What should my P2 be able to do?

[honeycombbiscuit]

I feel so worried but just keep being told she will do it at her own pace and that learning through play is best.

My dd1 read before going school, dd2 was 7 before she could read even the most basic books ... guess who got the better a level results and got into the more demanding course at university? I'm not sure what p2 equates to in England but they learn at different paces, read plenty at home and go phonics/spellings at home to support their learning but otherwise don't worry

I was told it was “just a phase” when dd was in P2. Thanks to covid she’s now P4 and not much further forward and the school has no staff to support a plan thanks to covid abscences. So, 1 term before P5 and wtf can I do? She is very aware she’s behind everyone else.

So basically, if your gut says there’s a problem fight hard. No one else will.

@gogohm

My dd1 read before going school, dd2 was 7 before she could read even the most basic books ... guess who got the better a level results and got into the more demanding course at university? I'm not sure what p2 equates to in England but they learn at different paces, read plenty at home and go phonics/spellings at home to support their learning but otherwise don't worry

Year 1 by numbers of years in primary. Most p2's bar the very youngest are 6 now and the very oldest will be starting to turn 7 (cut off is end of February but some January or February birthdays are deferred so at this time of year it's possible to have 5 and 7 year olds in the same class)

The thing is you can push but p2 really is. Too young to consider things like dyslexia. I know this not only as p2 support staff but having 2 dyslexic dc who to me it was glaringly obviously by half way to rough p1. They didn't start considering it for Dd1 til the start of p5. Dd2 half way through p3 they began to consider it as a possibly but took a watch and wait strategy however she's a deferred February birthday and more than a year older than some of the dc in her class, also incredibly bright and the disparity between her writing/spelling ability and to a point her reading (both my girls have appeared to be good readers which has delayed things as that's not particularly typical) and the rest of her abilities are huge so it's stood out more. Now p4 and it's still something that's being monitored. The only way you can really get things done sooner is to pay privately, but then you maybe have a diagnosis but the school likely won't do anything differently, especially if they physically can't currently.

The only way you can really get things done sooner is to pay privately, but then you maybe have a diagnosis but the school likely won't do anything differently, especially if they physically can't currently.

That’s entirely school dependent though. I have a couple of pupils who we are monitoring for and gathering evidence of signs of dyslexia in p2 and parental concerns factored in to that. We’ve also been able to introduce dyslexia strategies without a formal diagnosis.

Area depend and perhaps I guess. Certainly in this one especially during these disrupted covid times it's not something that would happen. We've p2's who can't spell out 3 letter words because they don't know half the sounds to be able to do so, some that can't write their own short names. DC's school are doing a bit better, some have probably benefitted from home schooling with 2 professional engaged parents at home however city wide it's pretty much unheard of to look at dyslexia diagnosis for 5/6 year olds

Might not be dyslexia though. DD isn’t dyslexic, but has processing issues.

I’m not wanting to worry you @honeycombbiscuit, might be nothing! But I just had a feeling all was not well. She was my first so I didn’t have a comparison so it was hard to make my case.

And don't forget eye convergence - eye muscle issues are much more common than you think, then there's visual stress which again p2 is just the start of being able to look for.

I agree with would always trust your gut as a parent - we've had many brilliant teachers over the years but generally nobody is looking harder than a parent to remove barriers for a child.