So i called the school that we were thinking of for DD. She is in year 5 and is severely dyslexic. I also think she needs general support as she lacks confidence and is very young for her age. She has an official diagnosis of dyslexia but no statement.
The Senco (or Aenco) was extremely dismissive when I asled what strategies the school have to support children with dyslexia. She proudly told me that they have different colour backgrounds for the smart board and different colours and that she can take a lap top if we provide it. My daughter doesn't have Irlen's syndrom, you can have the paper blue and pink spots, it wont help. When pushed on what individual support she would receive the woman was vague and said she wouldn't receive any LSA support as this is not their policy. I asked if we could visit, but was given a telephone interview where the woman told me the above.
Am i expecting too much? My DD isn't stupid but she struggles in class due to her dyslexia and it does affect her self esteem. She gets a reasonable amount of support in year 5 but we have to supplement this with private tuition but its breaking us financially at £40 a week for an hours tuition - i'd look elsewhere but my dd has gone from being a non-reader to a free reader this term and it isn't to do with the school!
To me, if a school can't accomodate visits from parent with specific needs, it tells me that they are not going to be able to provide my DD withthe support she needs.
Here's the problem though - as well as being dyslexic my DD is quite "ocd" about things (apologies to those with OCD as she doesn't have this but she can be very worried about change etc) and has been to a taster day at the school, loved it and is convinced she wants to go there and wont even entertain the idea of an alternative. Other schools in the area don't offer taster days but the two i have called are open to visits. One is a difficult commute and the other we might not get into as its CofE and we are caltholics, albeit non practising.
I feel really worried that once DD goes to secondary school she is going to be in at the deepend, A - in class with children who don't acheive as they don't want to learn and have behavioural issues and B - just left to flounder and become the child who disengages with education because she can't access it.
Would you expect to be able to visit a prospective secondary school in year 5 or AIBU?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
AIBU?
To expect a school to welcome visits from prospective parents esp when their child has additional needs
31 replies
TheoriginalLEM · 01/07/2015 19:27
OP posts:
PolterGoose ·
01/07/2015 20:38
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Message withdrawn at poster's request.
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