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Original poster

Dd has been 'tested' at school today

37 replies

Frouby · 30/11/2018 20:42

And I have no idea what she has been tested for.

She is 14. On target for 7/8 in most subjects at GCSE. Is very good at maths and french. Already consistently working at level 7/8. Really enjoys school. Good social life, fits in if not one of the most popular.

Always done well at school, but a reoccurring issue has been getting her ideas onto paper, especially in essay based subjects. English is her weakest subject. She has never enjoyed reading.

I suspect now they are doing a lot of timed assessments it's come to a head that she can't write quickly enough. Her comprehension is good, her handwriting is beautiful, she is left handed. She is very good at art. She didn't do it at GCSE tho, but her art teacher very much wanted her to.

She does get anxious before assessments. She has been told today that she will get extra time and a reader during exams. She was asked to read out words and sounds. Only her and one other pupil was tested.

I had no idea they had any concerns or that they were testing for anything. She has more or less been told she has additional needs, with no warning and we have had no time to discuss or prepare for this, and have a 14 year olds account of what happened. I am absolutely furious with school, but also pretty upset that she may have had issues all way through school which have only just been picked up on. Poor bugger must have worked so hard to keep up.

Just so I am prepared for next week does this sound like dyslexia?

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BackforGood · 06/12/2018 19:11

there is nothing much more dramatic than a 14 year old girl and dd could quite easily have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick, turned it into a log on the way home and by the time she has walked through the door it's a whole forest of imagined problems.

Grin

Love this ^

Original poster
Frouby · 06/12/2018 18:28

Right have spoken to the Senco today. She did a TOWRIE test and dd scored 78 which is less than the average.

Senco listened to me when I said I was concerned about dyslexia (was hoping she would tell me there were no concerns). Asked a bit about dd as she didn't know her, said it does sound as though she has dyslexia tendencies etc etc.

I have asked that she leave it now until January just to give dd time to relax over Christmas without extra pressure on her. She says for a pupil as bright and focused as dd she would expect her to not struggle as much with timed assessments and that ot is common for issues to be picked up ay this age. But realistically that a diagnosis won't make a lot of difference as dd can read and write and spell, it just takes her longer which is where the extra time comes from.

So am not really much further forward but have a sort of plan. I will be calling in January and booking an appointment with the Senco and Sen at school and pushing for dyslexia diagnosis. But if that takes too long then will pay for a private assessment. And also look into the possibility of a tutor specialising in dyslexia and exam techniques and planning.

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Lara53 · 06/12/2018 11:00

sounds like my DS who doesn't have a formal diagnosis, but has been noted by Occupational Therapist and Behavioural Optometrist as having 'dyspraxic tendencies'. He benefits from extra time to help him structure his work and add extra detail. The test she had as others have said would be the JCQ.

If she is staying for 6th form or moving elsewhere I'd definitley have a private assessment done this summer so that support can be organised for A Levels as she may find things tricky with the volume of work/writing etc ramping up significantly. My DS uses a laptop (has done since Yr8) as he has issues with speed of writing. This helps massively and his marks and self esteem are great now.

thepotato · 06/12/2018 10:19

Backfor good - op's dd was assessed for exam arrangements so I was specifically referring to the procedure as set out by JCQ, who recommend that exam arrangements are processed during the first year of a 2 year GCSE course.

Original poster
Frouby · 06/12/2018 06:43

Back I think you are right about the SENCO having a bit of time. She was in to see some year 11s but she couldn't see them for some reason. Dds English teacher is head of English so presumably had a conversation that went similar to what you suggest. Dd is actually in top set in English(I thought she was in second set) and there was another pupil doing the same assessment with her.

So suspect the English teacher just thought 'while I have a spare SENCO knocking around, I will just get the extra time these 2 year 10s need sorted'.

I am not upset about the testing or even the way it was arranged now I understand why. I am still a bit 'hmmmmm' about the feedback dd recieved BUT there is nothing much more dramatic than a 14 year old girl and dd could quite easily have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick, turned it into a log on the way home and by the time she has walked through the door it's a whole forest of imagined problems.

