Selective mutism - phonics screening automatic fail

[agpennypacker]

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone has experience of this issue and can offer some advice.

My 6yo daughter has selective mutism which started when she joined reception year of primary school. Up to this point she had no issues and was a very chatty 4yo at nursery 3 days a week. Now in Year 1 she still has not spoken a word at school and the issue is spreading to other areas of her life. (First it was just school, later it extended to aunts/uncles/cousins, and more recently now she’s stopped speaking to grandparents). Mum and Dad are the only people she speaks freely to, but only when no one else can overhear.

She’s due to take her Year 1 phonics screening test in a few weeks and during mock tests she’s taken at home with me she’s passed each time. Despite her issues she is picking up reading/writing and maths exceptionally well.

The school were investigating whether she could take the test with me, instead of a teacher as obviously she will not speak to any teachers. They have had this request denied by the department of education twice (as they pushed back) and therefore she will now receive an automatic fail. My concern is whilst this test does not hold much weight, if her SM persists into the following school years, this issue will present itself time and time again. She will fail despite her abilities and she will begin to recognise this which will damage her confidence (which is already at rock bottom).

I feel this amounts to discrimination and a blanket fail is not giving an accurate representation of her abilities, just focusing on her disabilities.

I plan to take this as far as I can, but it would really help to understand if a) any other parents have faced this issue and overcome it or b) what reasonable adjustments have been made for other children with disabilities/learning difficulties to enable them to take the this or other school tests?

A reasonable adjustment in my mind would be allowing me to sit with her whilst she takes the test so she can read the answers to me, whilst video recording the test to prove I am not assisting her in any way. (She is quite happy for me to record her reading her school books and send this to her teacher so they can assess her reading, and this would mitigate any option for ‘cheating’).

Appreciate any advice or suggestions you may have, thank you :)

Pupils with SM in your DD’s situation should not undertake the check. Rather than a fail it is more of a disapplication.

After 23rd June DD can informally take the test with you, at school or at home, but not before. This is in the phonics check administration guidance and I am surprised the school don’t know this.

Your suggestion of being allowed to record DD for formal assessment wouldn’t work. The security of the test could not be guaranteed e.g. parents may practice before the recorded version, even if you wouldn’t some others would.

Following the phonics check in Y1/2 the next speaking test will be GCSE, that has work arounds/pupils can be disapplied too.

No experience, but it's not a test in the sense that GCSEs are. The whole point of it is to pick up any issues so kids can get the help they need. Including for selective mutism.

My suggestion of recording her would have been in the school not at home, the teacher could set up the recording equipment before the test begins. So rather than a teacher sitting with her to do the test, it would be me. Neither of us would have seen the test before this point so there would be no option to practice.

The school have said they will give me a copy of the guidance however I’m still waiting for this.

I understand these are not a test like GCSE’s are, my daughter doesn’t know they’re even happening so my concern isn’t for now it’s for the future. I’m trying to understand if and what adjustments are made for other children who have learning difficulties/disabilities?

That still wouldn’t enable the school to guarantee the integrity, security and confidentiality of the check though, which they must do. They wouldn’t want an allegation of maladministration.

You don’t need the school to give you the guidance, it is available online - it is here.

You can also see guidance for access arrangements for formal external exams such as GCSEs via the JCQ website here. Guidance for KS2 is different, that is here. Although both may be different by the time DD gets there.