Dyslexia in kids - how to address
Discussion
My daughter (now 10) was diagnosed as having severe dyslexia a couple of years ago - school didn't pick up on it and we had to address it ourselves so took her to an Educational Psychologist who did a full assessment
Soon after we moved house and changed school - school were great, very supportive with extra help etc and we were happy with the progress.
Took her back to the Ed-Psych this week and nothing has changed - over the last two years the gap between where she should be in terms of reading and spelling against her attainment has stayed the same.
The other tests indicate that she's a perfectly bright, above average kid.
The recommendation from the Ed-Psych is that she urgently needs targeted intervention from a dyslexia specialist - and that we should apply to get her a statement of special educational needs to address this. Or we send her to a private dyslexia specialist school.
Everyone we have spoken to has said there is no way on earth we will get a statement for her from the local authority to get the school additional funding.
There is no dyslexia specialist school anywhere near us - the only option would be to send her to board which she would not deal with at all well (a weekend away at the grandparents often results in an emotional meltdown) and, whilst this isn't a particular PH admission, we simply cannot afford to do that with 3 kids and one salary.
We are going to go through the process of trying to get a statement - and we are speaking with the school to demand, as far as we can, that they bring in a specialist - but I suspect that this will very much be an uphill struggle.
Anyone else gone through something similar? It would be great to get some advice..
Soon after we moved house and changed school - school were great, very supportive with extra help etc and we were happy with the progress.
Took her back to the Ed-Psych this week and nothing has changed - over the last two years the gap between where she should be in terms of reading and spelling against her attainment has stayed the same.
The other tests indicate that she's a perfectly bright, above average kid.
The recommendation from the Ed-Psych is that she urgently needs targeted intervention from a dyslexia specialist - and that we should apply to get her a statement of special educational needs to address this. Or we send her to a private dyslexia specialist school.
Everyone we have spoken to has said there is no way on earth we will get a statement for her from the local authority to get the school additional funding.
There is no dyslexia specialist school anywhere near us - the only option would be to send her to board which she would not deal with at all well (a weekend away at the grandparents often results in an emotional meltdown) and, whilst this isn't a particular PH admission, we simply cannot afford to do that with 3 kids and one salary.
We are going to go through the process of trying to get a statement - and we are speaking with the school to demand, as far as we can, that they bring in a specialist - but I suspect that this will very much be an uphill struggle.
Anyone else gone through something similar? It would be great to get some advice..
Thanks for all the advice folks.
My daughter is well aware of her Dyslexia and how much it effects her - it was her who flagged it too us when she was 7 as she noticed that she couldn't spell or read as well as the other kids in her school - I've always told her that she cannot use it as an excuse for anything and she is very good about dealing with it - but she is also bright enough to realise how much it disadvantages her.
I do tell her of course about the litany of great minds who have been dyslexic, frankly I think that makes me feel better about it than her. As she will be going to secondary in a couple if years it's a real worry - she will invariably be streamed by ability and fall into the bottom set due to her dyslexia, exams will be a real problem for her as she will struggle to read and understand the questions - and then to write down legible answers that are largely devoid of vowels - and complete any of it in the allotted time.
A statement (EHCP as it is now) would be hugely helpful in enabling the school to bring in specialists - but the consensus from everyone in the know seems to be 'not a cat in hells chance'.
Boarding at a specialist school isn't really an option - it would be very expensive but more to the point she wouldn't deal well with being sent away so that would cause a lot of angst for a 10 year old girl - and both myself and my wife.
We'll fight to get an EHCP as it seems to be out only option - otherwise she will be left to struggle on which is heartbreaking to see.
Kids eh?
My daughter is well aware of her Dyslexia and how much it effects her - it was her who flagged it too us when she was 7 as she noticed that she couldn't spell or read as well as the other kids in her school - I've always told her that she cannot use it as an excuse for anything and she is very good about dealing with it - but she is also bright enough to realise how much it disadvantages her.
I do tell her of course about the litany of great minds who have been dyslexic, frankly I think that makes me feel better about it than her. As she will be going to secondary in a couple if years it's a real worry - she will invariably be streamed by ability and fall into the bottom set due to her dyslexia, exams will be a real problem for her as she will struggle to read and understand the questions - and then to write down legible answers that are largely devoid of vowels - and complete any of it in the allotted time.
A statement (EHCP as it is now) would be hugely helpful in enabling the school to bring in specialists - but the consensus from everyone in the know seems to be 'not a cat in hells chance'.
Boarding at a specialist school isn't really an option - it would be very expensive but more to the point she wouldn't deal well with being sent away so that would cause a lot of angst for a 10 year old girl - and both myself and my wife.
We'll fight to get an EHCP as it seems to be out only option - otherwise she will be left to struggle on which is heartbreaking to see.
Kids eh?
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff