Fiona started nursery in August 2002.  She was excited about coming to nursery and was eager to play with the water and to use the computer.

Fiona has difficulty forming relationships with the other children who are mostly afraid of her behaviour because she rushes into things, trips over easily and bumps objects and people in her path.  One of the boys is very patient and wants to help her but the other children avoid her.

She can follow one simple instruction but her concentration is poor in most activities apart from the computer.  Listening skills are also poor but are developing.  She is very restless and finds it difficult to sit still.  Her use of oral language is good but she is unable to offer words which rhyme.

She can recognise her name but does not try to write this herself and she is not very interested in drawing.   She knows her colours and shapes and can match, sort and group objects and pictures.  Her number skills are coming on.  She can write numbers 1-10 and identify 1-4.  In addition she can count up to 8 objects accurately.  After much practice she can now cut around shapes following lines.

Fiona doesn’t like singing and puts her hands over her ears when in a large group for this activity.

She likes to choose her own activities.  Her spatial awareness is very poor as illustrated by her difficulty in bumping into objects and children.  In social situations she has difficulty with communication in that she has difficulty reading expressions and emotions.

She has been referred with her parent’s permission, to the educational psychologist, speech and language therapist and the Community Paediatrician for further assessment and observation.