Learning difficulties

[Motherofboys4]

My daughters in year 4 at school, age 8 almost 9. She’s really struggling academically and I don’t know what to do to help her. She’s been on a SEN plan for 2 years, but bizarrely the teachers tell me year after year that they’re not concerned, it’s really not a problem etc.
She isn’t doing the same work as her class anymore, she’s doing very simple phonics work and numbers to 10. I’ve had her eyes checked, she’s had a hearing test, there’s no issue there.
Every parents evening since reception (she’s always been behind her peers) I’ve asked if there could be signs of dyslexia or anything else that might be causing it and this is when they say there’s no real problem, they’re not worried, because she was a COVID starter.
I don’t know how to navigate possibly getting her checked for something like dyslexia without her teachers support for it. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.

In my experience, the school won't fund the dyslexia screening anyway (or at least my DD's school wouldn't), so we had to pay privately. The cheapest way is to find an assessor on the PATOSS website (you put in your postcode and it will find assessors local to you). You can then present this report to the school. Patoss Tutor Index. How is she with processing speed? What is slow processing speed?- SPD SPD can also make it difficult for kids to learn the fundamentals of reading/writing etc and can go alongside dyslexia.

An ed psych assessment would be very valuable - it would look more broadly at strengths and weaknesses to pinpoint where the issue is, while a dyslexia assessment would just be yes/no to dyslexia. An ed psych is more expensive, but unless you have dyslexia in the family (and therefore a higher likelihood for dc) then I would go broad.

also, I know you have had vision checked, but a standard vision test may still miss vision issues. Again, an ed psych would look at visual processing as part of their evaluation.

in theory a state school should be able to get you a referral- might take a bit of a fight, and might take a bit of time as ed psychs are generally a bit scarce and send budgets are beyond breaking point. We ended up getting dc privately assessed.

As Senco, I have asked for ed psych assessments from all my nearest reputable companies ( local authority linked ed psychs only do EHCP reports). Next availability was September 2026!

Sadly schools often overlook well behaved pupils sitting quietly and not causing them any bother. It is the rowdy kids who get the full sen support, like Ed psych assessments, and it looks like you are going to have to gather your own evidence.

I would suggest you start with a private ed psych report if you can afford it. Then, a speech and language assessment.

My daughter has raging dyslexia but school never spotted it and that was because she was no trouble. She actually had a load of speech and language problems too, which were particularly affecting her understanding (her actual speech was fine). She ended up with an ehc plan and a place at a speech and language school. Meanwhile her head was furious with me - said there were much more deserving children.

So I would say don't wait for school to help.

How is her speech, language and comprehension.?
That sounds like a severe disability to me as its about or before reception level of most kids. So about 4 years behind.
What have you been doing for reading books etc?

Ime schools seem to leave kids who are very behind as they likely didnt do well at ks2 sats so they dont need to show progress.

Apparently one of the kids in dc y4 is most drawing.

Is yours summer born could she repeat y4?

Very gently would it be worth moving school or home educating her? I don't know- you seem to be suggesting that your child is in year 4 doing reception/year 1 work! That is about 3-4 years behind. " the teachers tell me year after year that they’re not concerned, it’s really not a problem etc." To be honest they sound like they are totally incompetent and don't care a jot about your kid. They are there to teach your kid, not nicely babysit her. Before you know it she'll be going into year 7 and still be working at year 1/2 and she'll fall apart. It's great they like her and that she is a nice kid, but they seem to be setting her up for failure and quite liking doing so!

I would bet money she doesn’t have any behavioural problems?

I would ask for specific and small targets in reading, writing and maths to be set and sent home every two weeks and then you support her with these targets at home. Even better if you can meet the teacher after school every two weeks to be given these in person. If she’s not achieving the small targets after half a term or a term then I’d take it further.

To add I support adults, many of whom have learning difficulties. Some hated school, but some quite liked it, but were left to drift along and are now struggling to function as adults because they have so few skills.

Has school provided you with any standardised scores?

She’s in year 4 and only managing simple phonics and numbers up to 10?

OP that’s alarming.

At this point I would be asking to meet with the teacher and headteacher. if they won’t refer for an Ed psych assessment I’d try paying for one privately, as well as a private paediatrician referral

They realky need to stay in the state system imo to get the school / LA to recognise her needs and put the correct support in now and for secondary. She could go to a mld secondary school for example .

