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Original poster

Auties transition to Year 1 - thread 3

999 replies

LightTripper · 03/07/2019 11:10

This is the continuation of the thread for parents and carers of autistic children in reception year at school, going into Year 1 in the autumn. All welcome (also parents with older or younger children who want to ask questions or share their wisdom!)

Welcome!

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Harleyisme · 23/09/2019 17:33

Has anyone heard this before.
Ds got spelings last week with a grid to practice them 5 times i have attached a copy of what i mean. They were tested on them before the grid thing came home and they havent been tested since. I am confused. My friend has a little girl in same class and asked them about it which is when we were told they had already been tested on them but whats the point of testing then getting them to practice them.

Original poster
LightTripper · 23/09/2019 18:04

I can't see the picture but DD does get sent home with a grid - I think the idea is that she can practice every day (though I totally forgot at the weekend). Each time they are supposed to say the word out loud, then cover it up and try to write it out, then check if they got it right. When I've been home for it DD often seems too just copy it out, but I feel like that's still practice (though I do try to encourage her to cover it and remember it if she can ... but as you can probably tell I am a bit ambivalent about homework so probably not doing a very good job of policing it!)

OP posts:
openupmyeagereyes · 23/09/2019 18:50

We are just given a list for the term and you can learn them how/when you want to. There are various techniques you can use.

Harleyisme · 23/09/2019 19:15

The thing that confuses me is they test them then send the words home to be learn't. So ds has a list called pink words which is no to i go he she we me be. Its the testing first that confused me.

Harleyisme · 23/09/2019 19:16

Sorry pictures here now

Auties transition to Year 1 - thread 3
openupmyeagereyes · 23/09/2019 19:23

That looks similar to danni’s ds’ sheet.

I can’t believe they are supposed to be almost joining up too!

Harleyisme · 23/09/2019 19:43

Yes ds has to write cursive they started him reception straight on cursive its just adds to ds difficulties with writing.

danni0509 · 23/09/2019 20:44

I can't even join up my writing 😂

Harleyisme · 23/09/2019 20:52

@danni0509 i can't either 🤣.

We did get told that they would stop the cursive if ds doesn't start improving.

openupmyeagereyes · 23/09/2019 20:54

I thought they started with print then move to tails then cursive (must check).

openupmyeagereyes · 23/09/2019 20:55

if ds doesn't start improving

We are less than 3 weeks in!

openupmyeagereyes · 23/09/2019 20:59

Mine is mostly joined up but in a lazy, unconventional way. Only because it’s quicker.

Ds did not fall asleep at school today, thankfully. He was out like a light at bedtime though. He had a good afternoon the TA said, I’ll find out about the morning tomorrow. OT is in tomorrow which he usually enjoys.

Harleyisme · 24/09/2019 06:42

@openupmyeagereyes they said it last year as he was really struggling but he has fine motor skill issue and they were supposed to refer him to ot.
Ours started cursive in reception the school believes its best way as its helps them to get marks for presentation on sats.

openupmyeagereyes · 24/09/2019 14:11

Harley we had an OT assessment but no ongoing support. They gave us some printed information that you can probably find online anyway.

The key things are to work on core strength, shoulder stability and strength as well as fine motor muscles to help with writing. Good things are gym balls/Swiss balls; doing ‘wheelbarrow’ walking; painting, drawing and writing on an easel or wall; Lycra tunnels; climbing and using monkey bars; swimming and digging for items in a ball pond; play doh or theraputty; using tweezers; Lego; using pegs; squeezy toys or bottles. Loads of stuff really. The book The out of sync child has fun has a lot of ideas plus ideas for sensory regulation.

I met a friend in town for coffee this morning and got a few writing practice books. These ones seemed to have nice sized figures to trace - not too big or too small.

  • First time learning: First writing (pre-writing shapes moving to letters) and Numbers. These were £1.50 each in The Works.
  • Letterland Handwriting practice 1, £4.99 Waterstones. I’m not sure the k and i are correct but I think that is the least of my worries. I’ve ordered some more of these from Amazon.
openupmyeagereyes · 24/09/2019 14:14

I did see cursive ones too, these are printing.

