Is this Dyslexia

[martellandginger]

Just wanted to gage people opinions. I have an almost 6 year old who is yellow/blue on the reading scheme.

He often sees words written the wrong way, often starts to say a word starting the word with the second or last letter of the word, gets letters wrong way round and recently has started to get numbers back to front too.

On reading a book he won't remember a word that is repeated 5 or more times and will continue to spell it out. even for character names. The reception teacher asked if he was tested but then went on to say that his ability in all other areas combined does not to her mind suggest dyslexia and therefore will not refer him to be tested. I assumed she wouldn't be able to tick enough boxes.

I find his learning slow and sometimes he just doesn't 'get it'. His class placement is middle, possibly 12 out of 30. But he hasn't progressed from Easter last year and children are over taking him.

If it was your child would you get them tested privately?

[Tilapia]

Getting his letters and numbers the wrong way around is normal at that age.

No progress at all aince Easter is a bit worrying though.

[pinkingshears]

You CAN get him tested privately but state School wont pay attention to it at that age as many children make those errors at that stage.

It is NOT growing out of them that gives a clue. Mind, both mine are Dyslexic - the 12 yr old I paid privately in the end (£500 odd) and School still ignore it. Dd, 10 is too, but wont throw another £500 down that alley just yet as School tell me they will need an 'up to date' dx prior to public exams.

It's frustrating!

[martellandginger]

Thanks for replying.
I think that's what's getting to me the most is the fact that at Easter he was on blue book, then back down to yellow and at the end of reception the teacher said she would put back to red but then she changed her mind and gave me tips on getting him to read.
He read every single day of the holidays.

Letter and numbers are a common thing with yr1 and I had the same problem myself at school hence why I didn't worry. Teachers just see him as being middle of the road so not to worry but he was near the top and children who have speech issues are reading better! sorry to rant...

[martellandginger]

Pinking, why do they ignore the tests? surely they have teachers who can make a dyslexic child's life easier? In my head I'm thinking they will know techniques that will help make the child 'get it' a bit more or am I delusional.

[roloisking]

Most assessor would want a child to be around 7yrs old before they would do an assessment.

This is a checklist of indicators for Dyslexia

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/parent/indication-of-dyslexia

Dyslexia is a recognised disability under the Equalities Act 2010 and schools should make reasonable adjustment if a child has a diagnosis of dyslexia.

as School tell me they will need an 'up to date' dx prior to public exams.

This is not strictly true - if a child has a diagnosis, the school should be gathering evidence from year 7 onwards to support suitable access arrangements and establishing "normal ways of working" for GCSE - depending on need, some further standardised assessments may need to be carried by a qualified assessor, but there is no requirement for another full assessment. A full post-16 yrs diagnostic assessment is required to claim Disabled Students Allowance at university.

[roloisking]

*I'm thinking they will know techniques that will help make the child 'get it' a bit more or am I delusional

Failure to reach the required standard at the end of year 1 phonics screening test should trigger extra support with phonics.

[pinkingshears]

If a child is recorded as having an additional learning need it:

A. Costs money to support child
B. takes time and effort to put in support for child
C. Parents can complain about either above if inadequate

If it IS Dyslexia (and it is too early to tell really) then it is not 'fixable' but with the right support your child can do amazingly well.
It is not linked to low IQ, on the contrary lots of Dyslexic kids are super bright, but it can make School tiring and hard work.

[TrustingTrudie]

Is he having extra reading done with him at school?

[Norestformrz]

"If a child isn't recorded as having an additional learning need (but is struggling) it:

A. Costs money to support child
B. takes time and effort to put in support for child
C. Parents can complain about either above if inadequate

The recording is a red herring

[pinkingshears]

fair do's Norestformrz

that has been MY experience.

Thing is, Schools don't always follow 'best practice'...

[Norestformrz]

It's not best practice it's the law

[martellandginger]

They seem to get barely any reading. They do read in groups but he (and friends of his) skip pages.

[pinkingshears]

Again, it may be the Law, but that doesn't mean it is applied or upheld.

I'm not trying to put the OP off, just being realistic about the sort of barriers possible trying to get assessment / support for a child of that age.

[Logans]

The reading doesn't sound great but I'd be more concerned by the general lack of progress. Although of course children don't learn at a set rate and a top set child one year could turn in to a bottom set a few years later.

I'd be tempted to get a full Ed Psych report done privately though.

[elfonshelf]

I have a DD with dyslexia - all the advice we were given (from multiple sources) was that there is no point in having them assessed before the age of 7 as too many indicators are normal before that age and you won't get a true picture.

My DD's school were very quick to act once she was 7 and get their Ed Psych to see her for full assessment (London state primary).

Much of what you say does raise red flags. I used to be incredulous that DD appeared to need to see a word 30 times or more before it went into her memory. That is still the case now (Y4) but she's got most of the standard words sorted at least.

Toe by Toe is a really good book that DD has found helpful.

[sazzleevans]

I am dyslexic and so is my daughter sounds likely also look uo IRLENS syndrome