Dd feels ok about it all now which is the main thing. If the SENCO feeds back that there is something that needs investigating we will look at that. We are also going to look at some tutoring for English and exam techniques to give her some extra confidence. She wants to do A levels and the uni so it will be money well spent.

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BackforGood · 05/12/2018 23:39

At this stage, the OP's dd isn't getting any changes in exams. She is 14. Not yet taking public exams.

We are speculating, but it seems logical that the advisory teacher was in, had a bit of time, and the SENCo took the chance to say 'Will you have a quick peep at Frouby's dd ?'

I don't know that, but it seems a reasonable scenario. As a parent, I would be happy the SENCo has done what she can to start any investigations about my dd's needs, and not cross she hadn't been able to get any particular form signed before she was seen. (Indeed, was happy when it happened to my dd). I can assure you in my authority there isn't a 'form 8 with part A and B' to be completed before an advisory teacher can advise the school on how they can support their pupils. Yes, it is advised you speak to parents first and get their permission, but, occasionally circumstances are such that you make a quick decision on the spot. You do that, knowing the families. My dd was seen, possibly because they knew I have some common sense. Maybe the OP's SENCo made the same judgement there?

thepotato · 05/12/2018 22:49

The advisory teacher would have needed to have a copy of form 8 with part A and B completed by the SENCO before she assessed the pupil. All authorities work slightly differently, but JCQ criteria is set in stone.

BackforGood · 05/12/2018 21:29

OP It does make a lot of sense to get her eyes checked at this point too though - good thinking.

BackforGood · 05/12/2018 21:29

Daisybank2 People with dyslexia aren't the only people who can have adjustments made for them in exams. There are lots of different difficulties that prevent students from being able to get all their knowledge down in a timed exam.

Thepotato I should imagine the person who assessed OP's dd was a member of the support services within the local authority. All authorities work slightly differently. Of course the SENCo can ask the advisory teacher for support with an assessment. However, the advisory teacher will have a lot of schools to visit / support and won't 'be around' for chats with parents throughout the week. Potentially she fed back verbally to the SENCo as she was on her way out the door, on way to next appointment.

Original poster
Frouby · 05/12/2018 19:59

Thanks potato. Will see what happens next week and if no further forward book an appointment with the SENCO.

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thepotato · 05/12/2018 19:24

The SENCO will have the scores and necessary information already if exam arrangements have been allocated - that is the person who you need to speak to.

Original poster
Frouby · 05/12/2018 18:25

I don't know who it was, dd didnt know her either.

I am happy for her to have additional time, who wouldn't be, but I want to know why she has extra time. I don't want dd to struggle or not reach her full potential and I need to be 100% certain it's just dd getting in a tizzy. Which is what English teacher thinks. But it doesn't happen in maths or french or even in science though she does find science more difficult than maths and french. But English is her worst subject.

I don't want to start doing further investivations until I have seen the assessment feedback and have asked for that to be emailed so I have a copy and am not likely to get misinformation or misinterpret anything.

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thepotato · 05/12/2018 18:16

That makes no sense unless the assessor is a member of staff. An external assessor cannot assess for exam arrangements unless the SENCO has completed part A of form 8 and communicated with the assessor prior to the assessment taking place. So if the assessor is a member of staff then presumably you can meet with them?

Original poster
Frouby · 05/12/2018 17:39

I have no idea daisy. English teacher really confident she isn't just that she needs extra time to help her cope with the pressure.

Assessor has apparently emailed english teacher back (according to what dd said when she came home from school tonight) and a reader isn't necessary but extra time is. English teacher said to me that a reader won't make any difference to dd as she can read and understand perfectly well.

So basically fuck knows. Am going to get dds eyes tested over Christmas and rule something visual out then wait for official feed back from this assessor.

And start early on the christmas booze.

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daisybank2 · 05/12/2018 16:35

If the English teacher is 95% sure your dd isn't dyslexic, then what was she thinking the reason would be for her being awarded extra time? She wouldn't get extra time for just being flustered! All sounds a bit of an unorganised shambles to me! Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Original poster
Frouby · 05/12/2018 14:33

Just a further update her english teacher, who arranged the assessment spoke to me this morning.

