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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

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I feel my child should be assessed.

6 replies

Mreid · 08/09/2010 16:39

My 8 year old daughter is behind in her work and I feel the school is letting her down. I have felt for over 2 yrs that she may have dyslexia or something. in February I asked her class teacher for her to be assessed only to be told there was no places left for her and she had to wait. I was advised by the SENCO co-ordinator to go through my docs. Did that and she saw someone in Aug, only to be told that it was to check her physically (which was ok). I have now approached her new teacher and I feel I am being fobbed off again. I am going to the SENCO co-ordinator again tomorrow. My daughter struggles with concentration, written work (letters still wrong way round) and she is extremely quiet in school. Every school night I always have a tantrum with her which I feel is all frustration. I feel because she is so quiet she is forgotton about. All advice would be really welcome. I don't know what else to do.

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mummytime · 08/09/2010 16:47

There is an organisation called parent partnership which can help (there is one for each local authority). People like the British dyslexia association and Dyslexia action can also give you advice. You don't have to wait for the school but can request an assessment directly from the LEA, I think SENDIST has a standard letter on its website.

Good luck.

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maverick · 08/09/2010 18:25

Have a look at
Should I have my child assessed?

www.dyslexics.org.uk/should_I_have.htm

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Mreid · 08/09/2010 18:34

Thanks for your replies, I will do that. I feel so frustrated for her. I have 2 children that are older than her and they both are high achievers(not that I am comparing them) but it's that gut instinct that I know something is not quite right.
Thanks again

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IndigoBell · 12/09/2010 14:28

Schools typically fob you off in that way. You just have to go into the SENCOs office and not leave until they have done something.

In my LEA the SpLD (specific learning disability - ie dyslexia) team is free for the school to use - and still they wouldn't refer DD to them for 6 months. Then there was a 6 month waiting list.

So don't be fobbed off. Ring up parent parternship, find out if there is a SpLD team or similair, and if it costs the school anything. Then go to the SENCO and absolutely insist that they put her on the waiting list.

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Danthe4th · 14/09/2010 17:22

If you can afford it pay , i'm having my son assessed by an ed psych.
He is 8 and i've been asking the school for an assessment for the last few years to be told he's not old enough, he's starting to click,etc.I also am not sure what the problem is if any, but for peace of mind I contacted a private ed psych and have asked for a global assessment of his abilities.
Its costing me £300, she happens to be one of the top in the country but usually they are around £150.
She rang me for a chat and spoke for about half an hour to get some background, the appointment is for about 2 hours, she comes to the house, and then we get a written report. I only rang back in july and she's coming in october.
I just felt much better for doing it and wish i'd done it earlier.

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Mreid · 14/09/2010 19:29

Hi,
Thank you for your advice. Firstly I was told that if I pay for her myself the school doesn't have to use this..that was advised by this specialist who physically checked her. Arranged to see SENCO last Friday (hubby took time off) only to be told she had gone home. Arranged again for this Fri...was really fuming cus she said she wanted to pick her son up from school because it was his first day. No phone call to cancel...that's how seriously they are taking this matter. I am going to insist, I have listened to the teachers for the past 4 yrs telling me that she will do at her own pace. It's wrong that you have to fight like this. And I shall ring parent partnership.
Thank you again