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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Shall i get my dd1some extra tuition??

30 replies

HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 21:50

dd1 is 6 nearly 7,she is very articulate and bright.We have been reading books to her since she was a baby and she loves books.However she is really struggling with her reading and writing and is behind the rest of her class.I expressed my concerns when she was in reception but was basically fobbed off as hysterical.
When she started Y1 she was given the Biff and Kipper books but when i spoke to her
teacher and voiced my concerns again,she changed her books to the (?)Red rooster books i think .
She progressed slightly but is still not grasping this reading and writing lark.
She is getting very frustrated and is not keen to practice writing when asked.
She does often write little notes on her own but it can be complete gobbledey goop or sometimes words are readable.
She gets B ,P ,D and S mixed up.She still isnt understanding Capitals and she will try and write a word how it sounds eg Whosh is Wash.
I dont know how to explain this to her??????
She still often gets her name mixed up too.
Dp reads with her every night after school and does storytime each night as i am out at work mon-fri evening.
What else can we be doing to help her?

Is it worth getting private tuition after school 1 or 2 days per week?
Cost would be an issue for us but my parents have said they are willing to help.

Should i just look in the yellow pages or is word of mouth better?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 21:52

Yes i made an error in the title lol and probably elsewhere.

OP posts:
Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 22:04

I meant to say that she will be going into Y2 in September.

OP posts:
deegward · 06/08/2008 22:07

Not got much experience, apart from my friend's son, (and maybe mine). I think ou need to get her assessed, and yes get her help as quick as poss.

Not being able to read and understand at the same level as her class mates will affect her work as she goes up the school. Not being able to understand question in other subjects etc. sorry

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 22:09

How would i get her assessed?
Thanks for replying btw

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lexcat · 06/08/2008 22:31

Just wait she's still very young. My dd is about to start Y3 and I can tell you from what I've seen helping in her classes since reception. A very small amount just take off in reception, but I would say most are between the end of y1 to the end of y2 they suddenly it seen to falls into place and they just take off. I even have a few friend said they child didn't peer till Y3.
Remember if you lived any were else in europe she wouldn't have even started school. As a nation we but far to much pressure on our children to learn at such a young age.

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 22:37

I see your point but my concern is that she will just fall further and further behind each year.I dont want her to hate going because she cant do the same as the other children.

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Uriel · 06/08/2008 22:51

What about getting her some simple books with word-for-word audio tapes so she can follow the words as she hears them? Perhaps that might help.

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 22:54

I will look for some,good idea.

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thumbwitch · 06/08/2008 23:00

Not that I am an expert, far from it, but it does look like she might be dyslexic - has she been checked for that? I know she's very young still and I don't know when they diagnose it but I would push for an assessment.

An alternative option is brain gym, or educational kinesiology - this can help with brain co-ordination if she is dyslexic.

A friend of mine has a daughter who has only just been diagnosed as numerically dyslexic at the age of 15 - she has not done very well in maths and is unlikely to catch up now in time to pass her GCSE.

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:04

That was exactly my concern Thumbwitch
My cousins are both dyslexic and i am convinced i have dyscalculia.

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SalVolatile · 06/08/2008 23:04

Hi hotrousercough, I think you should get her seen by a dyslexia specialist asap. The writing gobbledygook notes is normal development and nothing to worry about, but some of the other indicators suggest that she could be dyslexic and the quicker this is picked up the better for her. It is true that children develop at very different rate, but things like mixing up her name (which is familiar) may be a sign she is dsylexic. Deffo don't go for private tuition at this stage as it will increase the pressure, and therefore the anxiety: I would get a proper assessment asap, and if you can afford to do it privately, don't wait for the start of term.

SalVolatile · 06/08/2008 23:05

crosspost with Thumbwitch

Loshad · 06/08/2008 23:07

I would ask the school to assess her when they go back in spetember, she sounds quite like my ds3 who is quite dyslexic, and at age 7 was off the scale (bottom end)wrt to reading and spelling age, now age 10 he is at an age appropriate level for reading and bearly for spelling, but he has loads of extra help both at school and they have given us stuff to do at home as well.
She is only likely to start to get upset, and only fall behind even more if she doesn't get some extra help soon. We used a specialist book called toe to toe (google it, it's expensive but worth it imo - well school paid for our copy) starts from total basics (letters) to really complex sentances that you cannot believe your child will ever manage, if you run to the cost then 'd be tempted to buy it now and start over the summer.

cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:14

Sounds like my ds who also just didn't grasp it - has since been assessed as dyslexic - however in the meantime he refused to write anything at all from Y2 to Y3. You have to push for her if school are fobbing you off. You could also have her assessed privately. Dyslexia action charge about £400ish, or you could try to find a specialist dyslexia teacher who may charge less, I know someone who charges £250. An independent ed psych will probably charge more.

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:15

I forgot to mention she was also given ELS to do in Y1 but didnt make any difference.

Where do i take her to get her assessed?
Dont know where to start tbh

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Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:19

We could not afford private assessment(even with my parents help)
Will the school really be able to get her assessed.I just know that they will fob me off as hysterical but i know my child iykwim.

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cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:20

ELS is really for children who can catch up by traditional methods, those who have missed a bit of school for instance. It is not intended for children with specific learning difficulties, but lots of schools shove the children in there to justify themselves to the parents. My ds was shoved in that group and quickly became disruptive, as it was totally the wrong support for him. Now he gets support from a specialist dyslexia teacher and has really come on.

cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:22

Don't let them fob you off. Is she on the SEN register? Do you know what stage she is at?
(where are you BTW)

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:27

She is not on the SEN register (not heard of that)
Do you mean reading stage?
We are in the midlands Cornsilk

OP posts:
cat64 · 06/08/2008 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:33

You need to start by getting them to put her on the SEN register. That's the only route to being assessed via school. I agree with cat64 that getting letters mixed up is a normal stage of development, but what concerns me from your description of your dd is the frustration and the reluctance to practice.

cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:36

Also if you are near a university that trains teachers to become dyslexia teachers, you could contact them and ask if your daughter could be a subject for one of the trainees. Most teachers would take pupils from their school to practice teaching with, but not everyone is school based - long shot but worth a try anyway!

Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:38

The teachers have just agreed with me that she is in the bottom couple in the class but say that she just needs to work harder

Maybe you are right Cat64
I am just scared that if she does have a problem then she will just get more of an issue over school and will fall even further behind.
I will make an appointment when the school reopens.I dont know the teacher though.

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Original poster
HotTrouserCough · 06/08/2008 23:38

Thankyou for all the info Cornsilk

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cornsilk · 06/08/2008 23:43

If she's at the bottom of the class and attaining significantly lower than she should be for her age then she should be on the SEN register. If she's behind the class and attaining within the average range for her class then that's fine for now. That's what you need to establish. Was there any indication on her report how she was attaining compared to national standards?