She arranged the assessment because she thinks dd needs extra time to ensure she is given every chance in her exams to get down what she knows. She knows dd is a lot more capable than what she is testing at in English and also history.

I discussed with her what had been said to dd after the assessment, the question about a reader as well as extra time, and that the assessor had said that she was surprised dd had managed so long and nothing had been picked up before now.

The english teacher seemed a bit taken aback by that and said the was 95% certain she wasn't dyslexic but obviously those comments need to be understood fully.

She was very helpful and understands where I was coming from for being concerned and has said she is chasing the assessor up but it might be next week before we hear anything else.

English teacher thinks that dd just gets flustered and goes to pieces which is what is causing the lack of words on paper. And that dd generally doesn't like tests. I did point out that maybe dd is getting flustered becasue she can't do it. So we shall see.

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Original poster
Frouby · 05/12/2018 06:26

I know what you are saying about funding, my nephew has had major problems since he was 2 and its taken until he was 9 to get a diagnosis then even with an autism and adhd diagnosis there isn't much being done.

Am definitely going to pay for private screening if necessary. Have looked at the process for getting an NHS diagnosis and it will take months. She doesn't have months really, not in year 10.

I just want to speak to whoever did the test first and find out the results of that.

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BackforGood · 05/12/2018 00:17

My dd had some assessments and testing done in Spring of Yr11. Just like your dd - she was top set / predicted '8's across the board, and the were just picking up that she struggled to organise herself / get exam papers complete in the time.
I'd had 5 years of teachers telling me how bright / capable / interested she was during lessons and how that was never reflected in end of year exams. It took a newish SENCo being appoinited to try to get something formalised. The SENCo used the opportunity of the LA's Pupil Support Teacher being in school and having a 20min slot (who know, maybe another pupil was away, or maybe something else she was doing finished earlier than expected, or maybe her next school cancelled the appointment - could be any one of a number of reasons, but the support teacher suddenly had 20mins so the SENCo jumped in and tried to get some help for my dd).
I wasn't cross I didn't know in advance. I was pleased that finally they were trying to do something about it.
Unfortunately, because this was nearly Easter just before GCSEs, there was limited stuff she could put in to place - yes a bit of extra time but my dd had to manage it herself, sitting in same room as the pupils without extra time, so it became and additional thing to try to organise and a hindrance rather than a help. Had the school got the help in earlier, then she could have had that as her "usual way of working" and got much better support.
Sadly, finding for any sort of additional need is so limited, it is not that common that dcs like my dd and your dd are picked up and given the support that could make a grade's difference to a bright child. Quite rightly, most efforts are focused on dc that struggle a lot more than our dc. SO, though, no, it isn't 'ideal' the way it has been done, realistically, the SENCo was probably trying to squeeze 3 extra pupils in to get a bit of support, and could only do that this way. Yes, perfect world you would have been involved ealier, but the SENCo isn't working in a perfect world, so if I were you I'd focus on the fact it is good she has been picked up early enough for this to become her 'regular pattern of working' before she gets to public exams, and even the fact they have made time for her at all.

thepotato · 04/12/2018 23:34

That all sounds very confusing op - poor dd. In most schools the SENCO is the person who would have organised the assessment as they would have needed to complete the first part of a document called form 8 in preparation for the assessor.

Original poster
Frouby · 04/12/2018 21:10

Thanks Rose. I finally got a phonecall back from head of pastoral care, explained what had happened and asked to be kept informed moving forwards about further tests and the outcome of this one. Told them that dd had been upset and anxious all weekend and we had no one to discuss with, and while we appreciate the testing and understand the positives such as extra time etc, it was a shock.

Head of pastoral had no idea what the test was, who had organised it or who had done it. He said he was finding dd, going to have a chat with her and find out who organised the test, and get someone to call me back.

What actually happened was dd was dragged out of her lesson again. Then as she was in english he dragged the english teacher out of the lesson. The dd spent 10 minutes being spoken to by the english teacher who justified why the test had been organised and telling dd not to worry, while dd wasn't listened to. Dd was trying to explain she was worried because they have offered extra time AND a reader so dd thinks it's pretty bad. English teacher didn't even give her chance to explain about having a reader, she didn't listen at all according to dd.

