An online programme for maths for kid with dyslexia?

[levellingleveller]

My ten year old is performing poorly in all areas of learning. His school do not test for dyslexia but I have paid for an online screener (not diagnostic) and he has scored as high risk with poor scores in all three tested areas of phonological processing.

I have found the Nessy home education pack for kids with dyslexia for literacy, but from what I read dyslexia can also affect aspects of mathematical learning, and these are the areas of maths he has difficulty in.

Can anyone recommend an online maths programme, especially one aimed at kids with dyslexia?

And is it worth paying for him to be assessed privately to see if he definitely does have dyslexia? What are the advantages of this?

Thanks for any help or advice

My friend's daughter with dyslexia uses the doodle programmes on her tablet. My friend is a T.A and says these programmes are great for kids with dyslexia.

Thanks! I'll look into this!

I would definitely get him properly assessed if you can, you will then know exactly what he struggles with and things that might help him, specifically coloured over lays/glasses for example.

I think it's really sad that primary schools don't screen every child who struggles with reading at age 7. I really think it's something the government should put in place.

definitely get your DS professionally assessed, OP. The assessor will then recommend how best to support him, including online programmes.

Thanks everyone!

Yes. Get the assessment if you can - as the wrong help won't help! Just to say that all 3 of my brothers and my dad are dyslexic. They each have different presentations, have different challenges and needs. Eg coloured lenses/ overlays only work for one of them. One you can tell by talking to him as his words are jumbled and he is also dyspraxic, whereas the others are sporty and good with their hands.

Yes get an assessment. Surprised school aren’t organising this - can you have a chat with the SEN lead person? Are you in the UK?

If he gets assessed it adds weight to pulling together an EHCP if needed, which can mean the school gets extra funding to support him better in school (like teaching assistant time, money for resources like large print books or computers to support him in the classroom), and it also means he could get preference for the high school of his choice (ie one that will be able to support his needs properly).

I’m not sure if an EHCP is the criteria for getting extra time in exams, but the school should be arranging for him to have extra time and things read to him if needed eg for SATs. So an assessment would add weight to getting him this support so he does as well as he can.

I had to ask my DS’s school probably at least 4/5 times throughout his school as I was convinced he had dyslexia and they finally put him forward for testing at age 8.

Depending on DS’s numeracy ability you could try Numbershark.

Extra time can be given without an EHCP, and access arrangements for KS2 don’t require any reports.

Unfortunately school EP funding is extremely limited now and unless DS’s needs are severe &/or disruptive they are unlikely to use their limited hours on DS. However, if you think DS needs an EHCP you can apply yourself. If the LA agree to assess it will include an Ed Psych assessment.

Thanks, I will look into Numbershark.

I have spoken to the SENCO, she said he does not have dyslexia as if he did he would not be able to read or write at all, which did not seem likely to be true to me.

She also said they do not test for Dyslexia. I will have to pay privately to get that assessment as far as I am aware.

He did have an Ed psych report in year 2 which showed up several areas of weakness, (thought his current teacher was not even aware this report existed), but the school keep saying he is probably just a slow starter.....

I have spoken to the SENCO, she said he does not have dyslexia as if he did he would not be able to read or write at all, which did not seem likely to be true to me.

Yep, this is rubbish! Have a read up on the different ways dyslexia can present itself. My child had a moderately dyslexic result with an Ed Psych report and he can read/write and is making progress. He’s just at a much lower standard than he should be for his age.

Extra time can be given without an EHCP, and access arrangements for KS2 don’t require any reports.

That’s good to know, thanks. Perhaps it’s dependent on area regarding applications for high school. In my county if you want to your child to come high up the list in admission criteria (to apply for schools that have the right approach and resources for your child’s success) they need an EHCP. Otherwise you’re dependent on being in the right catchment area or having an elder sibling at the school etc.

I didn’t mention anything about admissions to secondary schools, I only mentioned access arrangements such as extra time.

However, since you mention it, some schools have an exceptional medical or social need category where pupils can be considered under if they can prove only that school can meet their needs. For this professional evidence is required.

Ah right, when you said ‘access arrangements’ I thought you were talking about access to schools as well as exam support - misunderstood.

Access arrangements are what things like extra time, scribe, reader for exams etc. are called.

If you can afford it, have your son tested privately. The earlier a child is diagnosed, remediation is less difficult. He won’t have a further knock to his confidence as peers and friend speed ahead. My brother has dyslexia. He was diagnosed at six, and it really helped. Do consider ADD testing as well. There are many effective non drug treatments for that.nnThe two disorders run together in many families, and are synergistic.

@levellingleveller Number Shark and Word Shark are very good and used in some prep school SEN departments. www.wordshark.co.uk/numbershark/

My DS2 is severely dyslexic, we paid for Ed Psych to assess him, as our LA did not have an Ed Psych at the time. The cost was £420, 12 years ago, just to give you an idea.

We tried everything with DS2 regarding Maths, unfortunately it made no difference, he could solve the questions when we or the private tutor was sitting with him, but the next day he could not remember the formula, his brain was just not wired to retain the information.

As his GCSE’s approached, he said I know I won’t pass any. Strangely enough he did pass one. Ironically, Eng Lit.

He is 19 now and doing so well, he works within a very niche area of tech that really interests him. I would say to anyone with a dyslexic child, don’t worry, you can’t make them what they are not. But they will find their own way. Just Google entrepreneurs with dyslexia. DS2 is the hardest working, most driven and ambitious person.