5.1 and can't write own name properly- how concerned should I be?

[Sops]

ds is 5.1 and (aside from the other issues we're dealing with) has really poor writing skills.
He can just about write his own 5 letter name, but it is not exactly legible. He always gets the 'S' the wrong way around and the other letters are very poorly formed. He tends to turn the paper as he is writing too so the letters end up in a kind of spiral. He doesn't do much writing (none at home, limited at school i think). I'm not sure if that is a cause of him not mastering it or a symptom.
He was in the bottom phonics group because of this but teacher moved him up to the top as he knows all his sounds etc, he just struggles to write them down. He likes to use my phone to search argos for toys and can spell lego ninjago, batman, alvin and the chip (needed help with 'munks') so I know he can spell OK.
I'm going in to see the teacher next week, what should I ask about this?

honestly, at that age, I'd not be massively worried about that... I mean I'd ask how they think he's getting on and if he needs some help, if he does, what are they going to do, what can you do?

but, it's not necessarily a big problem, not at 5

No, it's not a big problem at all- I definitely have bigger worries . So much so, that at our last parent's evening we said we didn't even want to talk about the 'academic' side as so worried about everything else.
It just occurred to me that fine motor skill issues might be part of the wider problem we have and I wondered how he compared to the 'average' child.
Also, SENCO said he doesn't need any input because he is doing fine academically. His teacher says he is very bright, articulate and imaginative. Shouldn't a 'bright' child have mastered writing his own name after two terms of school? In other words, I want to know if he really IS doing fine academically.

'Shouldn't a 'bright' child have mastered writing his own name after two terms of school?'

depends really, on what the other issues are, DS is 15, he's bright enough that his chemistry teacher's already talking about Uni...his name's very rarely legible and when it is it's sometimes spelled wrong, rofl, but he has Asperger's and very poor fine motor skills.

It's hard to say if it's a problem or not, he'll not be the only one who still can't write his name in his class and some of those will be for a reason and some will just be because they haven't managed it yet.

My ds1 is 6 and been in school since last August, his writing is shocking but he does try and it is improving, he is apparently one of the best pupil teacher has ever had, academic and behaviour. He is in the top groups for language (bi-lingual school), reading, maths and fittness.
I am not worried as teacher says a lot of kids she has taught in the past couldn't write by end of year one and it will come in time and is very common in boys as they generally tend not to be so interested in crafts etc compared to girls.
Maybe you could buy him a wee notebook and 'special' pencil so he can practice at home?
I am sure the teacher will ease your worries next week, good luck.

I guess the thing is, he won't try and it's not improving. I've bought him dozens of different character pencils, triangular shaped pencils, activity/colouring books etc. I guess at least he will draw now, only robots, but it's a start.
His other issues are 'anger management' and following instructions. We think likely to be pathological demand avoidance and we're waiting on a referral.
I'm just thinking about the bigger picture of how his 'issues' are impacting on other areas and wondering if there are any links iyswim

Many NT children (esp boys) are v unkeen on pencil work at this age, so I wouldn't panic too much, although I know that is easy to say (the keen girls in DS2 reception class are doing joined up writing already - oh great!).

Lenin - did you ever manage to find a sensory integration OT? (it was you I had a chat with ages ago about that, wasn't it?)

I ahev alsways had it explained ot me that motor skills go thus eg: newborn, with reflexes -> refines down to swiping -> bit more refinement to grabbing -> controlled grabbing -> narrow that down to pincer grip -> fine work with fingers. always form big to small.

so, when we were concerned about dd1's lack of pencil grip etc, despite ggod-ish gross motor skills, ok-ish fine motor skills (liek threading, sorting, puzzles etc), we were told we needed ot go abck over all her gross motor skills, as there were undoubtedly bits she had missed out, and if she couldn't do the big stuff, she wouldn't ever do the small stuff in entirety.

so, lots of swinging arms, dancing and prancing about like something off X factor - big sweeping movements form the shoulder. then working on gettig it smaller and neater form there.

SI OT helped a lto with some of this, as dd1 also has all sorts of midline issues.

just a thoguht that occurred while reading through - as while it is clear oyur ds has fantastic fine motor skills in one area, they aren't (or don't seem to be) translating across.

some of the stuff on behavioural optometry might be interesting too.

Interesting, thanks.
Ds ticks everything except craving sweet things and dislike of rough and tumble. When he was younger he hated swings etc. He will tolerate them a little now.
I did look into retained reflexes a while back and though moro looked a likely fit but I found it all a bit confusing (prob too early on in 'journey' to take on board at that point) and dh thought it was all a load of mumbo jumbo.
Ds plays lego almost incessantly so in some ways fine skills ok, but his pencil grip is poor and hasn't really improved despite school working on it.

Actually, just thought, rough and tumble isn't actually the same as hurting other people is it?!
On reflection he doesn't like rough and tumble if by that you mean being swung around, turned upside down etc etc.

When he was younger he hated swings etc

As I said on your other thread, this sounds like vestibular problems. And you really should be looking at retained reflexes therapy (Neuro Development Program).

Here's a list of some people I have found who do it - although there are many more.

We use the Sound Learning Centre - and over the course of a year DSs Aspergers has been just about cured improved to the point of not being a problem.

In fact I'm waiting today to hear if DS can now come off the SEN register...

Lenin, how did you do the retained reflexes therapy yourself?

Try reading the 'Well Balanced Child', to learn more about retained reflexes....