help - DD in middle of GCSE s - Yr 10 and school just found she has dyslexia

Trinity: Read this Page 12 (numbered as x in the document) outlines the parts that may be relevant to your daughter. Also, there is no need for your daughter to put on her best performance for the psychologist or specialized teacher.

DD1 was very angry and resistent. As far as she was concerned she was clever and hard working and wasn't going to be given the same label as the disorganised and chaotic rest of her maternal family! She has come around to it though now she has seen how it has put her at a disadvantage in higher education.Perhaps you could emphasise that Dyslexics have strengths as well as difficulties, that they often do well in their careers, a disproportionate number of CEOs are dyslexic because of their ability to see the whole picture and to have innovative ideas.This is just one link I got when I googled Dyslexic strengths There are plenty more! It's just that the school system doesn't play to those strengths and focuses on what we find hardest, teachers tend to be just the sort of organised detail focused types who find it hardest to understand us and find our lack of organisation and inability to focus on detail very very annoying. My Dad remembers a Geography teacher going on for half a hour about how I never remembered to rule margins in my exercise books, even though I had just come top in the Physical Geography exam.

DD2 welcomed it because it explained why and how she was different and what she could do about it. I certainly wish I had had a diagnosis. I never understood why I could be recognised for my ideas and insight but could never come up with them in time pressured situations and could never remember things or organise myself in the way other people seem to have no problems with. DD2s Edpsyche report could have been written about me as well and had I known I could have done things better, although I did gravitate to a job where creativity and ideas were more important than organisational skills. Since I did read,voraciously once I cracked it, and pass exams it just never occurred to me I was Dyslexic even though, or perhaps because, my brother was so severely affected, unable to learn to read without a specialist tutor, it was picked up even in the Seventies. He still left school with one CSE and no confidence (he now runs a big engineering department for a manufacturing company).

Good luck with it all

It was DD1 who was diagnosed late not DD2, amazingly I spotted that one as I reread my post!

My understanding is that extra time is not just for those who are slow, it is to allow them time to reread the exam paper, plan and check their work at the end etc. because, as you describe your daughter's difficulties, those with Dyslexia and related Specific Learning Difficulties often misread the question, need time to plan their answers to overcome the problems they have with processing and sequencing and ordering their thoughts and to check for silly errors at the end.

It may be that her teachers are right but I have come across a lot of inconsistency in the interpretation of exam board rules etc. and even understanding of SLDs (DD2 had a Dyslexia diagnosis at 10 but because of some early and very effective intervention her spelling and reading are above average. Dyslexia is now tightly defined as encompassing difficulties with spelling and reading so she is now diagnosed as having Specific Learning Difficulties rather than Dyslexia) All the girls diagnosed Dyslexic in my daughter's school marched in on the Head of Year because they were upset that at other schools they pretty much go on the Ed Psychs recommendation when it comes to extra time whereas they were basing it on their mark, if they had managed to achieve a good mark in the time given they didn't get the extra time regardless of whether they had finished, had time to check etc. They didn't exactly capitulate but in the mocks they allowed them all extra time and asked them to switch to green ink during it so they could evaluate what use they were making of it, they pretty much all got the extra time in the subjects they felt they needed it in.

We have found Edpsych reports worth every penny of the scary amount they cost (£400 around here ) because you then have an independent measure of ability versus achievement ie what her potential actually is and to what extent she is achieving it, and also in which exact areas her dyslexia is affecting her ability to achieve her potential. They will also make a recommendation as to what support she needs (as opposed to what the school is willing and able to or not to give) and whether she should get extra time in order to achieve her potential. It is also very useful to have that measure of ability, to know what they should be able to achieve . We were late diagnosing DD2s SLDs because she was bright enough to find ways around it and got A*s at GCSE but alarm bells began to go off during A2s. When we got her tested it turned out she was brighter than anyone realised and had a photographic memory and had succeeded in covering up moderately severe SLDs. Now studying Science at uni no one is disputing she is entitled to extra time to be able to do justice to her ability in exams, because they know what she is capable of contributing .

