Cycling proficiency

[GentleOtter]

My dd failed her cycling prof. test yesterday along with another sn little boy. Naturally both of them were extremely upset as it was the written part of the test that they both failed and not the practical.
I feel that the only two sn children in the class have been singled out and made to feel failures - no concession was made for the fact that either of them can barely write.

I am going to try to contact the person who took the test but want to be able to articulate the problem first in a calm way.

Has anyone else had this experience or certainly something similar ? Any advice on what to do would be gratefully received. Thanks.

[Saturn74]

Surely some provision should have been made eg: a scribe.

No experience of this, but it sounds really unfair.

[GentleOtter]

Thanks Humph. I phoned them up (the person is not in) but will mention this as an option when they phone back.
What makes me furious is the fact they all worked so hard for the test and did really well in the practical.
It has knocked my daughter's confidence enormously. -

[Saturn74]

I'm not surprised - she must be really upset.
I hope you manage to get something sorted.

It is so unfair to penalise someone for their literacy difficulties - as the mother of two dyslexic children, I am all too aware of the impact it has on their confidence and self-esteem.

Go and kick arse - in a calm and reasonable manner!

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

[CyclingTesterMum]

GentleOtter - I am absolutely appalled to read that two children were failed because of the written test - if they have learning disability they are supposed to be given extra time and so much extra help, that the child is able to even talk the answers with you. The written test is supposed to help the child and not hinder them.

I have taught many children cycling and all the children I have taught and examined have ALL passed the written tests ? even dyslexic, ADHD or children who just find writing and understanding a struggle.

I am interested to know were the test given by an external Instructor or by a Parent Volunteer teaching cycling.

Please let the blog know how you got on ? because that is really bad ? and tell your dd, if she has passed the practical, then well done and congratulations to her because she now knows how to ride her bike on the road correctly and safely which is so important.
GentleOtter - I am absolutely appauled to read that two children failed the written test - if they have learning disability they are given extra extra tution