Learning difficulties

[Motherofboys4]

My daughters in year 4 at school, age 8 almost 9. She’s really struggling academically and I don’t know what to do to help her. She’s been on a SEN plan for 2 years, but bizarrely the teachers tell me year after year that they’re not concerned, it’s really not a problem etc.
She isn’t doing the same work as her class anymore, she’s doing very simple phonics work and numbers to 10. I’ve had her eyes checked, she’s had a hearing test, there’s no issue there.
Every parents evening since reception (she’s always been behind her peers) I’ve asked if there could be signs of dyslexia or anything else that might be causing it and this is when they say there’s no real problem, they’re not worried, because she was a COVID starter.
I don’t know how to navigate possibly getting her checked for something like dyslexia without her teachers support for it. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.

It sounds like an assessment by an educational psychologist will help. Unfortunately, in the current climate in schools, such an assessment via the school or LA outwith the EHCP process is unlikely unless there are significant difficulties/VCB. You could request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. If the LA agrees to assess, an ed psych assessment will be part of the EHCNA. Or you could look privately.

In the meantime, I would suggest another meeting with the SENCO. The school needs to be doing more to support DD.

Thank you BrightYellowTrain, neither me nor my daughter have ever met the school SENCO, so that’s the next step I’ll take. Unfortunately I really believe she won’t get an EHC (currently in a fight for one with another child!) but I’ll bring the possibility up at my next meeting with her teacher.

You don’t need the school to agree to an EHCNA request. You can submit a request yourself. You may have to appeal, but it definitely sounds like DD meets the legal threshold for an EHCNA, which is the first thing to focus on.