I’m sorry OP but that is utterly outrageous from the school. This isn’t a Covid issue- if they’re really only giving her reception level wok there is clearly an issue that is quite major. Year 4 is a challenge across the piece due to Covid but not to that extent.

Oh wow. We managed to get one within a month (should have been 2 months but had a cancellation) with a private ed psych. Cost was ~£700 but worth its weight in gold as provided real clarity on specific deficits as well as a number of real strengths that were previously difficult to see due to impact of deficits.

Is she delayed across all aspects of learning? That might suggest a global delay.

private ed psych asap and try a 1-1 tutor for a few weeks and see what they pick up on.
i'm sorry but if what you say about phonics and numbers is true there is a significant underlying issue and you don't want to wait anymore.

As others have said, she needs to see an Educational psychologist (and due to long delays, going private might be the best way, if you can)
I would say that you need to make an appointment to speak to the senco ASAP, and also make an appointment with your GP asking for a referral to a paediatrician.
Some other things to bear in mind when speaking to the senco and GP....
How is your daughter socially and with friendships?
How is your daughter with communication, speech and understanding?
How is your daughter's behaviour?
Does your daughter have any difficulties physically... joining in with pe, etc?
What help does she have at school, in order to access the work the class is doing ... for example, in maths and English?

Sounds like she is working at reception level. That’s 5 years behind. Have you asked for a meeting with SENCO and class teacher? Has she been accessed by anyone externally at any point? SALT, lang and comm or ed psych? Has anyone suggested applying for an EHCP?

hi OP. What a lot of advice you have had - I hope you’re OK.

Just to point out that you can apply for an EHCP yourself. Your daughter’s reports from school and the SEN plan are evidence. An EHCP is a legal plan to support your daughter being educated and she needs that due to her delays in learning.

school should be able to provide a log of Sen plans for each term to support it. There is a model letter for parents here https://www.ipsea.org.uk/making-a-request-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment She should get an EHCNA (needs assessment) which includes a local authority ed psych. I’m so sorry but you have to put your hard hat on and appeal if rejected. A private ed psych may help, but in the long run this will also have to happen.

Your local SENDIASS and parent forum (google these terms with your local authority) should also be places for help.

and agree you need to see your GP. Even if booking online, phone (or if you have a form write a story for) the surgery, and say that you are concerned that your daughter has a significant learning delay and needs paediatric referral to look for why. You might need a double appointment with a particular doctor.

Hi OP, would you be able to say roughly where in the country you are? It's a challenge to get an EP report for sure but not impossible.

I managed to get half an hour on the phone with an expert one (after recommendation from a SEN parents' group) and then found a retired LA one in the next town via a friend.

I think having cognitive tests done that are nationally referenced would be really useful in your DD's case.

All of this post 👍🏼

Do you have other local primary schools? I’m thinking your school have significantly under-reacted and wondering if there is an issue with them tbh. Maybe think about moving your kiddo.

Trouble with that is if she needs an ehc they are starting all over - the current school will at least have some evidence to work from.

Current y4 only missed jan to march of reception (and potentiaooy 50% of preschool) so while not great that wouod be about 1 term behind on reading not years.

Whilst its likely upsetting it does show how much schools will fob people off.

I cant realisitcally see how she would move to a mainstream secondary. Everything relies on a level of reading.
how is her memory?

I would definitely look at ehcp so if necessary you can select the secondary or sen school.

Sincerely thank you for all replies and advice. The answers to a few questions;
She’s extremely well behaved to a fault- she won’t speak up for help or if there’s a problem. Teacher is aware and it’s part of her SEN plan for an adult to regularly check in but daughter says they don’t.

Reception work is exactly where she’s at, it was in year 3 when the teacher said she had to go back to reception work and start again completely from the beginning because she wasn’t grasping the basics.

Her memory seems to be very bad, as in she will read a sentence and then have no recollection of what she said. I’m unsure if it’s a memory issue or a processing one though.

Just last week she saw a SALT at school, but I haven’t been told what it was for or what the conclusion was, I plan to ask this week at parents evening.

Her dad is dyslexic which is why I thought it could be that.
She uses a widget board at school (kind of like PECS) and has 1-1 reading and phonics once/twice a week. She’s in a very diverse class with lots of children with other SEN (Down syndrome, ASD, ADHD, so I think she’s just found herself at the bottom of the ladder because she gets on and deals with it.

All in all, I feel much more vindicated to take this further with the school and get her the support she deserves.

I’m in Birmingham if anyone has any recommendations for an EP