to think that some kids are just low average ability, and

[MyBrilliantCareer]

don't actually have dyslexia, or need to be withdrawn from mainstream lessons.

Controversial.

Personally, I don't think 'low ability' necessarily has much to do with it.

I would say that some children are wrongly diagnosed as dyslexic when, in fact, they just haven't been taught to read and write properly.

er i suppose, don't need to be withdrawn for what though? you're being a bit vague

What a ridiculous post! Of course some children have a lower than average ability. If they didn't the average wouldn't be the average, would it?

But lots of children also have dyslexia or some other SLD. Some of these children will also be below average, some average, some above.
Oh and they are the lucky ones if their need is being met and they are having extra help. However, this is usually in addition to mainstream. They don't spend all day in a room on their own.

Sorry, don't mean to be vague. I mean withdrawn for a support group, or 1-1.

I seem to see a lot of parents who can't accept that their child is just not as bright as they'd like them to be. And they almost always come back to "I think s/he has dyslexia", even though there's no evidence for it.

I have dyslexia and i'm KO

Or are like my cousin, dyslexic and yet still capable of coming out with a First from a RG uni?

It certainly is outrageous that at least half of our children are leaving school with below average reading and writing skills.........

What is the point of your post, OP? What are you getting at? that you are unhappy with parents grappling with their children not being the brightest? All seems a bit odd.

but why shouldn't they have extra support out of mainstream lessons?

i think it can be hard to find out if they have any underlying problems which can help them learn so surely it's good if the senco explore this?

Quite often children with dyslexia are above average anyway. Are you a bit threatened by this or something?

if they were lower ability do you not think they need the support then? not sure your logic makes sense
and as someone else said having dyslexia does not necessarily make a child lower ability overall

Just as I said - I see a lot of parents being very demanding about this, when a wrong focus on dyslexia may actually distract from the real cause for the child's low attainment. But most parents mention the D word as though it's a catch-all.

Schools will not test for dyslexia until a child is at least 7yrs. If that child does have dyslexia then any intervention is helpful.

I've never come across this phenomenon, sorry.

Hmmm. Not really sure what you're getting at.

Being dyslexic doesn't necessarily translate into "below average ability" at all.

But I do agree that there is an increasing drive to search for a diagnosis when perhaps a child is simply not particularly academic or good at reading/writing. But I assume an expert can tell the difference between a child with dyslexia and one who isn't academically bright.

A student of low average ability does not need support out of mainstream lessons. It also, rightly as some people have said, suggest dyslexia.

They're just not top of the class, and some parents can't accept that. Some are looking for a label.

But the strategies for dyslexia aren't necessarily the same as those for a child who just needs extra help with reading.

Having a yellow or pink whiteboard rather than white or writinmg with a green or purple whiteboard marker rather than a black. These often help dyslexic children enormously but would do jot to help a child who was struggling with phonics, say.

sorry - also, does not suggest dyslexia.

My son is currently 'low average ability' when it comes to maths .But he is a bright, articulate, knowledgeable child. Thankfully he isn't being written off and is getting one-to-one on a daily basis to help him catch up and a set of targets to practice every day at home.

Not sure what you think should be done with him. Just left to flounder and get further and further behind? How would that benefit anyone?

huh why would they not need support out of lessons?? maybe they need the extra time to catch up or learn another way. you're being very judgemental

My ds is top of his class but the teachers don't know it because he has a 'label' that = 'low expectations'.

Sometimes parents know things. I don't think many have a chip on their shoulders about their children not being the top of the class though. It sounds like you are bitter about something though - spit it out.

Also, using the exercise books with the pale blue lines rather than grey/black. I have seen this work amazingly well.

Not all dyslexics are low ability and not all low abilty people are dyslexic.

Its called low abilty as its below average. But you can be below average and still fine.

Take my DS, year 2, SATS predictions are maths - level 3, reading, 2B, writing 2C.
So hes way above, spot on and below average.

It's not clear cut.

If a child is not achieving then they need extra help. It doesn't matter what their IQ is.

Why is it an issue to you for a low ablity child to get extra help. All children NEED a certain level of education to be sucessful adults. Surely the reason for a dyslexia assessment is to ensure that the child gets the right help. For example a bright dyslexic child would be unsuitable for an MLD school.

Reading is not a skill that requires intelligence. A child without dyslexia can be taught to read quickly and easily if they are taught with synthetic phonics by a good teacher. (Or at least to decode, comprehension does require intelligence)