By the time they transfer to secondary school, most young people who have serious obstacles to becoming literate will have been identified. The necessary procedures will have been completed by school and LEA staff to obtain a statement of SEND or EHC plan. Not all children are this fortunate however. Financial constraints, home, family and sometimes school circumstances may result in a child being overlooked. This article discusses the feasibility of conducting a detailed analysis of a child's difficulties in Year 7 of the comprehensive school.