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Dyslexia diagnosis what next?

6 replies

RobEmily · 07/07/2025 14:11

Hello, my year 3 daughter has just received a dyslexia diagnosis and I’m wondering what next to support her. Sorry if this isn’t the right place to post - wasn’t sure which chat would be maybe SEN?

School haven’t been very helpful to date - what should I be asking for?

In other people’s experience, does a dyslexic tutor help? We have the funds for this but one of spoken to (who was recommended) seems to focus on reinforcing phonics but I’m not convinced phonics is the right approach for my daughter.

Do others have tutor experience; what do they cover / what should I expect?

What support does school put in place and what other support would you recommend?

thank you

OP posts:
Navigatinglife100 · 07/07/2025 18:23

Well I knew at year 3 but my son's help only kicked in at year 9! He left Primary with an age 6 "ability" in English.

Try and find out what helps her as there are so many different forms of dyslexia. My son, as an example, sees every letter twice and they move - but not in unison. Small typeface can look to him like a jumpy qwerty code. We didnt understand this until year 9. No wonder he struggled to read and write whilst being really clever!

We only discovered this after years of trying different strategies.

We then had a colorimetry assessment done and he had prescribed coloured glasses....in rose! Lovely for a teen boy! That helped control the text better and bring the duplicated letters closer together. Not perfect but much much better.

For reading he read ability appropriate stuff (when he had to) but he listened to age appropriate audio books from the charity Listening Books. This kept his comprehension and vocabulary at an age appropriate level - even if he could write that down. We didnt read at home apart from school homework - he listened to audio books all the time. I'd recommend looking into these for her. Listening Books is a fabulous charity.

He was an excellent musician...so we really encouraged that because it gave him confidence and being "best at something" also built his self esteem when he spent most of the school day frustrated. He joined a youth theatre which help distract his mind from the frustrations of the school day.

He managed to drag himself through GCSEs with adjustments and his glasses which he had in year 9. Gained amazing C grades in most subjects and the odd B and the odd E.

Then he followed his passion...computers and coding at BTEC...nailed a degree apprenticeship....and has just bought his first home at 27!

So, don't worry, alongside helping her read and write, ensure you keep her self esteem high. Let her do things she will, inevitably, be amazing at.

Good luck! And stay strong, little one. You are AMAZING.

Navigatinglife100 · 07/07/2025 18:35

Sorry, me again.

My view was that he wasn't made to learn in the normal box like fashion so I had to think out of the box.

He was so frustrated with school that I was not going to reenforce that with even more of the same at home.

So, I spent my time trying to work out how he could learn and develop into a well adjusted young person not a broken one.

So that would be my advice. Try to work with her and explore ways that might work for her. Some will. Some won't. Don't be scared to change tack.

Tailor123 · 07/07/2025 19:17

Does the diagnosis report come with a list of recommendations? When we got the diagnosis and report I arranged a meeting with the class teacher and the SENCO and asked them how they would be meeting my DCs needs. We went through the report and they put in place a pack of support such as coloured filters for reading text, blue pens on coloured paper, when using the computer turn on night mode. They also do extra small group learning to reinforce phonics and reading etc.

DC got added to the SEN register and their list of interventions and targets get reviewed by the school every term. When it got to Yr6 there were eligible for extra time and a reader/scribe for SATs. This has come in handy for secondary transfer as primary has proven the interventions that help.

Send the report to the school (email and hard copy) and arrange a meeting to discuss.

Junobug · 07/07/2025 19:40

I’m a dyslexia specialist tutor. I think the earlier you can intervene, the more impact it will have. A tutor will do a full assessment of gaps, strengths and weaknesses, this is different to the assessment she has had. They should then deliver a multisensory, structured teaching programme. This may be phonics based but only if that’s what works for your daughter (and it usually does away from the classroom where she can go at a slower pace). if not they may look at other strategies like morphology. It should also include study skills, assisted technology, phonological awareness skills etc. and most importantly should build her confidence and awareness of how she learns.
As for the school, take the report and speak to the SENCO. There should be some easy things that they can just put in to place in the classroom from the report.

Junobug · 07/07/2025 19:42

Please excuse my typos. That doesn’t make me look very good at my job. I have a wiggling toddler on me who is trying to fall asleep.

Aprilrainagainagain · 07/07/2025 19:59

Literacy Gold is very good.

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