Assessment/referal? What to do next

[10isenough]

Hello

I'm hoping to get advice from anyone who has been through the process of getting an assessment for learning difficulties or additional needs for their dc.

I have a dd who is 6.3 and in year 1. She was put in an extra phonics help group in reception & a more formal phonics group (of 4) this year with the SENCO at her school. At her latest parents evening we asked the teacher to give her opinion on general progress and she was literally speechless, she said "Umm she's an enigma isn't she". I pushed a little but didn't get any further. We then had our 10 minutes with the SENCO who wasn't really able to comment as she doesn't work with dd directly. She suggested we have an appointment with the educational psychologist when next at the school. (Have an appointment for 2 weeks time).

I have always thought my dd was a little different than her sister and some other kids but in an arty unique way but as time wears on the gap seems to be widening more quickly. There seems to be something wrong with the school or with her. Others seem to pick up on it too and one insisted that I should get her hearing tested (she passed the schools hearing and sight testing).

I've posted a year ago about her and the general response was to get her an assessment for ASD. My husband is against her having a 'statement' or even a label i.e.. dyslexia as he thinks it'll mean less will be expected of her and in tern her or herself iyswim. We have discussed getting her some out of school tutoring twice a week (we tried once a week for a term last year but obviously no seismic improvements). This would cost a fair amount and so its crossed my mind that we should move her to an independent school where she'll get more input (there is a GDST locally which we could just afford). I don't understand weather its the school not making enough effort or if its her having learning difficulties and if so how badly. I just want to close the gap as quickly as possible.

Sorry its a long one. What should I do about this?

[MrsTawdry]

Can you expand on the actual difficulties she's having? My now 7 year old DD had similar sounding issues in reception and year 1 and had an IEP to help her...she also was found to need glasses.

Is she ok socially? Can she read/write yet?

I advise the following...get her eyes checked again and get her hearing double checked. Those school tests are ok but they're not great as they're usually done in groups and the nurse told me that some kids just don't perform well as they feel pressured.

Also, if YOU want to get her assessed then it does not follow that you get a diagnoses from that.

It's a LONG haul. One visit with an educational phsych could be really enlightening and won't mean she's got a label at all.