Need a breakthrough for GCSE English

[Echobelly]

Sorry, I feel like a broken record. DS, inattentive ADHD diagnosis, is starting Y11 in September. He has not been able to sit any English tests in the last year, completely freezes. He can read to an age-appropriate level - Phillip Pullman, Douglas Adams etc - and quite likes to. But he does not get comprehension at all, the idea of unpacking a quote and writing several things about it, what 'feeling' a text is supposed to inspire (he just says 'I don't see any tension/wonder/joy, there isn't anything showing that'), and he can't start writing any stories/non fiction, although he has some creative ideas in his head for settings.

I've had a tutor for him since after summer half term and I know that's not long, but after watching back some of the sessions, it doesn't feel like the tutor is reaching him, like he's not able to do any more than I can, which is draw ideas out of DS at a glacial pace by giving him a lot of hints. And DS needs to be to access ideas quickly and get them on paper.

Has anyone come across any technique, youtube channel, tutoring method or anything that can help him break the barrier? He does OK in class and he's a bright kid if not mature for his age and I'm getting a bit desperate for solutions.

We've tried the latter, he freezes and can't even write a list of what he sees (eg trees, gate, path, sky) without lots and lots of prompting and encouragement

Interesting about aphantasia (we have a friend with that). It's possible, but he has also mentioned to me quite visual-sounding ideas for story worlds (which he can't write about)

I keep seeing ads on FB for something g called the Classic High School teacher fast draft essay kit. Am at the point of ordering it for my dd. She's v similar to your ds I think. Can read perfectly well, actually does write creatively too but ask her to explore how the author uses language to show x and she tanks. Tears within minutes. In theory she could get an 8/9 in terms of her literacy but the just cant jump the hoops in the way they want. Frustrating.

I have actually bought the course about reading for meaning at the start of summer but haven't made ds watch it yet. I was a bit put off because I watched the intro video and.... This sounds awful but the woman presenting has a very grating voice, and also DS when I told him about it was all 'Well I guess I'll watch it as long as it isn't patronising ' and it kind of was but he also kind of needs it to be that simple.

But I should try watching the first set with him tonight in case it does help. I just didn't want to put it in front of him right after her said he didn't want it to be patronising.