dyslexia and getting extra help at school

Ladyshopper

My DS is dyslexic, showed all the traits right from reception year, and his Dad is, so knew it was a possibility. He was on an IEP all through primary school but it didn't seem to help. I kept pushing the school that he needed more help, but they said they couldn't give more without a statement, and that he wasn't "bad" enough for a statement.

Eventually by Year 5 I had had enough, and applied for a statutory assessment, which all parents have to the right to apply for. The evidence was sent in (at which point the school got a shock when they looked at their own evidence on paper and saw that their had been no improvement at all throughout his years at school), and the assessment was completed.

Basically, he has dyslexia but they don't like to "label" children, so have written it in an arty farty way something like "has difficulty in acquiring literacy skills". He was statemented and awarded 15 hours a week of extra help.

He has now finished his first year in Secondary School and is coming on in leaps and bounds. His reading, writing a spelling are still atrocious (mind you, so is my spelling!), but they have lots of strategies in place for him to assist. The only lesson he is taken out of his Spanish, which he doesn't mind missing, and during this he is on a reading programme with a couple of others.

For him, being statemented and the help he was awarded has really improved his confidence. I really had to fight for it, which is wrong, but am so pleased I did. He is slowly coming round to the idea that he isn't stupid, and I was chuffed to pieces with the glowing report he got from all his teachers.

Ricekirsty

Imagen your boss kept correcting your work and telling you it was no good. Don't correct her so much, espescially if you see it upsets her. Allow her to write as she wants and later do spelling lessons based on words she is getting wrong (if at all).

Life is about learning skills that are usefull and enjoyable. A basic to good understanding of as much as possible is what we need? We have our whole life to learn. The most important thing you can give your child is an ability to trust in her abilities and seek advice where she needs. To enjoy her strengths and be able to mitigate her weaknesses. No one person is good at everything.

If she finds learning fun she will do on her own. If she finds it stressfull then she will not remember anyway, so there is no point forcing.

What I write her is true for everyone?

spaine

I called the Dyslexic Association HelpLine this morning and it looks like DD should have had an IEP when they first screened her for dyslexia at 7yrs.

The lady on the phone didn't seem to think that she should have had a GEP (group education plan) as they don't really exist. Each child should have their own plan and would possible work in a group setting.

I should have been given her current goals and should have been kept informed of her progress.. I guess this is where the school is lacking.

She told me to download a pdf of a booklet - SEN guide for parents and carers. This backed up what she said.

Now I'm wondering if I should get a private assessment done so that we know exactly what we are dealing with and I have the report to as backup to get the school to listen.

Anyone else got the assessment done privately. I was told that the Local Authorities have long waiting lists for these.

Rainey_LB

I would go through the school first, try and get the IEP sorted out. The school must know she has a problem or they wouldn't of screened her for dyslexia, they just need to get the right support in place. I don't really see what benefit further assessments would do unless its just to see what her reading/spelling age is. In that case use a tutoring place offering free no obligation assessments when you enquire about lessons.

What year is she going into 3? what reading level is she at and what type of spellings can she do?

A change of teacher can make all the difference and I can see why you might be anxious over an NQT, but at the same time, they are fresh, have new ideas, SEN is high on the training list so give them a chance.

spaine

She will be going into year 5. Shes 9 in August so youngest in the class.

Shes on Yellow / Green books from the school library.

Spellings are Tuesday / took / sister / then / threw / slide / green / play / change / again / show / church / night / where

Ricekirsty

Its only newly recognised and not properly understood by most teachers you will have a bit of a education campaing to mount. Teachers are fairly busy people. It could help if you provide information for your child teacher so she can better understand. You daughter is the same as everyone else she perhaps learns in a diffrent way than they actually teach. The question they will have is can they teach your daughter in an appropriate way that can fit in to the rest of the class.

Most of my teachers just punished me because I did not want to do things the same way. My maths teacher threw me out of the class because I was cheating. If I could not write it down the same way as she taught then I must have cheated. I remember saying why should I have to break it down into 3 parts when its just a fact. I can't really spell, but I have a visual list of all words in my head. I need to see a new word and hear it to know how to pronounce it.

As you get older being dyslexic becomes less important. When you are a kid you have people telling you you must learn this like this. BUT that just does not work. We need to find our own way to learn. Its like having a car with gears. If you drive it like an automatic then you are not going to get anywhere fast, once you learn to engage your other skills you start to overtake.

notakid

I'd second what Rainy says, tbh I would run everything past the school first in any case as all roads lead back there!

A thing to consider is that a report is only "valid" for 3/4 years at most, the LEA will ask for it to be updated, this can be very expensive.

spaine

Quick Update ..

Booked a Full Assessment for DD so that we have a better understanding of her Strengths and Weaknesses.

Found her a Dyslexic Tutor for 1hr 1:1 per week starting in September.

Both DD and I are feeling better about that start of Yr5.

I've got her some Reading Rulers.. She prefers the Yellow ones !

Plus, I'll be booking a meeting with her new teacher and the new SENCO when she starts back in September.

:j Seems all positive now with an action plan !

Mojisola

Thanks for the update. It's nice to know what happens. Good luck to your daughter for the new school term.

spaine

New Term has started really well.

School has a copy of DD's Assessment and I've already been in to see her new teacher, SENCO and her literacy teacher.

They all appear to be on-board to give her the help she needs.

DD started with her tutor last saturday and came out with a big smile on her face :j . So pleased I did something about it.

Hopefully Yr5 will be a good year for her :T

Thanks everyone for all your advise and a special thankyou for a very kind lady that sent me her Toe by Toe book :A