Advice needed - grandson struggling to read at end Year 1

As a teacher I know that children learn to read at differing rates. There are lots of opportunities to read that don't involve struggling with a reading book: games, signs etc. keep it all relaxed and don't force the issue. A doctor friend struggled to read till he was 7-8 and is now a consultant so don't despair!

My grandson could barely read at the end of Y1 but by the end of Y3 he's fluent and off the reading scheme. Just keep an eye on his progress in Y2.

Writing letters and numbers backwards and upside down is extremely common with the children who are late reading developers. Seeing that post reminded me that both my grandaughter and my daughter did it.

Thank you littleflo. That's very reassuring. I think also he went to pieces because he likes to please and he was getting discouraged at never seeming to tell people what they wanted to hear, so obviously it's much easier to pretend you don't know.

I will fight against any categorisation. I am worried that they are writing him off at 6, but part of me wonders if they make him sound worse so they can get extra funding for the school.

That's interesting Tegan. My GS used both hands equally until he was about 4, now he has settled to using his right hand but he writes letters the opposite way to the way he is supposed to. He starts where he should finish!

Yes. Grandson could "read" his school reading book through memory and the pictures.

I think you will find he is quite a bright little button.

Agree with Littleflo. Good post. (I think schools do categorise too early)

Thanks jinglbellsfrocks. I have become convinced over the holidays that either he just hasn't reached the point when his brain is ready for reading or, as you say he is lazy. He is perfectly capable of working out reasons why he shouldn't read to me!

When I read a book to him then told him to go back through it and he could have a choc button for each word he got right, he started memorising everything I said and he was word perfect for the whole book. Just not reading it!!

He also watches you tube videos about Minecraft and then puts the ideas into practice on his tablet, so he is capable of following instructions when he wants to.

My grandson starts school next week, writes with his left hand [although does everything else with his left] and is writing backwards. He has always sucked the fingers [not thumb]on his right hand and we wondered if he just uses his left hand so he can still suck his fingers .

My granddaughter, now 18, was also very slow to read. My daughter got her a private tutor when she was 8 but it made her more frustrated. She too loved books so my daughter decided just to ease off and it seemed to work. She caught up by the time she reached secondary school and really thrived once she reached 13. 6 is extremely young and, if your grandson is shy and introverted that would be a reasonable explanation as to why he went to pieces in the assessment. My advice would be to build his confidence in the things he is good at and don't allow the school to categorise him too early.

Yes, I have considered that, Tegan, but he seems to be sounding out the letters in the right order, just struggling with putting them together to make a word.

My partner's son is dyslexic but he says my GS is not showing the same signs. I'm no expert though, so dyslexia is one of the subjects on my list when we finally get to talk to the school.

yes - I know - 'i' before 'e' etc.

He will catch up. My younger grandson was slow learning to read. He took off at about the age of seven and now his nose is seldom out of a book. The rest of your post sounds just like him too. We felt there was a bit of laziness in there tbh, or maybe just slow development. We are now starting to realise that he is a very intelligent young feller. He surprises us sometimes with the questions he comes out with!

Don't worry. Six is still very young. He will take off.

It was very unfair, not giving you the report until the last day of term. Unbeleivable!

Dyslexia? There are a lot of people far more knowledgeable on here than me about such things, you'll get lots of help and advice.