Just found out that my DD is to have additional help with reading at school

[brightlightsandpromises]

Which is good, because i have noticed she is a bit behind her peers. However i have a niggle in the back of my mind.

My DD never crawled, was a bum shuffler and a late walker. She also had speech delay for which she had SALT at about three. Her speech isn't 100% now, although i would say it was 99% there. Teacher not overly concerned. When DD was about 18m i was concerned as she seemed to lose words and i pushed for a peadiatric consultation, at which i was told my DD was absolutely fine, but referred for SALT anyway. DD was also ambidextrous for a long time but is now left handed.

She is a bright little spark - at least i think so, in terms of the concepts she understands (she is 5.5 btw) and sometimes i am at the stuff she knows.

Its just that when i was asking about pead referral for DD the HV suggested that DD would be dyslexic, i am sure my partner is dyslexic as he has terrible trouble with spelling but its very bright otherwise.

Anyway, teacher had told a group of parents in playground that our children would have these extra lessons and it was mainly to boost their confidence. He said that he would be happy to talk to us individually if we had any problems. The question if have is, Do i mention that i am concerned about dyslexia? or possibly dyspraxia, as she seems to have an issue with her handwriting too. I have also noticed that her colouring is not as neat as her peers. I dont want to come across as an over anxious mum who has been at the google button. My cousins wee lad is dyspraxic and when i told her about DD she said that it fit in with what he did. The only thing is that i have sort ot monitored her dexterity and she seems not to be too cac handed for want of a better word. I just don't want teacher to think im telling him his job or to raise issues that arent't there, but do you think i should flag this up?

Well firstly Dyspraxia does affect fine motor skills (so yes, the poor colouring) as well as gross (co-ordination, catching a ball etc), but it doesn't usually affect reading ability. Google the Dyspraxia Foundation - their website has a symptom checklist.

And Dyslexia is notoriously hard to diagnose in children younger than 9 (I think it's 9) because so many children struggle with reading and spelling and all they actually need is a bit of time and extra help.

It's certainly worth a chat with the teacher - and maybe the school SENCo as well. But don't panic - they develop at massively different rates, and it all (usually) pans out. My DD was a really slow reader - I was in despair when she was in Yr1. She got an A at A Level :).

I agree with Hassled.

Do some things like sewing boards, picking up beads or dried peas, playing with small lego bricks to help fine motor skill.
Try skipping, wheelbarrow walking, baton twirling, throwing and catching balls or bean bags for gross motor skills.

She is still very young, and as your OP states, has already had delays. So it is not really fair for you to judge her against her peers just yet. Give her time.
Dyslexia "testing" is rarely done before the age of 7.

Express your concerns to the teacher or SENCO, and they will make a note and keep an eye on her. They are being proactive by aiding her reading and building her confidence in that way.

Thanks for that - i thought i might have been being a bit OTT. I wont say anything to her teacher now as i don't want him to think im paranoid. I guess when she has some time with the SenCo then they might pick anything up and i dont want to skew their thinking, iyswim