Does my pupil have SEN?

[heartonsleeve]

Hi ? I?m new on here, but wanted some advice about one of my kids in my class. Apology in advance...I?m sorry for my continued use of ?this child?, but I?m not sure whether the mum is a MNetter, and I am planning to have a chat with her at some stage about all of this.

I teach a class of children aged 5 and 6 of mixed ability. Some of my kids are very bright and able, and in contrast to everybody else, another is seemingly having difficulties.

The child is one of the youngest in the class, and an only child. The child is delightful and loving but seems to have difficulty in comprehending subjects, completing activities or paying attention. The child has difficulty in listening, reading and writing in a group, but seems to be capable of paying attention in a one to one situation. The child is a little hyperactive and when in a class situation seems too excited to be there to take anything in.

Most of the children can colour well, but this child picks one colour and uses it to obliterate the picture. When I ask if they would like to use more colours, or mention maybe not everything should be brown, the child says ?I just want it to be like that?.

The child is not backwards at home, in fact is quite helpful and sensible in tasks around the home and personal hygiene. (I know them all personally as well as being a tutor to the child).

What do you think? Might the child have learning difficulties, or it this just slow development? If you have 5/6 year olds, what can/can?t they do? I would love to be able to help, but need to know how best to do it.

Any advice/ideas/help would be great ? thanks.

Sorry - just realised cutting and pasting from word means punctuation looks a little odd!

have you made the SENCo aware of your concerns ? I think if you ahve any worries that would be an important 1st step (plus of course making parents aware) AND make parents aware that SENCo should be doing something - and that they should chase him/her to find out if she has bothered to follow up on teachers concerns.

If the child's progress is puzzling / beyond the assessment capabilities of the school, the child can be referred for evaluation by an educational psychologist - and even then they might need further evaluation by occupational therapist / paediatrician or other specialists

Make a referral to your school Speech and Language Therapist

I can't quite get why you have put this on here if there's a possibility that the child's mum might be a mumsnetter. Is there no procedure to follow at school if you have concerns over a pupil's development??? Surly you have access to professional support for this child?

You don't mention what the child is like in social interraction with their peers? (Just thinking of the obvious along ASD route first). Or what about hearing? Speach and language? Any obsessive behaviour?

What about sensory response - Hyper or Hypo sensitivity (think reaction to pressure or sand or playdough or to light or background white-noise).

By this age group, especially end of reception year and into Y1, any differences do seem to be more obvious.

If you were talking about my child I would recognise them from your post and I would not behappy.

This must be the oddest OP ever!

And why has it been resurected?

Are you in the UK, OP?

At the end of the acacemic year a teacher is asking a load of radom mums if a child s/he is describing has special need?

WTF?

Actuallly, I think the OP has been written by the mother of the child.

A teacher who knows all teh children personally - what they are like in thier home environmoent- but doesn't know what the average 5/6 yo can/can't do?