Specialist Dyslexia Schools

Highly recommend Bredon School, my DD (dyslexic) currently a pupil there. Small caring school, great outdoor facilities (farm, forest school, climbing wall well used, annual camping trips). Fairly sporty, but no pressure, wide range of activities to suit all. She's made good academic progress since joining, litearcy and maths skills much improved. Does have wide range of kids SEN mainly dyslexic dyspraxia, and also a few mild autistic spectrum ADD or non-specific non-labelled learning difficulties etc. Also some children with no SEN (I'd guess about 30-40% with some being overseas students) but like the ethos. Very inclusive. Ability setting, but no stigma in being bottom set. Good range of vocational options as well as usual GCSE / A-levels. Only criticism would be music / drama is a bit weak and not particularly popular, and school is boy dominated (pretty much unavaidable in schools specialising in dyslexia)

Is your child over the age of 7?

Dynaread offers a science based, online dyslexia remediation program for older struggling readers. (Age 7+) Your son or daughter can do it from the home or at school and it takes only about 15-30 min a day. Dynaread offers wonderful support and I have seen many children who struggled with dyslexia reach functional fluency using Dynaread.

Of course you should do what you think best, but I could imagine you don?t really like the thought of having to sent your child away to go to school. This is another option....

If you would like more information about Dynaread you can visit www.dynaread.com/ for more details. Also here is the link to a video testimonial about the program: www.dynaread.com/service/article/AA-00284/21/TESTIMONIALS/Video-Testimonial-Mrs.-Arlene-Schroh-7-min.html

DS boards at a school where approximately 25% pupils have some kind of support, mostly for dyslexia but also other SEN conditions & English as a 2nd language. I would certainly not discount indie schools with a non selective intake & Crested dyslexia support. My son is extremely bright & will be a day pupil at our local 6th form college from September; however it's thanks to his current school & the 2 years he spent at a local prep school, that his confidence is now at an all time high! DS currently as 25% extra exam time provision & use of a laptop. Suspect that because he has improved so much, this may change when he gets his review at 6th form. DS admits he does not need the level of support he currently gets which is good to hear. We were told at the end of year 9 that he would be absolutely fine with less help. Only kept it going because DS felt unready to lose it. Feel we made the right choice.

One important question to ask if you do choose this kind of school option for your child, is about shared access to information. DS teachers are aware his needs & ensure they plan accordingly.

Good luck. Feel DD would have benefitted from a small dedicated dyslexia unit, so know one size will not fit all!

I can give a little background to Abbotsholme. I went as a pupil, and had friends who were dyslexic and whose parents had chosen the school particularly for that purpose. It had/has (still have lots of contacts there) an extremely nuturing ethos, and although academic performance was encouraged, it wasn't the be all and end all! Outdoor education is second to none and things like the school farm, music and drama are well regarded. It is definitely worth a look around.

redrose school should proof their website for spelling errors

I know children who have been to both but not currently and things do change so I wouldn't like to recommend but have not heard bad things

What about Bredon or Abbotsholme?

Try this, though not boarding.

www.redroseschool.co.uk

Lovely school, great atmosphere, v small.

PE includes swimming, streetdance, circuit training and football.

Becksharp, DS hates football & cricket but he has to play both. He does other sports which he really enjoys though. He also has to do English & Art - both of which he wouldn't chose to do either!!!! I don't think subjects can be avoided if they are part of the school time table, but I think at a specialist school you can feel more confident that they will be taught in an engaging way & the teachers will understand that boys have difficulty with some subjects. DS is dyspraxic, so finds ball sports difficult (although he loves rugby) and the teachers know that & the other boys know that too, as dyspraxia & dyslexia often overlap - so he's not the only one to find ball sports more challenging.

Maybe not push rugby but at boarding school "games" is timetabled at least two/three times a week and in many schools rugby and football are the sports that a boy would be expected to participate in when doing games. You would need to ask the school as some will allow non team sports players to do alternative sports a lot depends on facilities and recourses to employ teachers to run alternative activities to the main stream.

DS's school don't do rugby either. I think that most schools won't push your DS to participate in it unless he is very good!

Have you only looked at on paper? On the map it looked ok for us we're south westish 30 miles of Welsh boarder but the reality was that it was just not doable crappy roads and equally crappy public transport links. Actually Liverpool etc are probably easier. It was about four years ago that we looked at it an ed psych recommended it to us because my DS likes being outdoors and sailing etc I spoke briefly to the staff and they seemed very nice. I think you will find that nearly all boys/mixed boarding schools take rugby and football seriously accept my DS2 school which doesn't even do rugby!
Milton Abbey is the other very outdoor dyslexic school lots of ferreting polo etc but again in a very inaccessible place and I know children there and I hear very mixed things about it!

A friend has just moved her DD there at the beginning of this term and she is settling in really well. It sounds like a place that will really help his self as esteem and the scenery around it is just beautiful!

I do agree with happygardening though. It is very much out on a limb and you would probably see your DS less than at a more easily accessible school.

I too have heard its "strongly outdoors" and I know its well regarded by dyslexic prep schools. I don't know where you live but it is in quite an inaccessible place. I haven't read its website recently so I don't know how many exeats they have most schools have one every half term but you must consider getting home at exeats. We looked at it and it would have taken my DS 3 1/2 hours to get home and longer by public transport because my DS would have to have gone into London and then back out again and speaking from experience thats just too far. Also if your that far away you never attend the school for any events. I gather from your postings that you are not keen on boarding so I would suggest that you restrict your journey to about 1 1/2 hours one way because that way you will be more involved and thus hopefully feel more comfortable with it.

Becksharp, DS was also at a small private school for the same reasons, before I moved him to the school specialising in dyslexics and it definitely wasn't the right place for him. Since he moved school he has to weekly board too, as I work full-time & I have another child to get to school & it was not a daily commutable distance.

The difference in just two & a half terms is amazing. Instead of feeling like a square peg in a round hole, he fits in. His boffin side in maths, science & music is flourishing & he is making steady progress with English & the other less sciencey subjects. The teaching & teachers are completely geared up to teach boys like DS & I have no criticisms to date. I feel like they really understand DS & know how to get the best out of him.

It is financially crippling. I will be selling my house & moving into a shoebox next year - but I think it is worth it.

How dyslexic is he?

If he is not so far behind, he could perhaps manage in a school which was able to provide a high level of support and 1:1 specialist teaching. This would give you more options.

Without knowing precisely what his problems are, it is hard to advise. Some children at specialist schools have lots of related problems like Aspergers and dyspraxia, and in comparison those with "just" dyslexia can find other children's behaviour challenging.

IMO unless he is severely dyslexic with associated conditions, I might look for a private school with specialist support- and you could double up with private tutoring out of school which would be a lot cheaper than baording.