Original poster
LightTripper · 24/09/2019 16:25

DD did printing in reception, but they have cursive up on the wall in Year 1. I think they said they aim to transition to cursive over the year (DD is still writing in printing - still also getting lots of letters back to front etc. but school don't seem bothered!) Most schools seem to go straight into cursive but it looks hard to me (I definitely don't write that way!)

Anybody else's DC just seem exhausted? DD has been so highly-strung the last few days - just kind of on edge, particularly in the evenings, is finding it very hard to do things she usually could (like just get her PJs on or sit and listen to a story). It's funny as she can do stuff I would consider hard like reading her reading book ... but she's just got this kind of manic energy in the evenings that I think is just exhaustion.

I am thinking we might just have to can all after-school stuff, but we'll give it another week or so in case she is just tired (and would be a bit annoying as we've paid for ballet for the half term and after-school club for the term I think! And she enjoys them... but I just worry they may be the straw that breaks the camel's back...)

Hope everybody else is managing to get less wet than me today - it's like a monsoon outside here!

OP posts:
openupmyeagereyes · 24/09/2019 17:10

Very wet here this morning too but it brightened up at lunchtime.

Ds is ok but we have no after school activities.

Can you get her to bed slightly earlier?

Harleyisme · 24/09/2019 20:23

Thanks @openupmyeagereyes my ds's school seem to be all about cutting for his fine motor skills he was rather upset he couldn't do it properly as he said. Also glad your ds is ok.

@LightTripper i really hope you manged to get dd to bed early and shes well rested tomorrow.

Ds saod tonight tomorrow he will go to school in his uniform as the teacher said if hes doesn't hes a bad boy.
Hes also with holding poo again. Hes stopped eating properly and and looks pregnant. Probably as hes been told if his boxes are clean for 2 days he can have a sticker.
He also said please don't talk to my teachers they told me not to talk to mummy about them and you know i just lie.

Jamhandprints · 24/09/2019 20:47

Hi everyone, this thread is just what I need. We've had a terrible three weeks. DS is really struggling, I think he's missing his old teacher. The new one is very different.
The trouble is, once he gets into a pattern he can't get out of it. His reception teacher got him on the right path right from day 1, and I'm worried things have gone on for too long now for him to turn if round.
He's been doing lots of scissor work for fine motor skills too, including cutting up his friend's trousers and his brother's headphones.
I'm frustrated that I know he's so clever but he won't engage with the teachers. He came home with a list of 45 common exception words that he needs to learn by the end of the year. He apparently knew 5/45 at school, but then read them all to me quite easily. This is why I thought he'd love school....but no.
Sorry to blurt this all out, I've got nobody to talk to in RL, including OH who says it's all because I'm too soft with him. :-(

danni0509 · 24/09/2019 21:00

Ds is into peppa pig big time.

When we drive, before I set off I have to say in daddy pigs voice
'everybody ready, off we go then'

I did that good this morning he looked genuinely confused as if he had actually heard daddy pig, should of seen his face! such a puzzled picture. wasted talent me! Grin

danni0509 · 24/09/2019 21:00

Harley your ds school sound like fruit loops!

danni0509 · 24/09/2019 21:02

Harley do you have any other children at ds school? If not and you don't need to be there. I would move him ASAP! If you had other children there bit trickier but I'd still think of moving him.

They sound completely shit.

danni0509 · 24/09/2019 21:08

@Jamhandprints hello x ds did some 'fine motor work' in reception involving cutting his 1-1's hand openBlush

We don't let him have scissors anymore he goes straight for his arms or legs!

Does your ds have a diagnosis or do you have any idea what his diagnosis may be? What support does he get at school?

Hello to everybody else.

danni0509 · 24/09/2019 21:09

If I'm talking away for most of the night and boring you all, I'm sorry. I'm on a diet and trying to stop myself eating Grin

Harleyisme · 24/09/2019 21:09

@Jamhandprints welcome to the thread. I am sorry I have no wonderful advice but can offer you comfort that your not alone.

@danni0509 i have a 4 year old in the school. I want to just pull him out just don't want the 4 year old affected as he is thrieving there but he has no issues.