Sigh. I think I am going to make an appointment to go in and see if I can get any information about the test, the results and where we go from here.

Am not interested in the politics or the reasons for justifying the test, or that it hasn't been picked up on before. Or who did the test or who authorised it. Just want to know the outcome, if there is a problem and if so, how best to support dd.

Am half tempted to look at private screening. At least if we have more idea with full access to results I can support her properly and will be able to make the best decisions.

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Rose1981 · 04/12/2018 19:03

It’s a shock when you hear anything new, the school should have contacted you if they had suspected a learning need. Having said that, many people struggle to get schools to take their concerns on board. You seem to be on the right track, contacted the school and asking for information. My older niece wasn’t diagnosed until university, she was at a grammar school who were not particularly supportive. 15 year old niece was diagnosed with autism, school ignored our concerns for dyslexia so parents did a private assessment- we were right she was dyslexic. It does take time for things to sink in but atleast she has a chance to reach her potential, she clearly sounds bright. Although she’s had to work harder to keep up long term it will have helped her develop skills she may not have-I’ve learnt you have to look at the silver lining. I can’t remeb where exactly but I’m sure it does say in the Send code of Practice says someone about informing parents. Good luck

daisybank2 · 03/12/2018 10:09

Agree with the French. My dd's doing it for A level now, but it's getting much harder.
Never heard the birth weight thing before - my dd was 9lbs 10oz, so really wouldn't worry! It's mostly hereditary, but we're not aware of anyone in our family who is dyslexic, so who knows!

Original poster
Frouby · 03/12/2018 07:35

I think she is good at French because there isn't much volume of reading/writing at this stage and maybe because the french department is good at what they do. Its a modern foreign language school so it has an emphasis on language. And because it will have been taught from scratch with no assumptions about ability it's really clicked with her.

Hopefully will get some answers this week. Am glad it's been positive for your dd, am hoping it will be for us. I also feel guilty because I looked at possible causes and low birth weight can be one. She was tiny when she was born, 5lbs 10oz. I worked all way through being pregnant and didn't eat well, I only put about a stone on so blame myself for that. Her dad is dyslexic as well.

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daisybank2 · 02/12/2018 19:52

OP I understand totally.
I was in shock, and still am tbh, but once it was confirmed it all made sense, and there was a huge sense of relief.

I feel massively guilty I didn't do anything sooner, but the assessor said I must definitely shouldn't - her old school should have picked up on it but didn't, so really they're the ones who should be feeling guilt!
Like your dd she is also very good at French and this in my mind would never have meant she could have been dyslexic, but I was wrong. Plus she was excellent at spelling, and reading.

We live and learn!

It sounds like your dd has had a quick initial screening to check for a 'spikey profile', but this isn't fully conclusive. The school should then offer the full test which will conclude whether your dd is dyslexic or not, and then go on to state what measures need to be put in place, ie extra time. We were told that although initial quick screening could show up any difficulties or unusual patterns, it could be wrong, and no extra time could be promised at that point.

Original poster
Frouby · 02/12/2018 19:06

Lady she was in for about 10 minutes. Am sure it wasnt a full dyslexia assessment, more to assess whether further help is needed. It was the comment after the test 'I am surprised that it hasn't been picked up before...' which makes me assume that there is something they need to assess for.

daisy I am glad they have tested, I jusg wish they had spoken to me before so I could discuss it with dd. She has been struggling with speed or completing enough work since she was small. It's been an ongoing comment. 'Minifrouby is amazing, bright, articulate, contributes to discussion, homework amazing but needs to work on speed/getting more down/completing tests'.

I am sure this will be very positive for her moving forwards, it's just it was dropped in my lap friday teatime and it's been a bit of a shock. And I feel guilty for not thinking about it sooner.

But other than not writing enough or enjoying reading for pleasure she hasn't shown any other signs. A bit hesitant reading stuff outloud now I think about it, and makes the odd mistake but I assumed she knew what the words said but wasnt sure how to pronounce them.

She's been fine today. We went to the garden centre and bought some decorations for the tree, she has done some homework and is currently wallowing in the bath.

Am going to call school tomorrow and find out what she was tested for, whether they have official results back yet and what the next steps are.

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