021 15:48

Are you saying that he isnt potty trained because you are anxious?

He really should be potty trained before he starts school... Have they made you aware of any other issues that could point towards SEN?

Doveyouknow · 18/10/2021 16:02

If the nursery are hinting that a special school then I would want to talk to them about why. On the face of it what you describe could be managed in a mainstream school (especially if an EHCP was in place to provide additional support). So I would talk to the nursery. Do you know what additional support they hope to put in place in the nursery via the EHCP?

Original poster
raymondanddebra · 18/10/2021 16:14

He has social communication disorder/delay

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Doveyouknow · 18/10/2021 16:36

I think the key question might be what additional support he needs / is likely to need in reception. That should be set out in his EHCP but worth talking to the nursery about that now. If you have that knowledge then you can start talking to local schools how they might meet his needs. If he has an EHCP you will be able to names his school on their and the admissions process will be different so worth finding out about that. It's also worth talking with parents of sn children to get a feel for if any local schools are known to be good at dealing with SN and have a good senco. The support from schools varies massively.