Problems with 12yr old ds and his schooling

[Guest]

My ds has started secondary school in September, so he has done a term there. He has always been a slower learner and he just isn’t interested in learning, therefore with that mix has always been behind where he should be.

Anyway over the holidays he has needed to revise for a science assessment. He showed me his book which is basically awful writing and half finished sentences, to the point my mum got him a revision book to revise for as there were no useful notes.
He says he writes too slow, which I know he does. He handwriting is bad anyway and unreadable when he is rushed. We have noticed he holds his pen with such a tight grip his hand hurts after writing two sentences.

Do you think this is something I need to bring up with his science teacher? He has never been bad enough for senco help, even through junior school, but tends to always sit at the bottom of the class.
Does anyone know of any useful handwriting techniques or programmes which don’t cost too much money which I can get to hopefully improve his handwriting and the speed that he writes at?

[MFras23]

This is something that 100% needs bringing up to the school, not necessarily just his science teacher. I would be getting in touch with the Senco or head of year/house. It could be that his fine and motor skills are lower than they should be for his age in which case senco should be able to offer support etc. If his is slower in science chances are he could be struggling with other subjects too but perhaps just coping better? Also it could mean testing to see if he is allocated extra time for his GCSEs. I can’t recommend anything in terms of handwriting courses etc but it is very important that you get in touch with school and/or arrange a meeting.

[Floridatilly]

My middle son’s issues were picked up after 5 weeks at high school. They realised that he was not keeping up in class (unfinished sentences like you mentioned) plus other issues.
Cut a long story short he got quite a few diagnoses after tests etc that the high school put into place.
Your son has half a tear now so any issues should have been picked up?
We feel our son was let down/slipped through the net at primary school. They just fobbed us off with ‘oh it’s because he is a boy’ etc etc
High school have been amazing with one to one, extra help and support in each class etc
I would certainly speak to school about it.

[vowels]

How is his typing?

If his handwriting and speed of writing is preventing him making adequate notes he maybe permitted to use a laptop in class. Teachers can also give additional notes for students who struggle in class.

My daughter has ADHD and struggles with note taking and her school allow her to use a laptop in some classes, give additional notes and email me her homework.

Please speak to his year/guidance teacher, if he is struggling in one class, he maybe struggling in others. I have found my daughter's guidance teacher to be extremely supportive and ensures that all my daughter's teachers are aware of her difficulties and they, in turn, ensure she does not fall behind.

You can also buy grips for his pencil and thicker pencils which may help with his grip although an appointment with an occupational therapist might be a worthwhile, especially if he is in pain and he may have unknowingly damaged his hand.

[daisymae]

Have you looked at possible Dyspraxia now known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). My son was diagnosed at aged 8 but his main problems were handwriting due to an awkward and too tight grip which gave him very sore hands, not able to keep up with any writing due to slow laborious methods. Ds does have other characteristics but possibly now is the time to have Senco involved as he may be able to move to a laptop and perhaps require a scribe for exams.

[floridasarah]

My son is the same. His hand writing is so bad that the SENCo got him an assessment and he was allowed extra exam time and a laptop to use in exams and lessons. He has tried all sorts of things since primary school, pencil grips, handwriting practice you name it. He has Hypermobility which doesn't help,

[sam7]

100% bring up with school, and fight if need by. Unfortunately many children with special needs get overlooked because they are not failing, but that doesn't mean they wouldnt benefit from help. My DD is dyslexic, she had help for a month or so but then they stopped sending her to the extra help lessons as 'other children needed the help more' we accepted this. She managed to scrap exams and got on a uni foundation course, they provided weekly one to one help, extra exam time, computer programmes to help reading and spelling. She got a degree and is now a teacher - I doubt she would have passed the degree without the help. Wish I had fought for her earlier

[Lostbrain]

I'm a SENCO, this definitely needs to be picked up by the school SEN department and it's a shame his primary didn't pick it up, provision in primary is patchy in my experience. He needs to be able to write or he needs support. I'd recommend starting to teach him to touch type, I'd also want to investigate dyspraxia or if he's hypermobile possibly?

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for your replies. His year 6 teacher managed to get him extra time for his sats, but no other help was ever given to him through the school year. His dad just says his handwriting is messy because he’s a boy, and this I feel is partly true as he just doesn’t see it’s messy, but I feel there could be something more to it.
As for other subjects, yes I think he does just scrape through, he always has and I think he always will. We got a short end of term overview of his subjects and apparently he is meeting or exceeding all of his targets except for Spanish, however when he only gets 26% on a maths assessment and they put he exceeded his target I don’t know how accurate this can be.
Tomorrow I will email the senco at the school and maybe his form tutor and head of year if I can do they have it ready for Monday morning when they go back to school.
I will also have a little look at the signs of dyspraxia to see if that is a possibility.

[Guest]

I have written and sent an email to the Senco and the two head of years, explaining his issues.
I’ve had a little look at dyspraxia but his general co-ordination is good, he would be very sporty if he put his mind to it 🙄, so I’m thinking it might not be that, however I’m not an expert.
I really do appreciate the replies. It’s good to get other people’s opinions, not connected to him, so thank you all! ☺️