Seeking advice -DS starting year 3 soon, still working at reception level

[Nova1234]

I'm looking for advice as my son (7) is getting further behind his peers at school. He is under SEN team and is getting extra help. His teachers say that he's making progress and would only be concerned about him if he wasn't making any progress. At the beginning of year 2 he was assessed as being 1 - 1.5 years behind. Despite all the extra help he's getting his end of year report shows he is still working at reception level. So he will be going into year 3 two years behind, i.e. the gap is widening.

Background

He's my middle child and winterborn. I noticed he was different to other children from about 18 months old. He didn't listen, struggles to pay attention and does his own thing. They picked this up as well when he started school. He has attention targets set at school. He also struggled socially and he attends THRIVE sessions at school. Has now got a small circle of friends but still attends THRIVE sessions. ADHD ruled out by NHS assessment based on Connors questionnaire results from school (we submitted other evidence including private Qb test result but that was completely ignored). He's had some private SLT this year and his school have worked with his SLT's recommendations and are doing exercises with him to help him with this. His SLT needs are probably mild- moderate. He's had 1:1 phonics intervention sessions as failed phonics test in year 1 (score 6). Very narrowly failed year 1 phonics test again this year (score 31). He goes to a school book club, did a couple of terms of afterschool club "being an author" . We also pay for him to go to group tuition sessions twice a week.

I'm really looking for advice as to what do I do now? His school have not made any suggestions as to what might be the root cause of my son's issues. Should I do nothing and hope he will catch up? Should I look into other avenues e.g. dyslexia assessment/ Educational psychologist assessment/private ADHD assessment? Does anyone have any advice/been in a similar position?

Does DS have an EHCP? If not, request an EHCNA. IPSEA has a model letter you can use. If he already has an EHCP, you should request an early review. IPSEA has a model letter for this too.

No, no EHCP. It hasn't even been suggested. I've thought about it but have been hesitant to bring it up because (a) we have no diagnosis of anything and (b) his teachers say there are other children who are more behind than DS and I was wondering if his needs were great enough to apply for one.

I will look into EHCP now though, thank you for the suggestion.

Do request an EHCNA. EHCPs are based on needs, not diagnosis. A diagnosis isn’t required. Sadly, schools sometimes don’t mention EHCPs or even say it isn’t required/DC won’t get one, but parents go on to successfully apply themselves.

I hate it when schools say that!! My LA says it too "there are other kids more xyz than your child". Well that doesn't change that your child is entitled to help ffs.

I'm going through similar with my boy and it being dismissed. He can't blend at all, knows his letter but that is it. Entering year 2 and apparently that's not behind "enough". I think I've read they can't say things like must be c number of years behind blah blah blah.

Apply for EHCP. Part of the process is input from an Ed psychologist so they may recommend dyslexia screening. Make sure you put in your application just how much support you have sourced privately. It's very relevant that you have been giving tutoring twice a week and doing all you do. Points to a learning difficulty as it's not lack of opportunity.

PurpleBugz thank you, that's a very good idea, I'll add the info about the private tuition and private slt. I'm sorry that you're in a similar position with your son. I really can't stand it when they say things like celebrate any progress or all learners learn at their own pace. Of course I'm glad my son is making some progress and yes all learners learn at their own pace but if that pace is so slow they are falling further behind then they need extra help and if that extra help isn't helping then there needs to be investigation into the cause of the learning difficulties and plans for more specialised help.