Dyslexia friendly junior/senior school recommendations

[beachhousemum]

My 8yr old ds has a Dyslexia diagnosis and is struggling in his tiny combined year group village school. He has no social or emotional issues although does seem to be disengaging with learning somewhat. His teachers say he has a very negative mind set when it comes to learning which I believe is due to the constant failure he has experienced. Can anyone recommend/suggest an independent or mainstream junior to senior school that could provide excellent dyslexia support in West Sussex? We are near Chichester. I have looked at Boundary Oak, St. John’s college and Ditcham Park. I have concerns about my son having a long journey on the school bus but don’t want him to board. The other option is Oakwood and worry about senior school later although ideally a school that will see him through to GCSEs would mean only one move. I'm also thinking that he would benefit from repeating a year as has a July birthday. Does anyone have any experience of this?
Thx

Seafood College?
Dyslexic DC who are young for the year do sometimes repeat years, particularly year 8 if they are in prep schools,.IMO.
Negative mindsets sadly also all too common in your (and my) DS' situation- get him the specialist support he needs and meanwhile find something he is good at or really enjoys and help him develop at it?

Thanks for your reply. You're absolutely right about finding something they are good at so that they can get some sense of achievement to offset the struggles they face. Seaford I have been warned is trying to improve their results and as a result are becoming much more selective about who they take on for senior places. I know they have always been good at providing learning support but now even non dyslexic dc are struggling to get in. I don't want ds to start somewhere only to have go somewhere else for senior school. Have you ever explored getting funding for private schools? I doubt I would be eligible, also my ds needs aren't that great. Thx for your advice .

What about Pennthorpe? Might be too far..it's near Horsham. They aren't specifically for Dyslexia, I'm the nanny, and we have all three children there, the 2 oldest are Dyslexic, and they have been amazing. The support is excellent. It's a lovely little school.

It only goes upto age 13 though.

Thanks for your comment. Sadly Pennthorpe is an hour away which is too far unfortunately.

Lancing college Prep?
Westbourne House. And review at 13
Slindon but I think it has a mixed reputation (quite a few kids with behavioural issues.
Seafood as above and or course More House but will be a long journey

Hi OP - no, I have never personally explored funding for private schools for SEN, but am aware that others in our situation have indeed successfully done so, via lawyers..

Thanks for your messages. I haven't considered WESTBOURNE house as believe it is very academic. Will explore that. More House a little too far but maybe an option when he's older. Will give them a call too. I wonder where to start re funding and finding a lawyer. Lots to explore !!!

Have PM'd you, OP

My friends DS is Yr6 at Westbourne House. He has moderate dyslexia and is thriving there. Similarly another friends DS is now Yr 11 at Seaford - has been there since Yr4 - moderately Dyslexic again and thriving.

Seaford College in your area. Known for it's learning support.

Definitely look at seaford as it's perfect for your area and what you are looking for. Don't be put off by recent changes in their admissions approach. You are right that it is now over subscribed but although they now have pretest for 13+ it isn't academically selective. They have to choose somehow and use a combination of CAT scores, interviews and references to select. I really don't think they are selecting to up their grades - there is broad mix of students and many with learning support. They support the brightest and the child who needs some extra support. If you got a place in prep, I don't think you would have problem moving to senior school unless they couldn't cope with needs (and you say your DC is not severe) (but of course that would need to be a v specific question for school when you look around and if offered place.).

Everyone talks about the how Seaford is becoming more selective but i know of several kids going there from 13+ in Sept '19, from bright but dyslexic to not at all academic with other learning support issues. As Nighttimetea says i'm sure you'd have no problem at all if you went to the prep first.
Ditcham Park not suitable I wouldn't think, no special dyslexia support just a nice school with a wide ability range.

Seaford can only offer one learning support lesson per week. There is not always automatic place at senior school from their prep school. I’m struggling with a dyslexic 10year old and they have said no despite his brother going there shortly and coming from a school that has a very good connection to them sending 10-15per year. They are not academically selective, they still want the mix of kids who go to university vs btec but they do not offer 1:1 support in the classroom. There are simply not the schools out there who support normally functioning dyslexic kids.

My friend has a lovely dyslexic 8 year child in my childs/class/school. For two mornings a week he attends a place called Emerson House which is in Hammersmith, London. Google them, they are a centre of excellence for dyslexia and dysbraxia, it's what they do well. I know the location will not work for you but how about ringing up Emerson House on Tel: 0208 741 4554 (between 9.15 and 12.30) and ask them about help/suggested schools in your area. I am sure it will not be the first time they have been asked about other parts of the country. I just went on their website to look for you and they run holiday courses in touch typing etc which might be something you could consider (as well as another school for your child). It might be that you jump on a train and have a meeting with them one day about the best way forward for your child. My friend would be happy to talk to you about what has helped her child should you wish to chat. Some of our staff were so impressed with the progress my friend's child made C/o Emerson House they went to have a look for themselves.

I've done a lot of research on this recently for my dyslexic DD who is in Y6. We have a state place for September that I am hoping will be able to tick all the boxes, but I wanted some options just in case.

She's high IQ (98th centile) but spelling is a disaster, and working memory at 7th centile. She masks well but combined with hypermobility in her fingers, it's certainly not at the milder end.

Unless you have a serendipitous alignment of location and schools, there are very few alternatives to boarding schools - and there is a lot more provision for boys (More House) than there is for girls/co-ed. The three I have found that look as if they could tick a lot of the right boxes are Frensham Heights in Farnham, Bedes in Eastbourne and King Edward's, Witley.

I have heard Priorsfield in Godalming is promoting itself to support dyslexic girls

That's interesting! That area of the country seems to be becoming dyslexia-central. Great to see some more options becoming available!

@OhCrumbsWhereNow your daughter sounds exactly like mine. EP says 98centile for IQ, dyslexic traits (working memory, visual processing, executive function are much lower).. also have referral for hypermobility... sensory processing is a struggle too. She’s 9 now so we need to get thinking about secondaries but in London and state most likely.. will look at those you list though

I've done a lot of research on London state options - it's very hard to find out what help is actually on offer... they all talk a good talk!

We had an additional 'issue' in that DD is very musical and excels at things like art and performing arts. Given the problems with the dyslexia, we wanted a school that would have plenty of opportunities for her to excel as well as be in the support classes, as it's so easy for them to feel that they are useless when they can't do things that the others in their class seem to find so easy.

Ended up sitting a huge number of scholarships/aptitude tests all over London so I got to look round an enormous number of secondaries. Happy to give you some pointers!

I bought DD a touch typing course and the hope is to move her onto a laptop and get her using speech to text software before the end of Y6 so that she can start secondary with this being 'normal way of working'. Primary are being very supportive and we've all agreed it's a better solution than keeping on trying to teach her to spell which is not proving successful and is boring and demoralising.