7yo struggling but no referrals😩😩

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

My DD is 7, just started year 3. After discussion with her new teacher it was decided that she needs to be assessed for dyslexia as she is still struggling with basic writing etc and also she is unable to focus. She generally keeps it together at school behaviour wise but lets her frustrations out at home. Teacher advised I speak to GP for referral which I have done this morning, GP has said he can't do it and the school need to do. Called the school, they say no. GP has to do it. I'm stuck now with both refusing to make the necessary referrals for my daughter's education. I knew I would end up having to fight for some support for her but this is ridiculous! Who is supposed to do it? I'm keen for this to happen asap as she is so frustrated with her teacher having expectations of her beyond her abilities. Hopefully once things have been set in motion those expectations with be changed and support put in place.

[Haveasay]

If it is an assessment to explore any possible learning difficulty/specific literacy difficulty it would be with an educational psychologist. This would have to be through school. GPs have no route into this referral system as it is education not medical.
If it is more related to behaviour and attention could they be thinking of the possibility of ADD? If so that would be a medical referral to a paediatrician via the GP

[jammiecat]

If you hadn't said DD I would have thought I had written your post as just gone through the exact same conversation with school/GP regarding my son. The SENCO has told me the school no longer refer to educational psychologist except in extreme cases. Apparently the GP can commission an EP if they feel it necessary but usual route is via community paediatric psychologist where they will assess. So school is going to contact surgery to remind them school no longer refer and i need to contact them to make sure they do the referral. But that is in my county, apparently in a neighbouring county it is done via a school referral. None of this helps you but I totally understand your frustration. In your shoes I'd probably contact the surgery again and see where you get to. I'm told there is a long waiting list (up to 6 months) here so looks like we have a long wait before DS gets proper support. Thankfully his teacher is being very supportive but we really need the referral before he falls too far behind.

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

She is so frustrated with school in general. I am too, she is such a bright girl. The teacher in change of senco called today and said they will do her initial assessments. She was her nursery teacher and remembers how slow my DD did everything and is considering that there might be an issue with sensory processing. I mentioned that a big problem for for my DD was keeping up copying from the board and she said that was interesting. I do t o ow why though?

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

Sorry *dont know

[jammiecat]

Yes we get the frustration too. He pretended to be sick last week to avoid writing. I just wish the process was quicker as I just want him to have some proper support. He struggles with reading and writing but also concentrating and listening. School think he needs a dyslexia assessment but also assessing for other disorders e.g. ADHD. Juat a waiting game and I'm not very patient!

[DrJLee]

Don't worry about a diagnosis- means nothing.
Have a chat with the clsss teacher and discuss needs and what is in place to attempt to meet these needs.

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

We've had her GP referral bounced back, a bunch of people that have never meant her have decided that with no supporting evidence she doesn't need any support. Her teacher is very dismissive of the problems she is having and actually comes across as though he just can't be bothered with her.
Today she was very distruptive in the class when they were doing a comprehension activity. The teacher has said he thought she just couldn't be bothered, she tells me she didn't understand it. That she tried to read the first line 4 times and then gave up.
I'm really out of my depth here. She is going to have her education wasted if nobody is willing to listen and support her.

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

I'm keep for a diagnosis so that support can not be refused.

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

*keen!

[DrJLee]

Support can still be refused if school doesn't see any need.

It's in their interest to support you.

Have a meeting about Needs they see at school. :)

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

It's frustrating and hard to see her confidence being knocked and self esteem ruined. Her teacher is of the opinion that she is lazy and difficult.

[Pixiedust1973]

If school wont make the referral then find a new school thats prepared to work with you, not against you. Its that simple. If I could do things again with my ASD kids then thats what Id do.

[Shybutnotretiring]

If I were you I would make the Senco's life hell (but in a terribly sweet and polite way) until she writes a letter to the GP supporting your request for a referral to the community paediatrician re possible ADHD etc behaviours. Then similarly insist that the GP makes that referral (and keep hassling even after that - it can get 'lost' in the system). I may be being pessimistic but it is my experience that you get nowhere asking for dyslexia assessment in schools. They give you the runaround and eventually admit that if you want her tested you must get it done privately. Even then don't expect wonders. When I went through my son's dyslexia assessment report the school's answer to everything was either we've tried that or it's too specialised for us. A dyslexia tutor can help even if to say it's not primarily dyslexia, it's something else (in our case ADHD/ASD). I will be getting my DD tested for dyslexia soon. However I'm waiting until she's 8 because when my son's was done at age 7 they said 'strong signs of dyslexia' but because of his age weren't prepared to fully commit. But that might just be the particular assessor we had.

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

Her teacher is obviously sick of me already! I've spoken to the SENCO lady who also happened to be her nursery teacher so knows her well. She has done some preliminary testing today and will let me know the results next week.
The teacher thinks my DD is just 'being lazy and isn't applying herself' because she can produce some brilliant work when she wants to. She is unable to do this consistently though.

[DrJLee]

Again, there's not really anyone to be referred to for dyslexia.

See what comes of the assessments and what intervention school will offer.

[zoomer456]

Hi my dd is7. She has been diagnosed with dyslexia.
I have spoken to school about her attention and they have told me to go to the doctors for a possible ADD referral. I had to take written documentation from school to the doctors. I have since had a letter from the hospital to say there is a very long waiting list however they have agreed to meet us.
How does your dd compare to her friends? I'm so worried that she will become isolated as she is so immature and cannot read or write and i keep thinking they may think she is too young to play with them. Good luck x

[Rose1981]

Hi, I do hope you have managed to get your referral. I can offer you advice on my experience. We struggled to get a referral for ASD assessment. Long story short from speaking to numerous agencies we found that you as a parent can contact the EP or inclusion team directly. There is a lot of support out there you just have to source it. The following site may be of some use:

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/parent

Familiarise yourself with the Send Code of Practice section 6. Hope it's already worked out for you.

[thaigreen]

How frustrating for you and your DD. I find it incredible how children with SEN or possible SEN are often left so unsupported. My now 8 year old DD had some issues with concentration and learning to read flagged up in Y1. She was at a private school so we had to pay for assessment. It took 2 ed psych reports, one OT report and 3 years before we got a diagnosis of 'classic dyslexic'! In the meantime mumsmet was an invaluable resource and recommendations on here for the online Nessy program were a lifesaver. There's a dyslexic screen which gives you an idea of strengths and weaknesses plus exercises to help with spelling and reading that my daughter actually enjoyed. Good Luck OP.

[ClaryFray]

I had similar I had to battle with the school. Sadly my sons problems have escalated, his behaviour has plummeted.

You just need to make a nuisance of yourself to the school. Sad but true.