School won't provide a pathway to dyslexia diagnosis and say I must contact GP

[dylexihelp]

DD is in yr 7 and for various reasons we suspect she may be dyslexic.

I have (finally) managed to speak to the SENCO today, who advised me that they were 'very lucky' to have an ed psych in post at school but unfortunately they left a year ago and the post hasn't been filled.

SENCO told me to contact GP for dyslexia diagnosis but I am certain the pathway at this age is via school SENCO.

Given I can't actually get an appt with my GP when I'm ill I have no chance of being able to make on of the "we will phone you at any point between 8AM and 6PM" appt specials which I can never make as I am a clinician who cannot answer my phone and if I can avoid even attempting that I will.

Can anyone advise on options? So far there is private assessment which I see as a last resort, we pay a lot of tax and take very, very little from the state - I think DD deserves to be assessed by the state.

Other option is a complaint to the trust. Surely if they've had an empty ed psych post for a year they've budget for the occasional locum? I'm sure the SENCO is trying to fob me off from pushing for that but it must surely be an option.

Dyslexia isn’t diagnosed via the GP.

EP hours are extremely limited in schools outside the EHCP process. The school may sometimes commission an independent EP but unless DD has an EHCP or displays challenging behaviour it is highly unlikely the school will prioritise DD.

There is also a shortage of EPs and even independent EPs have very long waits.

Exactly.

So why are they signposting me to the GP instead of admitting that there is no option but going private.