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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

SN children

Anyone else got a 5 year old heading to Year 1 and worried about the transition?

45 replies

Rhubarblin · 28/07/2023 20:43

DD* age 5 (I'll add more specific details about DD at the bottom of the post to keep the main part as short as possible) has just finished Year R/Reception so will be starting Year 1 in September. She's in mainstream and overall coped well but obviously Year R is very play based. Her school is very nurturing. Academically she's done well considering her other needs.

Year 1... I'm just worried about things getting more formal and started this thread to see if anyone else is in the same position?

*DD is aged 5.3. Her dx are ASD and language disorder. Emotionally, socially, general personality wise she's more like a say 3.8 yo NT child (she's followed a pattern of about 30% less than her chronological age). She has an EHCP and school are extremely helpful and supportive. School really are brilliant and have put so much in place to support her, my worry is more of the general increase in demand on DD as she grows older (socially, academically).
DD has come so far but seems a lot younger than her NT peers. Progress has been brilliant, age 3 she had essentially zero functional conversational language, now she speaks in extended sentences. Communication has helped the emotional regulation, now she can say (and probably cry!) that she wants to wear the pink shoes not the blue rather than just screaming. Her main areas of need, particularly in a school environment are social communication, emotional and focus/listening/sitting still. I would say if she was almost 4 now, these things would probably be age appropriate.

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Bobobab · 30/07/2023 13:37

Following on too my DS has followed a similar pattern in terms of development. School are putting in a lot of strategies for next year and they have completely changed the classroom for him but still Year 1 seems like such a leap!

Rhubarblin · 30/07/2023 15:09

@Bobobab thanks for replying! I hope to keep this thread going for a bit of support around the specific R-1 transition (and threads with updates are always helpful for other readers).
Did you want to share anymore about your DS? If not, that's fine of course.
I guess we won't know till September onwards how they will do.

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Bobobab · 30/07/2023 18:17

Sounds like a great idea! The story from around 3 sounds really similar... we had concerns from 2 and we were fobbed off but switched nursery after covid and since then I can't fault the support we've had. His progress is really non linear he spoke single words for ages, the echolalia and this year he can express himself in a way that like you say would probably be relatively standard for a child starting reception.
His school is a 3 class intake so it's huge but he has generally done really well, he enjoys going in and in everything but handwriting he's more than holding his own! I do wonder how structured lessons and sitting for any length of time will go... he has real problems with attention which is partly language but definitely sensory issues too... we are paying for a private OT to help a few weeks into Year 1 so if there are any strategies that might help we can implement them quickly. He has friends but he can be a bit full on(touchy feely) so I worry about that as they all get a bit older. He has a new 1 to 1 this year too which is unlucky and just another thing for him to get used to!
Is there anything (books,courses,support etc) you have found to be particularly helpful? I always worry there might be something I'm missing!

Rhubarblin · 30/07/2023 20:10

I do wonder how structured lessons and sitting for any length of time will go

^ this is probably one of my biggest worries too! DD finds sitting still really hard and whilst she doesn't struggle with transitions in general anymore, she does not like stopping something fun to sit down for something which is much less fun! School do movement breaks/provide fidget toys/take her to the sensory room etc which is fantastic, my fear is just the gap widening with peers and then falling even more behind.

When she was younger I had lots of wisdom like Hanen and TeachMeToTalk but now she's outgrown those the biggest help has come from simply being at school, speech therapy and play therapy via her EHCP. Have you found any good resources for this older stage?

We had echolalia and delayed echolalia/scripting for years until 4, stopped from turning 5. The delayed echolalia fooled me into thinking her speech was OK at 2, it was when there was zero back and forth/conversation flow at 3.. I started to worry. Now she talks all day. She was very much a gestalt language processor (with some analytic language processing) but now can construct original sentences.

I've spent a lot of time wondering if I should've deferred reception but then equally know she wouldn't have made the progress she has without this last year.

Academically, she can read and write but can struggle with the comprehension and maths is hard because she doesn't always understand the concept.

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Bobobab · 31/07/2023 20:51

Agreed ds is a gestalt language processor, I think school... phonics and learning to read is helping him with constructing sentences . He really enjoys colourful semantics too. It came really quickly and I think a lot of that is due to him interacting more socially with his peers but also his 1:1.

His new 1:1 as well as supporting him academically is really keen to support him socially... this is a big worry for me as he gets older. It's amazing how kids notice difference but don't really judge it... they might start to object to my ds and his random touching and some of his other ways! In lots of ways I don't think free play worked well for ds but it gave him some time and space.. he will definitely need his 1:1 to tune in to those needs quickly he still struggles to communicate when things are too much.

Rhubarblin · 03/08/2023 20:28

I really hope his new 1:1 is fabulous!

DD started Year R with a 1:1 but as time went on didn't actually need one, so she moved to support for just some of the day. For Year 1 she will mostly be supported by the main class TA. I know this worked fine in Year R because they played for 90% of the day. I do wonder for Year 1 if she's going to need more support as the demands increase though. Only 4 more weeks to keep worrying and then we'll actually find out how it goes!

I feel like in time the social stuff will become the biggest worry as children can be so mean (but other times so brilliant and accepting!)

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webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 05/08/2023 19:03

I'm worried too. DS loved reception but it was a very separate early years unit and year 1 is the main school. He has autism and delayed gross motor skills and speech as well as pancolitis. We just found out he has his EHCP which is fab and school have been incredible but I'm very worried

SusiePevensie · 05/08/2023 19:27

Good luck. If you can, try to get your kids a half hour with the new teacher, in the new classroom, a few days before school starts. Worth a hundred social stories.

