My dd is in Year 5 and is August born so one of the youngest. After having suspicions of dyslexia since she started school, she was formally diagnosed by a private EP last Feb. She attends a small village primary which is lovely school with a great Head but I really had to push them into acknowledging that there was/is a problem despite the fact that she constantly underachieved.
I knew she was struggling but it was only when I had her at home in the first lockdown and was working 1-1 every day with her that I realised just how behind she is. I'd say she is working at Year 1 level although as we near the middle of the academic year now, her brother who is actually in Year 1, age 5, is getting ahead of her and I would say is certainly more capable in Maths and Spelling. The only area she is strong in, and probably at expected levels is comprehension of receptive language, inference etc and i'd say this is down to her love of audio books - she listens to so many. She has huge issues with numbers and has been working on number bonds to 10 with a private tutor for many months now.
I had a big meeting in September, once schools returned with her teacher and Head (who is also the SENco) and they agreed with me that she is struggling and cannot access the Year 5 Maths curriculum whatsoever. (Although, they did not trigger the meeting - it all came from me!) Since then the school have upped their game a bit and she has 4, 30 min maths sessions a week with a TA working through a dyscalculia book and she is much happier. However, I have not heard if she is making any tangible progress with this. If I ask, they say things to pacify me like yes yes she's working hard, doing well etc etc but at this stage of her being so behind I'd like to see black and white evidence of whether she is making progress or not as she has been working in this way for 6 months now. Do you think that is reasonable? I have not seen an IEP for her for at least 12 months now.
The other thing is that because she is receiving this time with the TA to work on her Maths, any interventions she was receiving for spelling/handwriting etc (she has very poor handwriting which has actually regressed over the last 2 years) has dropped off particularly now that schools are under partial closure - she is attending school this lockdown under the guise that she could not access the online learning which is great although I wonder how it's really helping her on any level apart from socially .
She has been seeing an online tutor who is very concerned for her and thinks I need to put my foot down with the school and ask for more support. It's difficult as I have a good relationship with them and don't want to fall out with them but I sense a certain amount of apathy with regards to her making any progress. Do you think I should push for an EHCP in light of the fact that she is making very little, if any progress and working 4 years under age expected levels? I am worried for her starting year 7 next year and being unable to access most of the curriculum.....