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Original poster

please help anyone with any experience of this...thanks all

39 replies

stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:26

So have had DS1's dyslexia report back which goes into all sorts of numbers and figures but the conclusion says:

"It is appropriate to describe A as having specific learning difficulties. Some of these are similar to those experienced by dyslexic children, but A has an expressive language weakness also."

So ....does he have dyslexia or not or dyslexia with additional things - i really want to know as i know he can access extra time in exams (am secondary teacher and every tom dick and harry seems to be able to get an extra 25% these days). It seems a little wishy washy as a conclusion.

Am very disheartened by the report as his reading comprehension age has come out at 6 years and 4 months (his raw reading is not much better at 7 years, the only glint of hope is his numeracy which has come out at 9 and 4 months)- he is 9 and 8 months.

Feel very let down by his supposedly 'excellent' (according to OFSTED) primary school. I asked about 'toe by toe' (?) last year to class teacher (his best friend is doing that scheme) and SENCO and was told he didn't need it (he has been on School Action since year 1). We have done everything the school has asked of us, extra reading, extra homework and he has a tutor twice a week (since last August) costing us a pretty penny.

I am hoping to send him to an independent school after he finishes primary where he can retake year 6 to try and catch up and then continue at that school until GCSE's (Its going to crucify us financially - both me and DH are teachers so not making big bucks).

Feel very as already have one child with severe SN (low functioning autism) and now my other boy is going to have all these problems too. My mum has three daughters who were all very studious and academic (I worked my arse off at school and Uni) so she doesn't really understand and just keeps saying ' It will be ok'. I just want to cry.

OP posts:
Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:30

Actually i think his primary school was rated as 'outstanding' - what a bloody joke

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Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:36

bump thanks for any replies.

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Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:42

DH is trying to do spellings with him downstairs and the fact he has weak grasp of phonics is not helping when his spellings all include silent letters

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Hassled · 07/05/2009 19:51

Yes, I would interpret it as Dyslexic, with additional stuff thrown in. But it doesn't look to me (a complete layman) as the sort of diagnosis you're going to need if you want the additional time/help he clearly needs. You might need to get that clarified in order to move forwards.

I know that it is possible to retake Yr 6 at State school - I know this because a parent at DS2's school have chosen to do this with her son (not sure what his diagnosis is), so crucifying yourselves financially doesn't have to be the only route. It does sound like the current school is piss-poor, but that doesn't mean every local state school will be.

Two of my DCs are Dyspraxic - sometimes the "unfairness" of it all hits me like a ton of bricks. You just have to keep it in perspective - my DSs 2 & 3 are happy and healthy, and I'm sure your boys are as well. They have a mother who clearly cares passionately. And in some ways your mother is right, it will be OK, because they have you batting for them.

Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:51

please - any words of advice really really welcome

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Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 19:52

thanks Hassled Thank you so much

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Hassled · 07/05/2009 20:07

I think you might have more joy if you cut and paste your OP and do it again in the SN or SEN topic

carocaro · 07/05/2009 20:31

Hi reading this with interest, DS1 aged 7 is dyslexic, SENCO at school says say after one test, he is on school action, but feel a bit hopeless with it all. His teacher says he is making progress and I can see some, but am not happy with the slowness, he is not doing the English SATS because he can't read them.

How did you get your DS assesed? Paying privately?

mrz · 07/05/2009 20:48

Often LAs use the specific learning difficulties label rather than dyslexia so we need to get a clear idea of his problems.

How is he with phonics?
How many sounds does he know?
Can he blend to read? suggest trying him with made up words so that he isn't simply guessing. I'm afraid often KS2 teachers don't know what to do with children who arrive in their class with poor reading skills and a fair few aren't that good with phonics themselves so the problems don't get solved just masked (tutors also)

I'd recommend taking a look at Phonics International and doing a simple check.
If he knows his sounds and is blending ok we need to look at other things.

I've just introduced Rapid Readers into KS2 of my school and the boys love them. One of my struggling dyslexia pupils told me only today that he loves reading... www.heinemann.co.uk/Series/Primary/RapidReading/RapidReading.aspx

Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 20:54

hi carocaro - we paid privately. Head at DSs school says it is not policy for them to pay for the assessments (he is very old school) as only so much money in the pot/not enough to go round etc(He strikes me as the sort of head who thinks that SNs are a figment of middle class parents imaginations and endlessly tells us that he failed his 11plus and now look at the amazing things he has achieved....)

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Original poster
stillenacht · 07/05/2009 20:55

thanks mrz thank you so much xxxx

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VirginiaWoolf · 07/05/2009 23:50

Specific learning difficulties is sort of an umbrella term which covers issues such as (for example) dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, Asperger Syndrome and specific language issues. There is a huge amount of overlap between the different types of SpLD - many dyslexic kids also have ADHD etc - so my interpretation would be that the report concludes that he has some aspects of dyslexia plus aspects of expressive language difficulty. Taken together, this would suggest that he struggles to express in writing or verbally the extent of the thinking going on! For extra time you'd be looking at slow processing speed, slow rate of writing etc - the rules do change so hard to predict what they'll be like for him in a few years time.
Hope that makes sense and is of at least some vague help; you sound so worried I wanted to respond!

