Is this normal for 5 yr old in reception

[Snufflepiglet]

My spring born DD (5) is in reception and is really struggling with phonics.

We've practiced every night since Sept and they even did a bit of phonics when she was in preschool but it still isn't clicking. She can get the words dad, sad and mad but not consistently. She gets sounds mixed up somethimes, or mishears words. Hearing has been checked and is ok.

School say she will get it eventually but I think it's starting to get to her and she has noticed some of her friends are reading books.

She had a speech and language delay when she was younger and has some traits of ASD which was being investigated but I think she is being discharged at the next appointment.

Whay can I do to help her more? Do I speak to school again or am I worrying over nothing? Thanks

This explains some if the difficulties children with ASD may experience with phonics

www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/18925/communicating_phonics_asd.pdf

Dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and ASD can co-occur

Great advice above. I can't advice if it's a medical condition.
But either way I suggest providing her these resources if she doesn't already have them.

1. Bob books - I have found these books to be the best books for kids just learning to blend sounds. They are so simple and well written. They come in box sets and are at different levels. I really can't recommend them enough.
2. Playing games - games can really get them interested in letters and can sometimes that's all they need. There are several zingos by thinkfun which are great. Sequence letters is another excellent game. There are several games by orchard toys based on literacy skills.

All the best. Hope it works out well for her.

Is it possible she is having difficulty blending because she can't see lots of letters together? My son could not recognise even numbers. They teachers said it's fine hell get it sometime and then of course he didn't. Please look into convergence insufficiency or binocular vision especially if you suspect ASD. Doesn't mean your daughter does have ASD but it does look like it...

I really struggled with phonics despite many attempts to teach me. However I learnt fine with whole word recognition.
I can remember the point that phonics clicked for me. It was a lightbulb moment. I was half way through year two-and reading Lord of the Rings. I was part way through book 2 and suddenly realised as I looked at one of the names that I could work it out.

Never could spell though.

Just wanted to post a little update and thank you (this was my thread under a different user name).

DD has since been diagnosed with ASD and being tested for ADHD too. She's still miles behind but she's started to make progress with blending, yay! So so proud of her!

Lovely news

Thank you for coming to update us. Well done to her (and you, of course) on the blending!