Call from teacher to say they think my daughter is dyslexic but I'm not sure

[babytops]

My daughter is 6 in year 2 at school. Her school were non existent during lockdown and me and my husband both working from home, as well as having a toddler running round. So its safe to say we were not great on the homeschooling front. Second lockdown was better and they did assign some work on an app which we did most of when we could.
She has obviously missed half of year 1 and some of year 2 so is most definitely behind. I think most noticeably in her reading as she never got all the early phonics stuff. When they went back the school jumped straight into Year 2 work with a little bit of catch up from year 1.
She can read a fair bit but does struggle with some sounds. At home we are working on her reading and spellings (as she has a spellings test every friday - last weeks words were things like decision, treasure, leisure, vision) some weeks she gets 10 some weeks she gets 4/5.
I havent been overly concerned as obviously she missed so much school I was expecting it. However it seems the school have other ideas.
She is going to tutoring lessons before school 2 days a week that I assume the school were given funding for - this is for comprehension. Her teacher pulled aside my husband at pick up last week to say she is really struggling 'she is struggling the most out of everyone in the group' and my husband had to ask what it is she wants us to do, which is keep working on her reading. Ok fine, that's what we are doing. And I have noticed a considerable improvement at home and really proud of her.
So today, I have just had a call from her about an hour ago in which she mentioned speaking to my husband last week about her and then went on to say she thinks my daughter is dyslexic. She went on to say that she sometimes mixes up letters (which I haven't noticed at home bar the occasional b/d) and is really struggling. Then went on for 5 minutes about how its a really long process to get diagnosed through the senco at school and is really expensive for the school and that we can pay privately for an assessment.

Honestly the whole conversation knocked me for six. I asked her to email me everything she had just said and she replied that I am best speaking to the senco (who has never met my daughter!)

I'm looking for anyone with experience of dyslexia because most of the symptoms online dont apply to her but some do. And im wondering how much of that could just be the missed school ?

I am also unimpressed with the teacher to be honest. She ended the call saying 'now I could be completely wrong' !?
I also think something else is clouding my judgement. Another mum had a call last week about her daughter, in which the teacher said she thinks her daughter has adhd and her mum had the same WTF reaction as she really doesn't think she has it. Has since spoken to her gp who agreed.

I feel like I'm looking for an ulterior motive for this teacher to be diagnosing kids in her class with different things with the caveat that she's 'not an expert' and 'could be wrong'

I am considering paying for the assessment privately if I can get the funds together. But surely she could just be behind? and understandably so ?

The teacher can't make a definite diagnosis but is in a good position to spot concerns and discuss them with you. The Senco isn't necessarily going to be any better qualified than the teacher in my experience but can refer for further assessment if the budget allows.

I didn't realise this was an old thread and the situation has changed

I had the opposite and school worked hard to minimise and deny so they didn’t have to address the problem. Having been through it I think children with dyslexia are often quite easily identifiable so I’m not surprised an on the ball teacher picked it up. Bright kids with dyslexia find all sorts of compensatory methods and often shine in some of the subjects introduced at secondary age.

I commented on the thread earlier about my dd who was diagnosed as dyslexic at 9 and adhd at 11 after I pushed for assessments. I had to pay for the dyslexia assessment but the adhd assessment was via the NHS.

She has just had her first school report from Secondary school and she is doing extremely well. She is a bright girl and the school have brought in compensatory strategies to help her access the work. She also has some visual stress issues.

She can use a laptop when needed, some teachers are printing out handouts rather than copying off the board. She is always at the front of the class. Her homework can be typed and stuck in. She has an explanation book as she is terminally forgetful!

Her assessment scores are all between 80-95%. She has won a regional art competition. She has also joined several lunch clubs - science club, nature club, art club and is using the library as a chill out space. She has continued playing an instrument and is really enjoying that too. It’s a huge transition and she is doing fantastically well! I am grateful that she has been diagnosed so that she has every opportunity to access education and show her ability and not be discouraged and switch off because simple coping strategies weren’t in place.

you said your DH struggles with spelling - could be worth him looking into his neurology in the light of what you now know about your DD?

Wow your school sounds phenomenal. Great to read that.

Not necessarily - some LEAs don’t screen for dyslexia at all. Mine doesn’t.

@Legoninjago1 it is the best state school in our area and I am very lucky we live a 3 minute walk away. It’s massively oversubscribed, I actually work there which is helpful (not a teacher) because I know how the school works and dd checks in with me every lunchtime just to tell me how her day is going 😊. Won’t last I know she’s about to hit the horrible teen years 😂