Relocating France with dyslexic little boy

[Ned9]

Does any body have any experience/info?
Many thanks

[frenchfancy]

It may depend on where you are in France but around here there is very little help for any difficulties. Speech therapy is regularly given and is seen as the be all and end all of treatment or help.

TBH I would not move a child to France who needed any additional help.

[justwondering72]

I'd agree with the above. France is way behind the uk in the provision of support for most special needs. The overall approach is to provide therapy of whatever sort to enable the pupil to keep up with the class, not to expect the teacher to in any way deviate from her teaching plan or speed in order to accommodate individual children.

There is a Parents in France FB page you can ask to join, lots of helpful parents on there.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

No personal experience but a good friend lived in France (Central region) for about 5 years. Apart from many other things she hated, the main reason they came home was that her DD was diagnosed autistic and was given no additional help at all. The difference in her speech and behaviour now they've been in the UK for a couple of years is incredible.

[Ned9]

Brilliant thanks ladies. Kind of what I was thinking. Shame hey. I wonder if the 'private' schools are any different? Thanks so much.

[Bonsoir]

The private schools are worse, usually, because they can select pupils and also get rid of them and do so to avoid "problem children".

[dilbertina]

Which area are you looking at? Some of the "International" schools might be better, but will be very expensive and you will need to pay yet more for individual support. (I know the British School of Paris did support dyslexic pupils for example.)

You might like to PM a poster called "BriocheDoree" as she has had experience of negotiating the French education system with a child with additional needs (although not dyslexia I don't think) and may be able to advise.

[FarFarAway]

My DD3 is a suspect dyslexic. The issue was raised by her grand section maternelle teacher but it took a few meetings with her CP teacher before a problem was recognised. She is now with an excellent speech therapist and has a specialist teacher once (hopefully 2 times soon) a week. It is not long, only 45 minutes. This is with an association called the raseed.

They do not make a complete diagnoisis until CE2 and a lot of this is done by a process of elimination by you. I have to organise eye tests, hearing test, motortricity (sp?) tests etc.

I think once a diagnosis is made support is available but not to the standard of UK schools. And it is you who has to argue and make appointments and insist for most of it. I have a french friend whose 12 year old is dyslexic and she has spent a lot of time organising his help. He now has a personal helper in some classes and is provided with a computer. But I think this is down to her continuing efforts to ensure he has the help available rather than an automatic right.

The other really important thing is the budget for each area of France for these things is different. I am only just in the 78 and was thinking of moving over to the next postcode but was advised against moving by the raseed because there is less budget in the next area. Her advice is paris and the 78 have more privilages for funding. hence I am staying put to see what the next 2 years hold.

I am here already so have to deal with it. Would I make the choice to come here knowing my child was dyslexic. With the experience I have now probably not.

[AnnaFiveTowns]

We almost relocated to France about 3 years ago but decided against it as our son was "struggling" at school. We've since discovered that he's dyslexic and I am now so happy that we didn't go. I have experience of the French education system, as I used to live there and, as other posters have said, they are way behind the UK when it comes to dealing with SEN. I hate to say it but I wouldn't go!

[mummeez]

Hi,

I don't know about life in France - I live in Belgium - but from our experience learning another language and dyslexia is no problem. Both my daughters are dyslexic and they have both become fluent in French through being immersed in French primary school. The speech therapy "logopede" support has helped no end. It is not like a typical UK speech therapy - it is more intensive learning support - as I assume it would not be in France either.

I am so glad that at the time we moved I didn't know about my (eldest) daughter's dyslexia - we might have made a different decision for her education - and she is simply flying now. We have all got used to the idea that she will have difficulties to spell in which ever language she is using! Thank goodness for spell check!

Good luck whatever you decide!

[Ned9]

Thanks all.

We will not be making the move, it be totally the wrong thing to do, little one 5 is most likely too. She is 5 in year 1, things just are not sticking.. School has been great, funding all the regular assessments, providing a specialist teacher once a week with full support from an LSA. Head teacher is reading with him once a week to ensure he is on track, there is some ADD also in the mix. We are funding Tinsley House, we have already started the omega 3 pure EPA, magnesuim, iron and zinc + multi vit. They will have vision therapy and excercises to get those parts of the brain 'moving' diet tweaked too, protein rich. It makes so much sense to me.. If anybody is struggling there, he treats children as far as Cape Town. When I realise the support we have here, we shall just enjoy long lazy holidays eating croissants all day...

Thanks so much!