Can I do anything about extra time for GCSEs this late?

My DC gets extra time, rest breaks and a desk at the side of the room as they don't like students sat behind them. Our paperwork etc for this went in months ago I'm afraid. And to the pp who asked why dyslexia wasn't picked up in primary. That's common to not know - we had a formal diagnosis at age 16. Most of my friends with dyslexic children only found out in secondary or later. It is NOT necessarily easy to diagnose.

I teach mainly year 11-13 and received an email last week saying no more requests for access arrangements will be processed for current 11s and 13s. We spend years gathering evidence for extra time, if we think a kid needs it during assessments across KS3 we let them have extra time but they change their own colour so we see what value it adds. Also, I get about 2 round robins a week asking for feedback for certain kids in regards to AA. So, I think by this stage yes it is too late and I’m surprised as a SENDCo you’ve let it get this far.

A scribe would be much harder to evidence than extra time!

Could you maybe ask for a scribe instead? My son has an EHCP but he did spectacularly badly in his pre-mocks. All his teachers said he started well but then lost it so I asked for a scribe. This set of mocks results have just come in and the improvement is immense.

You don’t have to have an EHCP to get a scribe so might be worth pushing for that?

They have to rule out rest breals before even considering extra time, so surely as a SENCO you’ve pushed for that first so it can be ruled out? Does the school have an assessor, or do they buy one in to test key pupils at the start of year 9?

Sounds like cost. They may have to buy in external services. I think I'd be asking for a meeting and pushing for an assessment (again)

How has she got to 16 and you're only just noticing signs of dyslexia? Surely this would have been flagged in primary. I would also suggest that if she's on track for an 8 in Spanish that doesn't scream dyslexia. Maybe she's just bad at spelling? Or hates English so isn't trying? Maybe that's why the teacher seems unconcerned.

She’s on track for 8 in maths and Spanish, 7 in geography and food tech and 6 in sciences.

I'd imagine those teachers were asked for evidence , too, and those grades don't suggest a student for whom dyslexia is proving a barrier. I've raised concerns before and been told other subjects don't have any so it's no dice.

If it's anything like my school we have also been told as subject teachers never to suggest dyslexia ourselves because we have become so swamped with exam concessions... and also because we can't diagnose. Even those with private assessments don't always get concessions otehr than things like overlays occasionally.

The exam system in this country is brutal.

My dd is only in y9 but school have already said that she can wear headphones during exams to have the questions read out.

I don't want to draw attention to her and neither does dd. I'm autistic and don't hear noise cancelling headphones out for the same reason.

Surely there are other things that can be done.
But I know it's difficult for the school.

I hope you get it sorted.

At my school NWOW has to be more than one set of mocks . Presumably the mocks didn't show she needed the time so thta has not been pushed through.

My school does not test for dyslexia (I know some do). They do a few processing test but not one to diagnose dyslexia.

To be totally truthful I have never really seen extra time as a concession sorting out the issues facing dyslexic students. Slow processing and reading, yes.

Like mrs, I am one who is always pushing for concessions to be investigated but it does relay on a lot of evidence. It's very frustrating and I am often disappointed.

It would now be seen as too late if there really wasn't some huge, suddenly emergent issue.

Her English teacher sounds poor, at best. Not that that's much help.

It's not too late. The deadline is a soft deadline, they will accept late applications.

I would argue it is her NWOW if they gave it to her in her mocks and she is routinely running out of time to complete tasks and assignments.

It may be too late to get their assessor in however. A private assessment will give you an indication of speed of working. If a parent brought in a private diagnosis first week of April I would certainly administer my own assessments to see if extra time is warranted. If so it would just be another late application.

The JCQ deadline is not your stumbling block, it is the school not acknowledging her NWOW

What are her grades across the board? Does her dyslexia affect her other subjects or just English? What techniques is her English teacher suggesting for her to improve her grade?

Ds had a brilliant English teacher who told me specifically where he was going wrong, took a piece of his work and showed him what he needed to change or add to increase the level (ie level 3 up to a level 5 or 6) and remember to hit all the AOs (Assessment Objectives) to get a more rounded and thorough piece of work.

So alongside the extra time bit I would be asking for an urgent meeting with the English department for the improvement part. Ds2 had the ability to pause an exam to process the questions for GCSE but not for A level.

If they have monitored her use of et then they know if this is of benefit to her or makes no difference. Agree it needs to be evidenced as her normal mode of working,

Well yes, but the school would normally advise and it’s done in year 10 ideally

We use under 85 in the LUCID tests, there are six categories. There would always be additional assessing done for extra time, though.

I teach English and I'm usually the one pushing for assessments!

My understanding is a private diagnoses won't get you extra time.
Exam concessions are granted based on inschool assessments (with the requirement being under 85 - but not sure if that's adjusted scores, centiles), plus teacher evidence.
On what basis did they give her extra time in mocks?

FWIW, we have a letter for my Y10 saying he has extra time. I think it's too late for summer 2024 exams. Sorry.

I believe the waiting times for private assessments is several months.

@Librarybooker unfortunately that isn't the case any more.

She would need to be assessed by an external assessor and meet criteria in the appropriate areas.

Honestly, I don't think you will. The deadline was 31st January which is long gone. There is a caveat for extenuating circumstances, which I suppose if you have documentation/evidence of the number of ways in which you've requested she be assessed you might get via some sort of grievance process with the school?

Sorry to hear this, most schools will get extra time for all dyslexic kids.