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Nessy (for dyslexics) - has anyone used it?

9 replies

snowydelight · 12/12/2006 17:39

The SENCO at DS2s school has recommended this highly to me at a meeting today. It's not exactly cheap so I would be very grateful if anyone has used it if they could share their experience. I think I'm about to make the leap and home school him (after a lot of dithering), so I would like to find a programme that I could use as the basis of my literacy strategy!!!

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isgrassgreener · 12/12/2006 17:50

Hi snowydelight
I haven't used Nessy and would also like to know if it is any good. I did look at it online and it is quite expensive.
I have also been looking at Wordshark and Numbershark, which the shool uses and recommends, I'm just a bit worried that DS1 will get bored of doing stuff on the computer.
I take DS1 out of school for a private lesson and we do something called the spalding method, which is a very phonics based method and is a learing to read through writing method.
I think it is really helping him, but it is really complicated qand expensive and has made me think that I am also dyslexic, as I find it really quite difficult to do as well!!

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snowydelight · 12/12/2006 18:28

What does the school say about you taking DS1 out of school for his lesson isgrassgreener? I spoke to DS2's teacher about this a while back and she said today that the headteacher had told her that it would be unauthorised absence - he has no choice. I know that legally this isn't true. Can't be bothered arguing it TBH, just interested in how other schools deal with it.

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isgrassgreener · 12/12/2006 23:05

School has been fine, I did have to get the permission from the headteacher, as I take him out in the literacy hour, it is classified as authorised absence as far as I know.

One drawback has been that the school now seems to be cutting back on the small group help that DS gets, so I feel a bit cross that I am paying for extra help on one hand and that they are taking away targeted help on the other

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snowydelight · 13/12/2006 12:49

That's a real shame that they are cutting down his small group work isgrassgreener, have you complained? You could say that you are trying to provide what the school cannot, i.e. 1-1 support, but that you feel it is important that this is done in conjunction with the small group work. It's such a difficult balancing act trying to keep the school onside, while getting as much help for your child as possible.

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yulemoonfiend · 13/12/2006 12:54

we got it in desparation. My ds (the dyslexic one) enjoyed it mildly but hated the fact that you had to complete the 'work' bit in order to play the games. So he refused point blank to use it.
Ds2 on the other hand (non dyslexic) adores it...
It's fecking expensive, but if you have a more co-operative child than mine, dare say it might be worth the money...

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yulemoonfiend · 13/12/2006 12:55

he likes word shark (computer version) which they do at school.

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snowydelight · 13/12/2006 20:31

That's really useful yulemoonfiend, thanks. DS2 hates anything that he perceives as "work", so I might have the same problem. I had already identified Wordshark and Numbershark as looking like more fun; the reason I asked about Nessy was the fact that the SENCO specificly recommended it.

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yulemoonfiend · 14/12/2006 16:30

how old is your ds snowyd? he sounds just like mine (who is 9 at xmas)?
It's hard innit?

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snowydelight · 17/12/2006 20:08

Not far off yulemoonfiend - he was 8 in November. We're off to Australia around Easter time and there is just so much to do before we leave. DS2 needs some serious intervention and I feel really guilty that I can't focus on his needs 100% at the moment - if I could find something computer based that he would enjoy and learn from that would be great.