How to support reception dc

[Hiphipbirthday]

Hello,

I've come here for hopefully advice / support as I'm a bit overwhelmed with it all.

So not to drip feed I'll try to compress this as much as I can. My ds is 5, has speech delay (we've been waiting for SALT for over a year - he does have "in house" school SALT once a week) and started reception in September. He is struggling hugely. His teacher has recommended a support plan to be put in place and for me to get in touch with his GP.

He still hasn't settled into reception, asks " Sam home now?" (Can I go home now?) Several times through the school day, doesn't engage in lessons - either zoned out or picking the carpet, he finds assembly and lunch times overwhelming so wears ear defenders (otherwise he covers his ears and withers on the floor or smacks his head) he's not picked up phonics, reading or writing - the teacher has noted that he doesn't seem to remember well or recall from the previous day. Sometimes he'll do this at home too so hell ask " sam... Sam ...sam ...want mmmm mmmmm dat word is ...gain?" (Sam would like hmmm what's that word again?) For something such as a cup, he'll of forgotten the word for cup then become frustrated and smack his face. Maths is similar - will count on his fingers but doesn't quite remember the sequence - 1,2, 6,8...
He's soiling himself at school without noticing or caring - he was late in toileting and is sometimes hit & miss if he's engaged in something. He chews all his clothes - coats, jumpers. We've bought a chew necklace which has come in handy. Despite all these niggles he's kind, shares, enjoys break time outside and doesn't have any "bad" behaviour - no kicking, screaming, shouting. But it has been noted that he's very sensitive - he'll get incredibly anxious and upset if he's spilt a box of blocks over, or standing in the wrong line.

He was a very easy baby - no tantrums, no tears and easy going. He would(still does) go through stages of living breathing being his favourite TV shows - pingu when he was around 1, then fireman sam, then toy story, lion King literally read, watch, play it over and over and over. I feel like he's best suited in the nursery environment rather than the more formal reception level and he would find life much easier being held back one year. Does anyone know if I can do this? Or anything I can do to help him settle better in school? He's really finding it hard and I'm lost on how I can help him...

Ok. Does he have an EHCP? If not, you should consider applying for one - for a start it can fund SALT. It can also enable a move out of mainstream should it come to that.

Meanwhile, is he getting any support at school? Is he on any kind of support plan?

My worry would be that as a quiet, well-behaved child (he sounds incredibly sweet) he will just get ignored. He should - from what you've said - be getting a lot of support. It isn't fair, at all, but you have to be a sharp-elbowed pushy parent for his sake.

How old is he? I think if born after April you can apply for delaying entry, but not sure how that works when they are already in school.

Sorry - just seen that teacher has recommended a support plan. That's good - hopefully comes with funding.

Thank you ever so much for your speedy reply. The school have been incredibly helpful in all honesty - they were the ones who flagged up that he was finding assembly and lunch difficult& needed ear defenders. he has a TA who sits with him at lunch time as he'll zone out and not eat (he does need prompting at home- I feel like he's just thinking of something nice and he gets completely distracted in his thoughts to eat/ brush his teeth/ getting dressed ) He's a lovely lad currently he'll talk your head off about Peter Pan - we did have an issue at the beginning of the year with some of the boys in his class mocking the way he talks and they called him a nickname - so instead of Sam they were calling him "Dam Dam haha" , but the teacher intervened and this seems to have stopped now but I am wondering if this has caused anxiety over staying in school?He has one friend currently who he follows around like a lost duck. I just wish I could give him more support and understanding- I don't even know what I should be reading into.

Has DS had an OT assessment?

Other than support you have mentioned what help is the school providing? Have you applied for an EHCNA?

Deceleration can be done. However, on its own it is unlikely to solve the problems you describe as the gap is likely to widen.

You could ask for a referral to the continence service, or in some areas you can self refer.

No none of these- we've just had a review earlier this week when his teacher mentioned the above.

I'm going to phone the gp today and see if I can get the ball rolling there and speak to the school to see if I can make a meeting with SENCO to discuss anything else that we can help make his life easier. I knew he was not as mature as some of the kids his age I just thought he'd take a little longer getting the hang of things!

The school should be providing more support.

You can apply for an EHCNA yourself. On their website IPSEA have a model letter you can use.