Learning & Cognition

• Reading, writing, or maths noticeably behind grade level, despite consistent effort and support at home
• Needs instructions repeated multiple times, or needs them broken down into smaller steps to follow along
• A pattern of being strong in some subjects but struggling significantly in others, rather than a general spread across all areas
• Difficulty retaining information from one day to the next, even after it seemed to “click” the day before
• Takes considerably longer than peers to complete classwork or homework

Communication & Language

• Struggles to express ideas clearly, whether speaking or writing — thoughts seem jumbled or hard to organise
• Misses jokes, sarcasm, or figures of speech, taking things very literally
• Has difficulty following multi-step spoken instructions (“get your book, turn to page 12, and underline the title”)
• Avoids speaking up in class, answering questions, or talking to unfamiliar adults or peers
• Vocabulary or sentence structure noticeably behind same-age peers

Social, Emotional & Mental Health

• Meltdowns, shutdowns, or emotional reactions that seem much bigger than what triggered them
• Misses social cues — doesn’t notice when a friend is upset, interrupts often, or misreads a situation
• Finds it hard to make or keep friendships, despite wanting to
• Persistent anxiety around school, specific subjects, or social situations
• Avoids or refuses school, or specific tasks, on a regular basis
• Difficulty coping with changes in routine or unexpected transitions

Sensory & Physical

• Strong reactions to everyday sensory input — loud noises, bright lights, certain textures, or crowded spaces
• Avoids certain foods, clothing, or activities specifically due to sensory discomfort (not just preference)
• Appears clumsy, or struggles noticeably with fine motor tasks like handwriting, buttoning a shirt, or using scissors
• Seeks out sensory input — spinning, rocking, touching things repeatedly — more than would be typical
• Unusually high or low sensitivity to pain, temperature, or physical sensation

What to do next

If several of these signs feel familiar, the next step isn’t to panic or to self-diagnose — it’s to get a clearer picture. That might mean:

• Talking to your child’s teacher about what they’re noticing in the classroom
• Booking an assessment with an educational psychologist
• Speaking to your paediatrician about a referral
• Looking into what classroom support (like an LSA) could look like for your child

Every child deserves to be understood, and identifying the right support early makes a real difference.