Newmomma2705 · 05/08/2023 20:04

Sending my thoughts and good wishes to your kiddies on this thread! My daughter sounds quite similar to yours she's 5.2 years she's just completed reception although her speech & phonics sound more behind your little ones. I have fought and fought and she is now repeating reception instead of starting year 1 in September. I was so worried about the sitting and working however the difference is the school haven't put anything in place for her so you are very lucky that the schools are trying to meet need and change things for year 1. Wish you all the best xx

Rhubarblin · 07/08/2023 21:52

@webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat - I really hope Year 1 goes well for him!
@SusiePevensie - funnily enough school have offered a transition visit which will hopefully help DD
@Newmomma2705 - I'm glad your DD can repeat Year R - does she have an EHCP?

How are the summer holidays going for everyone too? DD really needs lots of activities to keep her busy and stimulated.

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Newmomma2705 · 09/08/2023 20:10

Yeah she has an ehcp! But the school have no idea what they are doing even though they try they haven't a clue just a small village school. So glad she is able to stay in reception with teachers that have got to know her over the last year xx

Rhubarblin · 31/08/2023 16:29

Well, I can't quite believe the summer holidays are almost over.
DD has her transition session tomorrow and then back properly on Monday. I'm anticipating it being a couple of weeks for her to adjust back into school mode.
Obviously the worries over the Year 1 demands are still very much there!

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Bobobab · 01/09/2023 11:17

Best of luck! We only fly back from holiday on Sunday then back to school Tuesday which might feel rushed... I think DS is ready to go back glad the weather will be nice he loves playing out which will hopefully help with the transition! DS definitely needs the routine again at least...

Rhubarblin · 13/09/2023 17:04

How is everyone doing?

DD has been back 1.5 weeks now. She settled back into school well and was excited to see the other children. The routine is good for her as she's not the kind of child who can happily have a lazy day at home.

However, they've dived into the academic stuff already and it's such a step up from Year R. Sitting still is particularly hard for her!

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Bobobab · 15/09/2023 20:05

Glad it sounds like it's going well for you! I think we are going OK, I'm getting less communication than last year so far which may become a problem but ds skips in and is happy in the evening so he must be doing OK.

Writing is a real worry though, every homework has been writing so doing our best and adapting it so I scribe for him as well as him trying some. With everything else I am taking the pressure off that, hopefully school understand!

Annon12345 · 16/09/2023 02:55

Hi jumping on quite late but my ds aged 5 has gone into year 1 from reception this September. So far so good. Has a 1 to 1 and is also a Gestalt Language Processor. Socially no friends and no communication other than for basic needs, in mainstream will be interesting to see if other children start to become more aware of his differences

Bobobab · 16/09/2023 16:49

Ah welcome! I keep thinking about this as he gets older.. they notice difference for sure but they don't judge it at the moment. My ds does really want friends I hope he can find a group! Are you getting much SALT help? I've been really disappointed with the lack of help since starting school (actually it was a bit rubbish before!)

Rhubarblin · 17/09/2023 12:34

Bobobab - I'm glad he goes in happily. I try and grab brief updates where I can but I'm mostly clueless about her day. She does have lots to tell me but it's all very concrete stuff about her playing with lego etc.
Annon12345 - Welcome! I've found the other kids are lovely and accepting so far but I'm sure that'll change in the future, sadly.

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Annon12345 · 19/09/2023 19:26

Thank you! We've had the odd salt sessions at school from la. Sadly the last time they came lo didn't speak at all! My ds has no social skills and when he got diagnosis dr said he had no understanding of friends or need for them which is sad but so long as he's happy. I had noticed over summer he was talking more and now back at school he isn't and I think he's just tired and overwhelmed so hopefully it'll come back

Rhubarblin · 22/09/2023 18:00

@Annon12345 The best way to get a good number of SALT sessions is via an EHCP. It would be worth applying for one.
My DD got 3 sessions a week through Year R and daily Attention Autism Bucket Time via her EHCP.
It's very overwhelming when they first go back to school, I hope your DS is more chatty again soon.
@Bobobab I think handwriting can be hard for lots of kids with autism. You may find that a word processor is more helpful in the future. I appreciate he is probably a bit young for this right now though.

DD is doing well generally, she sits at the front of the class with the teacher during learning time and lots of movement breaks outside/on the trampoline/sensory room are really helping short bursts of focus.

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Annon12345 · 22/09/2023 18:41

@Rhubarblin we're applying for it currently it'll be submitted by end of next month. The paperwork never ends does it?! Lol

Rhubarblin · 22/09/2023 19:49

@Annon12345 Ah, good luck. Yes, we drown in paperwork as parents of children with SEN!

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Annon12345 · 05/10/2023 13:20

Hey all just checking in, how is everyone doing with the transition?
We're not good here. My ds has changed massively and has become withdrawn and pushing people away from him, not in a violent way. He is doing most of his learning in a seperate room

Rhubarblin · 05/10/2023 20:05

@Annon12345 Oh, I'm really sorry to hear your DS is struggling. Has his EHCP been submitted yet? I know nothing is going to change instantly but do you think that it might not be the right setting for him longer term?

DD seems to have settled into Year 1, I think they've got to know her well and what works.

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Annon12345 · 05/10/2023 20:16

Ehcp application will be finally submitted within days! The what's working well question is difficult to answer though as so far we haven't found anything to work well!

Glad to hear @Rhubarblin your dd is settling in well

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