Tavvy · 08/05/2009 07:18

Virginia Woolf is right - Specific learning difficulties is very much an umbrella term - totally unhelpful in many ways to you but a lot of these problems do co-exist.
I really don't want to make you more worried but in my experience working in a school the parents who paid for a private assesment as opposed to one arranged by the school had a devils own job to get anybody to take it seriously.
The problem with SN is that there is only so much money in the pot and the cfriteria for getting any kind of extra help or support is now so strict and often limited to behaviour difficulties as they disrupt the teacher the most. Where I worked I chased a huge number of children who were desperate for special help and support but not bad enough to reach the criteria so my role was to 'fill the gap' if you like.
Dyslexia is also a blanket term and not many people really know what it is - even teachers. I would take that report to mean he is dyslexic but with other difficulties as well.
Paying for a private education is a way of ensuring help is received - very expensive but worth it. My brother is severely dyslexic and this is what happened for him. Private schools for some reason seem to instill more confidence in their children which is also a big thing.
You will always have to be an advocate for your son in terms of extra time but he is lucky to have such a supportive parent. Good luck

risingstar · 08/05/2009 09:55

Hi

This sounds very similar to our experience, except you have picked up on it earlier than us, so that is good.

My dds went to an outstanding Lower School. dd2 made literally no progress from year 2. I had no end of reasons from the school, most seemed to be focussed on us- seemed that everything i asked was turned back on us- we were not doing enough at home. We discovered this year, year 6 that she is bright but dyslexic. we have has extra tutoring at home for 2 years which has helped. she learned to read, after a fashion, when i bought the whole ORT scheme and did that with her.

We have given up with state school. they are doing nothing with her, as long as she sits somewhere above the bottom 2% and below the top 2% they are not willing to offer her anything at all, she doesn't even have an IEP. Despite being 11.6 and having a reading age of 9. So she will start at an independent in September with an excellent reputation for dyslexic children.

She is not happy with this and, like you, we are not made of money, having 3 kids one of which is in nursery. We may have to re-mortgage in a couple of years to see her through to 16 but i have the highest aspirations for my kids and want them to have the choices.

Can you not call the Ed Psych and ask for more info if you are not sure? I would also make an appt at the School that you are going to send your boy to and have a chat with them about what they would recommend in the meantime. The SENCO at the new school has asked that we do paired reading before she starts to help her understand the context of what she is reading.

Hope this helps!

risingstar · 08/05/2009 10:10

Oh and meant to mentions- units of sound- programme from the BDA. This is fab if your lad struggles with phonics. Have a look at their website, defo worth a try.

BCNS · 08/05/2009 10:28

Hi Still,

ds2 has had almost exaclty the same report with the same score as yours!.. only difference being that ds2 has a verbal reasoning and skill ( if you can say that ) of 13 years old.. but his reading spelling and most other paper and processing bits are of around the 6/7 year old mark!

He is very much dyslexic.. so now its all about didfernt learning and coping stratagies.. and there can be great news at the end of the road too. just so you don't panic too much.

firstly I'm dyslexic.. I went to uni and I have a degree.. yes my spelling is still not great.. but when I have to do important written thing I used a voice recognition system. I have my own system of post it notes and caladers to help organise me, and I was lucky enough to have parents who kept up my self esteem... which has carried me forward a lot of the time.

DS1 is also dyslexic ( he's been tested).. he is allowed to use a laptop at school.. and has learnt to touch type.. which really helps him.. he's 14.. and is taking 2 early GCSE's this year!.

DS2 is learning how to touch type, how to your voice recognition, he is now in the routine of practasing handwriting for a few mins everyday, and he remembers mostly to look at his to do list to remember what he has to do / take to school etc.

I hope that has given you some posative things to look at..
the BDA are brilliant.. and you will find ways of how he best learns

lazymumofteenagesons · 08/05/2009 10:45

My sons Ed Psych diagnosis was very similar. There is a very grey area where different Spld overlap, but whatever they label it affects their way of learning. You mentioned you are using a private tutor. Have they got experience or qualifications for teaching kids with Spld. We used a tutor for a couple of years who was wonderful. Used sand for learning letters in. Wrote on each others backs. Used a drum for getting to grips woth words with more than one syllable (sp?). And made it fun, with board games specially made for learning to blend (str, thr etc). Try british dyslexia association for info on special tutors.

BTW for about a year I got into bed with him every morning before the others were awake with a mini white board. I'd draw letters and pictures and we'd go through the sounds they made etc, etc. Much better in the morning even though tiring!

Original poster
stillenacht · 09/05/2009 06:41

thank you everyone I really really appreciate your replies

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bigTillyMint · 09/05/2009 07:04

I would echo what lmots says - get a specialist tutor to help him with his dyslexia, not a general tutor. He needs to be fully assessed to ascertain the gaps in his phonic knowledge, and then taught all the necessary strategies. The BDA and Dyslexia Action, etc would be able to advise you on tutors.

FWIW, IMO, many "high achieving / outstanding" schools try to brush SEN under the carpet (or out of the door!)

Original poster
stillenacht · 09/05/2009 07:07

i agree bigTillyMint Totally agree - am so pissed off with the school.Feel so guilty as well. Both my DSs have learning diffs

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mrz · 09/05/2009 08:43

I agree bTM my son's school had ZERO children on the SEN register as the head saw this as a bad reflection on the school rather than acknowledging some children have problems and supporting these children would be a positive thing.

Jajas · 09/05/2009 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lazymumofteenagesons · 09/05/2009 19:56

If you are looking at independent schools for him, make sure you find one which has a good SEN dept.Check CrestEd website, this lists schools which are either totally specialist of who have units attached to help those kids needing it. do not send him to a high pressured academic indi school, he might be very unhappy. Actually you could do with a non-selective with a good SEN unit, but this tends to be even more expensive!
Just realised that you are both teachers so probably are aware of this.

lazymumofteenagesons · 09/05/2009 20:00

crested web site Register of schools that help dyslexic children.

aprilflowers · 09/05/2009 21:22

Ask for a speech and language assessment from the borough speech and language therapist on the grounds that your son has been assessed as having an "expressive language difficulty".
What areas of strength did the assessment highlight