SALT assessment

[niki26]

My year 1 daughter is currently undergoing an assessment by a speech and language therapist because the school have raised concerns with her reading and writing. Particularly that some of her letters are often reversed and many of her numbers are reversed.

My husband were a little surprised when this was raised - we have seen a definite improvement in her writing and reading in the last year or so and didn't realise she was behind at all. Needless to say, as advised by the school we jumped to get a private assessment straight away and this will be completed today and we should get the report by the end of the week.

I don't really know why I'm posting - just feeling a bit down about it all. I know it's very positive that it's been picked up now so we can help her . It's just that she brought home a beautiful piece of writing yesterday and she is trying so hard, I can see the concentration and effort she puts when she's writing at home. I'm hoping that she's just a bit behind and that there isn't an issue - dyslexia has been mentioned more than once - deep down I think there could be a more deep rooted issue. The school and speech and language therapist are quite dismissive of any writing issues being due to her being left handed although the SALT did say that she isn't particularly concerned about the reversal of letters as it is quite common at this stage.

My daughter is at an independent school and whilst we are grateful that she is getting support at an early stage I have heard that the school isn't the best when it comes to SENCo

Sorry, this is just a jumbled post of my thoughts really - seemingly none of the other children in her class are behind to this extent so I'm a bit reluctant to discuss with other parents in any real detail - I get sympathetic looks and 'how is the assessment going?' almost every day at pick up. I know they are trying to be supportive and also make conversation but they are probably also thinking 'thank goodness it's not my child' aren't they!!!

I understand how you feel as were going through something similar with DS. His is more so speech and he's just a toddler. And off course it hurts and makes me sad when I see little ones his age talking so clearly but I'm learning now that kids just hit their developmental milestones at different stages. I would say teachers knows best. I know you may feel like she was improving and she may very well have been but her teacher would know how 'far' she should have been for the age that she is (compared to other kids in her class). Keep encouraging her, might not be anything is wrong. Many kids may seem behind but they skyrocket to the front of the queue in no time. If something is wrong then she'll just need support which I'm sure she already has. Don't feel down it will be fine regardless of the outcome x

@ISayItLikeItIs thank you - you are right. I'm sorry you are going through similar, you have a very positive attitude - I need to take note!

Re my comment about thinking she was doing well, I guess we don't really know as she is our eldest so we have nothing to base our expectations on. So I'm relying on the teachers in that respect and they have been very attentive to her. I've attached the writing that she did recently as I'm very proud of her and will continue to be. She is a lovely girl. She is extremely caring and thoughtful of others and as you say, if we can establish if there is an underlying issue we can put the right support in place.

Thank you.

Her writing looks amazing for year 1! Can I ask why a speech and language therapist is assessing her for reading and writing?

Erm, well, I'm no teacher and my DD is only in Reception but that looks blinking amazing to me too! I'd be asking some more questions tbh- might there be a risk they're pushing unrealistic ((private sector)) standards onto a perfectly normal pupil?

Of course - sorry I was a bit jumbled earlier. So the initial concern was her speech, the teacher was concerned that when she was speaking in longer sentences she was getting a bit confused and some of her letter sounds were unclear. The concern was that if we didn't look to resolve this as best we could now, it would be detrimental to her writing and reading as she wouldn't be able to recognise phonics or sound words out correctly. I hope that makes sense. So that's where the speech and language therapist came in - they recommended an assessment.

Before this assessment had even begun, the SENCo at school then wrote a letter to us saying that my daughter was not where they would expect her to be at this stage for literacy/writing and if we didn't act now she would get further behind. The letter quite upset me actually - I had a conversation with the SALT the following day (she hadn't met my daughter at this point - it was my first point of contact with her to discuss my concerns) and she also specialises in Dyslexia, which is something that was specifically mentioned in the letter. The general consensus is that it is all related and we all agreed to await the report following the assessment to decide on the next steps. I guess that's all we can do really.

Ah ok I’m with you now! As another poster said, I’m not a teacher but I have a year 1 and year 2 child. My year 1 child is apparently very bright and even taking this into account, I think that writing is super!!!

I think her writing looks ace! Is she very bright because the getting confused when she speaks longer sentences could be if her mind is jumping ahead to the next thing and forgets what’s she’s saying in that moment. Letter and number reversal is very common at that age although can be a sign of dyslexia. I wouldn’t worry too much. You can see progress and that’s the main thing, it’s more worrying if you don’t see any/very little. Any additional support I would just view as being there if she needs it and the assessments are there to see if she does.

I'm with Miriam101

The writing is lovely, and very good for her age (without knowing how much help she had), and there is nothing you have told us that raises any concerns with me.

Thank you all - I am surprised to hear the comments about the writing. I mean, I personally thought it was very good but the comments from school had me doubting it!

She would have certainly had help with the content - and if she is literally copying it from somewhere then it's almost a false expectation of what she can do isn't it?! Apparently in the session today the SALT asked her to write a sentence about herself and a sentence about her sister. I asked if she knew if she had reversed any letters and she said 'the lady told me not to worry if I reversed any letters, it wasn't important'.

I also completely forgotten to mention that since this has all happened she has been complaining a lot of tummy aches - I think she has some anxiety about it. We are really trying to keep positive and being encouraging about her school work but it really does take it out of her. She tries so hard and I think it comes more effortlessly to some of her classmates.

I will report back when I have heard from the therapist in full - if someone finds this thread further down the line hopefully it will help someone else in a similar position!

It all sounds very confusing and perplexing for you all- I really hope you get some clarity soon. (As for copying, I don't really know, this is not my area at all, but I would have thought that some kids just couldn't do that, couldn't form the letters that well, even if they tried? I mean, all I have to go on is my daughter's but she definitely couldn't do anything close to that!)

I am a SALT although I work mainly with preschool children. My daughter is in year 1 at a state school. Is your daughter's school very academic? I think it's great they are flagging the possible need for support but I also wonder if they have high standards. I have worked privately with a child receiving SALT support at an independent school, who was at the lower end of the normal range. This child would never have been referred to NHS services!

Hi all - so I got the report back and nothing horrendous. Mentioned it may be worth getting an occupational therapist to review her writing - regarding the reversal of letters and sometimes she doesn't leave 'finger gaps' between words.

She scored in the 'average' bracket for everything - comprehension was the top end of the bracket and expressive language was the bottom end. Whatever that means, I don't really know.

Sent the report to school and the SENCo has largely just dismissed our want for a face to face meeting to discuss! Senco again mentioned dyslexia and my daughters hindering writing skills in her email but I'm just confused. I've asked the SALT for another telephone call with my husband this time, so we can get a clear picture of what the issues are and then have the knowledge to go back to the school.

I'm just frustrated.

Have they said why they consider reversals a matter for SaLT?

@Newnamemsz I think it's just that the SALT also specialises in dyslexia and literacy so they are thinking it covers all bases maybe? I feel like I'm pretty contented once I've spoken to the SALT but then the school say something and I'm all confused again.

No SaLT don't specialise in dyslexia or literacy they're not qualified to do so.

Sorry - I'm walking to get daughter from school so don't mean to be confusing - the SALT dual qualified so does do both.

@niki26

Sorry - I'm walking to get daughter from school so don't mean to be confusing - the SALT dual qualified so does do both.

Have you seen their qualifications as that would be very untypical.