Dyslexic DD, year 3, here are our school options. WWYD?

[elltee]

DD is in a large (600+) London state primary, achieving average NC levels ok but at the end of KS1 was in the 3rd quartile of the year group. I've been concerned that she's dyslexic since reception and some way from achieving her potential and thought about moving her to one of the local selective private schools for year 4 onwards.

Neither will take her. One asked us to get a private dyslexia assessment done and then turned us down, the other told us we were deluded parents of a stupid child suggested 'she would do better in a school with a greater mix of abilities'. There are other local-ish private schools that are less selective but tbh I doubt very much that they have any real SEN provision.

DD is happy at school with a nice friendship group and so we are ok with leaving her where she is and getting her additional specialist support in and out of school. (To clarify, her dyslexia assessments recommended 2 x individual literacy sessions per week, so we are not talking about a child who can't cope with mainstream school)

So what next, as really we need to start thinking about secondary choices?

Here they are:

• Local comprehensive, much improved over last 4 years, 85% A-C passes this year after rule changes, 95% last year, good Ofsted
• Catholic convent (state), for 'committed Catholic families' - DD is baptised, I had the works (communion, confession, confirmation) but am neither a believer or a churchgoer
• 11-plus in next borough for selective but not super selective schools, opt-in system
• The same 2 private schools that turned us down plus one more we didn't apply to. They are all decent schools but not especially well known.

I've left out the 2 prestigious day schools - we effectively opted out of those by not sending her to a prep school, and doubt they'd suit her anyway, and the 2 outstanding state schools, which although they are less than 3 miles away we haven't a prayer of getting into as they are in the next borough and heavily oversubscribed.

I feel as if our main options are either to tutor either for 11-plus or private (and I suspect she is likely to need exam access arrangements so feel the odds are stacked against her) or place our faith in the the academically unspectacular local schools we can get into.

WWYD

Focus on the now. Make sure your DC gets the support they need at this very moment in time.

Get the support in place that’s needed. I wouldn’t be worrying about trying to move your DC. Work with the school you have to over come the difficulties.

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. But it’s manageble and there are many strategies that can be put in place. Dyslexic children aren’t stupid. In fact, if they are well supported they can achieve great things. From personal experience, I am dyslexic and have a degree. It was hard. I had lots of English help, my English still isn’t brilliant and I have to read everything at least 3 times. However, I was supported, encouraged and received the help I needed. I don’t think I would have achieved what I have done today if I wasn’t.

As for secondary, don’t worry about it yet. The dyslexia should be top priority. And getting a formal diagnosis. (Can’t remeber if you said you had or hadn’t).
However, to answer your question;
No harm in trying the 11+, like I mentioned above, supported dyslexic children do very well. Usually in subjects like science or engineering (and others).
You clearly have a chance at the catholic school
As for the others, well all of them really, the most important consideration for secondary is - what support will your DC get for dyslexia? Will they manage it or will they write your DC off as “stupid” and “thick”?

Should probably mention, I still can’t do my times tables.....
that’s what my calculators for 😂

I spent many hours on them, something about dyslexia means basics don’t go in, but the hard stuff does. You need a school that understands that and allows your DC to go beyond the basics and doesn’t get pushed into bottom sets because they haven’t learned the basics yet.

This thread is nearly 6 years old, she's probably decided by now.