Advice please - it’s all so new!

[Ancasta]

My daughter is in year 2 and has suspected dyslexia and dyscalculia. She is on book band 6. We’ve had a lot of tears as some of her friends are up at 12 and she’s really starting to notice the difference.

We’ve had two different experiences talking to teachers at the school. One of them has been very helpful and wants to support in any way, including agreeing that it will be helpful for us to to get her a formal diagnosis. The other has been quite dismissive, has asked why we “want” her to have a diagnosis (when I suggested that my husband and I pay to get her formally assessed) and has really tried to dissuade us from getting any outside support like that. I’m not sure why this is. My impression is that my daughter is left on her own to work through lower level things and because she’s a “good girl” and is making some progress, she’s being left to languish though she’s clearly significantly behind her peers and struggling.

im not sure what to do. Is there a reason I’m not aware of as to why the senco lead is so against us getting her a formal diagnosis? My hope would be that we could then give the school a better sense of how to support her. I’m confused by how dismissive this particular teacher has been. More than that, I can’t bear to see my child crying and feeling like she’s stupid. What can I do to support her and advocate for her?

thanks so much in advance

Unfortunately, some are dismissive, especially if DC are quiet and well behaved.

If you can afford an ed psych assessment, I would go ahead. If you may request an EHCNA assessment, make sure you someone who has experience of writing reports for SENDIST.

In the meantime, the school should be providing support. If the SENCO has refused, speak to the headteacher. Follow everything up in writing.

If the book bands are like Oxford Reading Tree levels, it is unlikely DD is the only one on band 6. Not that that means the school shouldn’t be providing support, they should, but it wouldn’t be out of the typical range in an average school.

Thanks for your reply, I’ll do all this. We are planning on going ahead with the assessment when she is 8 as we feel we definitely need the official leverage that it brings to ensure she has support.

A diagnosis won’t automatically result in more support. Support in schools is based on needs rather than diagnosis.

Oh I thought that a formal diagnosis meant that schools had to provide support by law as oppose to goodwill? But I’m really struggling to get a grip on it all tbh!

No, support is based on needs, not diagnosis.

The school should be providing support now. The school must make reasonable adjustments as per the Equality Act. If this is a state mainstream and not an independent mainstream, they must also make their best endeavours to meet DD’s SEN as per the Children and Families Act 2014. Both of these apply even if DD does not have a diagnosis. It isn’t a matter of goodwill.

Is there any point in paying for the formal assessment then?

thanks, this is so helpful. It’s a mainstream state school

If you can afford it, I think an EP assessment. It will help you understand DD’s needs and what support she requires.

Thanks this has been so helpful to get my head around it