VicarInATutu, I work in a good comprehensive school as a support assistant for SEN children, so i know exactly where you are coming from.
If your dc' s school SENCO is not actively involved, this is not surprising if your dc's only issue is dyslexia, because this would probably not be enough for dc to be "statemented", i.e. entitled to one-to-one support; although probably she is in category SA(school action) or SAplus , so at least would be on the school radar.Some schools have reading programmes especially targeted at dyslexic children, and the dyslexic children I know at this school (especially one Y10 girl I am thinking of) feel happy and well supported even without a Support Assistant working alongside them. Also, your dc might be entitled to a reader and/or 25% extra time in GCSE exams etc. This is quite common for SA and SAplus children, and would be organized by the SENCO.
Good secondary schools will also be concerned to get high levels (5 subjects including English and Maths GCSE) of A * to C passes across Y11 , and that dyslexic (and dyscalculic, i.e.Maths dyslexia)pupils don't slip through the net due to difficulties in an exam situation.
Good luck anyway. I can see it must be a real worry especially if the LA is not generous about allowing entilement to 1 to 1 help.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia when I was in year 10, one of the reasons it stayed hidden so long was that I worked super fast (over compensating from a young age perhaps?) I was still given the full allowance of extra time and a laptop (if I wanted one). The examination officer at my school jokingly said that it was, essentially, to allow me to do the exam twice, once in a rush and once properly. I see no reason why your daughter shouldn't be allowed extra time.

My view may be controversial but I was at a private secondary school and their focus was A-A, I believe this is why I was supported so strongly (I was working at an A/B borderline for some subjects) At a state secondary their focus (mostly) is A-C, if your daughter is already in this bracket I suspect they will probably be reluctant to pull their finger out as there is nothing extra in it for them. If she is on the C/D borderline (the best place to be in terms of extra state school support) use this to push them to help her as it will improve their results.

As a student starting teacher training job September the above makes me very depressed but I have seen it time and time again.

I recently got some colour overlays for my DD from Amazon. We needed A4 size as she does a lot of singing and that is much more convenient to go over sheet music (the first time she used them her choir director and the assistant commented on how much better she was singing).
My DD has no diagnosis, but gets extra time and the use of the overlays, she is actually only on the register at my request (oh the other thing she gets is her homework recorded for her as she can miss the crucial part of instructions). Her elder brother is formally diagnosed as dyslexic, and the school has a wonderful SENCo.
For my son, he does most of his exams on computer, because he struggles massively with writing. We did have some issues with some invigilators forgetting his extra time (it cost the school as they paid for his resits in those subjects). The school did give him a special card to show he needed extra time, he also has had a special exam timetable produced to show where each of his exams is (as they are usually not with everyone else). We did discuss using a scribe, but he wasn't keen and that is a skill that is best if practised.

BTW I have been to a seminar given by Professor John Stein (brother of Rick Stein) and it is likely the causes of dyslexia and dyspraxia are quite closely linked.

And good luck with the GCSE stuff. It's a really stressful time for the whole family as I remember.

Interesting. Also interesting to to hear that your DS is doing computer science at Uni. Mine, who did degree and masters in civil engineering has (after getting a 1st and good job) is very much struggling with the amount of report writing he has to do in his job and has just decided to return to studying in computer field. An MSc which has been recommended as leading to a job with v little writing. I'm crossing my fingers.

Vicar, can I ask if you have problems remembering numbers? When I'm putting my credit card number into the internet I need someone to read it to me in twos. If they do it in fours I panic! I consider myself mildly dyslexic but DS1 was properly diagnosed at 7 and is now 23.

I'm pretty sure it's genetic although my other theory is a slight birth injury. DS1 had the cord round his neck when he popped out and has a v v slight shake in one hand. I didn't notice it until an Ed Phych pointed it out to me when he was 11.

I'm interested to know if it's genetic. DS2 is 100% not dyslexic.

Using a laptop isn't quite as useful as it sounds, it is stripped of all software so it isn't a word processor, no spellcheck or cut and paste etc. So you type as you write. One DD has a writing speed at the 10th percentile so she did try but found because she is used to typing in Word, where you tend not having to think so much before you type, because you can change it later, that it was just as slow.

Oh, I forgot (stupidly as I used one myself!) we did have a dyslexic student who used a laptop.

I work as an invigilator (have done for six years) and mostly invigilate SEN exams. There are loads of options that can help your DD and it's certainly not too late to get something in place. Theoretically they could have something in place if she had an exam on Monday and the Exams Officer would merely need to contact the Exam Board after the exam to send in a special considerations form (it's just an example to reassure you they have emergency procedures for things like this, mostly used for broken arms/unexpected sickness).

