ASD child wont be allowed for year 1 phonics

[Beautifulday2023]

Hi. My 6 year old DD is in Year 1, attends a mainstream school and has EHCP and 1:1 support full time. She has Autism and GDD. She is verbal and talks mostly by single words or stringing 2 or 3 words. She can read 3 letter words, is behind her peers in reading, writing, maths but has improved a lot this year.
She is at book band red reading level and can do phonics. She can read red band books with little help. We had received alien words practice sheets and we have been practicing phonics with her at home and she can decode some alien words esp 3 letter. When I spoke to SENCO about the upcoming phonics assessment in year 1, she told me that DD failed in mock test that school did, scored 5 out of 30 , so because she did not pass mock test, school decided that she will not be appearing for the phonics screening. So I asked her, ok so will you allow her to give her phonics screening in year 2 , and senco replied- 'the school decides who can give this test, if she doesn't pass mock test next year, she will not be allowed to appear for this test in year 2 as well. ' SENCO said this test results have no impact on her. I told her again, we would want her to get equal opportunity as others and sit for the test . She said no its the school that decides. She said we will do mock test with her after half term again, if she fails, she doesnt need to give the test.She also said she's significantly behind her peers and below expected standard.
We do ABA privately at home for her , and program has been running since 9 months, which has helped her progress academically a lot. Also since March a lot of behaviour like pinching/throwing has started at school and home, so the senco meets me often to complain about DD behaviour issues at school . I feel like they are focusing more on negatives and do not see the progress shes making.

I feel so upset, any thoughts/ideas appreciated. Shall I leave this phonics assessment for next year or force the school to allow DD to give test this year.

Thank you.

Why do you want your DD doing the phonics assessment? Will I benefit her?

I totally get what you mean about feeling like it’s alway negatives that they focus on, my son’s autistic, he’s 8 so had a few years of this. The school need to support your DD by identifying triggers to the behaviours as it’s probably caused by over-stimulation. When they bring these things to you, make sure you get the full picture and ask what they can do in the school environment to help address whatever it is and about it going forward. My son doesn’t sit in groups, he has a separate desk, and he has access to a quiet room if he needs it throughout the day. He has a little tray with fidget toys next to him, ear defenders, stuff like that, to make the environment easier for him. It has taken time for the school to really understand his needs and adapt things to suit. At first I was annoyed that he was being excluded but I’ve realised he doesn’t care about that and if he’s happy that’s the main thing.

Thanks Clarabell77 for your input. This is helpful.

It sounds like you need an early review of the EHCP.

Reading red books with support suggest DD is working below the standard to be assessed and hasn’t completed the Y1 programme of study. If that is the case the school are right to disapply DD as that is one of the criteria for those who shouldn’t sit the check. It isn’t about focusing on the negatives, it is about it being inappropriate for DD to do the check.

If she's only reading 3 letter words, she won't pass. The phonics check mainly focuses on digraphs, trigraphs and consonant blends, which means words will have 4 or more letters.

However, it does seem odd if they said that she can't do it next year either. She may well be on track to pass by then.

In terms of seeing this as an equality issues, I think you're misunderstanding how this "test" is administered. It isn't all of Year 1 in a room and your child somewhere else missing out. They take children out 1:1 for the check, so children would be unlikely to notice who doesn't go out.

Thanks for your response 👍

Thanks solidaritea, actually she can blend 4 words like shed, zoom, etc and also sometimes successful with 5 letter words like queen, chart etc. She knows a lot of digraphs as well. I understand that she wouldn't pass as of now, we will work towards next year

Thank you so much everyone for your feedback

When my severely dyslexic daughter was in year 1, she did the screen and scored 7, she did it because she could answer the "screening" questions on the front sheet - she took it again in year 2, still didn't pass, but showed she had improved quite a lot. The cynic in me says they don't want a fail on their stats, because even if she scored 1 she should take the screen as it adds evidence of where she actually is. It isn't all about passing, it is about where she is and next steps.

It won’t be about statistics because pupils who have been disapplied still count towards them.

Just because a pupil may score 1 doesn’t necessarily mean they should not be disapplied. The administration guidance states pupils who have not completed the first year of the KS1 English programme of study should not undertake the check. Some pupils this applies to may be able to score 1.