Provision I have seen includes (just to give you an idea of what you can discuss with the SENCO): scribes; readers; scribe + reader; exam printed on coloured paper (with original provided for the pupil if they need to cross-reference); exam on coloured paper and enlarged (exam board does a special enlarged version); extra time; rest breaks (not for dyslexia IIRC). A good SENCO (like ours) should know all this already but from what you say of the school they don't seem 100% on the ball.

Depending on how well your DD would cope could you ask about the possibility of resitting core modules once she has provision (cherry pick some with the aid of teachers?) that will have the maximum impact on her overall marks. Hope your meeting goes well :)

It's late & I've not read the whole thread so forgive me if I'm repeating advise.
My DD was diagnosed aged 15 & half way through her GCSEs. Your story cold be mine!

We had moved her from a state secondary to a non selective all girls private school in the Easter term of year 9. Her English teacher suggested she might be dyslexic & so the school did their own wholly inadequate testing & declared nothing was wrong. To cut a long story short. DS went to a brilliant private cool in year 7 & they picked up on his dyslexia & treated him as though he had this before the officially diagnosis. We paid & had both DC assessed & the diagnosis was made. DS school were marvelous & incorporated help within the daily timetable at no extra cost. DD school were a nightmare! We demanded they support DD for free as they had wasted a whole year of not supporting her & calling her badly behaved. The school was merged with another local school in DD's final year & the support improved remarkably.

All I can suggest is pushing for as much help as possible. Try not to worry too much as things will work out in the end. DD is 19 & attempted education until June this year when she realised it wasn't for her. She's working in a low paid job & gaining some life experience & I'm not worried at all about her. She'll find her way in life no matter what & is comfortable in her own skin.

A side note about age & diagnosis. DH was 54 when I first realised the dyslexia was a genetic thing. DH went back to college last year & is loving studying where as he hated it at school. All three have seen a specialist optician who has tested them for coloured lenses. (Started with overlays which they all found helped). Was told that having 2 members of the family with visual stress was unusual but 3 was unheard of! DH now has tangerine lenses for reading while DC have 2 shades of purple. The optician test wasn't cheap but totally worth it to see all 3 reading & enjoying it.

Will read the thread in the morning, but in case I forget, good luck with DD. it will be OK & she will find her path but that support is vital whether it's in school or out.

I feel for DD, I didn't get a diagnosis until 32, but I knew there was somethign wrong.

Basically get her the blue overlays for school books, set her PC/laptop background to blue and buy / beg /borrow / steal a program called inspiration - you basically put all your ideas down in any order on a diagramme, then you link them and it produces an essay plan based on what you put in.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B005GJQDAG/ref=sr_1_2_olp?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1339743065&sr=1-2&condition=new

And one thing that has been an absolute boon to our whole family has been Kindles, something about the screen? We had already discovered it when a friend said a dyslexia unit her son was attending had bought up loads of them.

Firstly don't panic, you are not too late to get extra time for the GCSE exams, I think we had to have an up to date assessment by Christmas for the exams DD is sitting now.

I also TBH would be quite cynical about the support you get in school, unless they have an exceptional teacher / department. Both DDs found it fairly useless. They can show you strategies, techniques and help you with equipment but they rarely seem to be good at working out what will work for you. DD1 had already worked out for herself the strategies she was shown and DD2 commented that when she said she found it hard to organise papers it didn't help to be given a load more sheets!

I think it is vital to shell out for a proper assessment from a good Educational Psychologist. It's the results of their exhaustive (and exhausting ) tests that will give you an insight into your daughter's strengths and weaknesses. Dyslexia isn't one problem, it is a spectrum of problems with memory and processing that manifest themselves in different way. My brother and I and our three daughters and a son are all dyslexic but to different degrees and in different ways. The challenge is then to find out how to overcome your weaknesses and use your strengths. We found books recommended by teh Helen Arkyll Centre useful. And I do emphasise to my daughters that it isn't an excuse, it's a reason to work harder.

I also have found schools try to stereotype you, assuming they shouldn't do languages and should avoid essay subjects. True the exams in these subjects present the biggest challenge but if that is where your child's talents lie... (I now have two Masters degree and I'm working on a PhD in an essay subject!!) And I've heard some rubbish from teachers, "She has obviously recovered from it, they do as they grow older" ????

Once you get to the stage of applying to uni though, they really value the skills of dyslexics, seeing the bigger picture, thinking creatively, and will enable both their application and their study when they get there. Most unis now give excellent support.

I wish your daughter all the best