Thinking of flexi-schooling.

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DD (nearly 8) is very keen on the idea. She's struggling at school, has been assessed as being a year behind on maths and I'd have thought that writing is even worse. She's dyslexic and I think I could give her more one-on-one to hopefully help things fall into place.

I work p/t though so could only do one day a week so am thinking of asking the head about the possibility of doing this.

My one reluctance though is the fact that DD has a combination of a very short fuse and also has a tendancy to not listen to me and give up when things get hard. I can imagine if she's struggling to grasp something and I'm trying to explain she will throw the book across the room and fling herself on the floor.

I've said we'll have a practice day one weekend soon to see how it goes. Any advice?

I love the idea of flexi schooling, but maybe for your daughter it may be better to get some extra help, my mum is a dyslexia specialist and does extra tuition and she says that most of the kids she teaches have missed the absolute basics (especially in maths) and once they get these they really excel as confidence grows - she normally only does a term, and then maybe a bit extra before exams - so not too long term financial commitment - maybe something like that in your area ??? Good luck!

She goes to Kip McGrath once a week for maths tuition and has done for nearly a year now. She really enjoys it. I can't afford to pay for more than that.

I'm just worried though as she is still doing "end of Yr 2" work at Kip McGrath when she's more than half way through Year 3. So I was thinking if I could spend one day a week doing more one on one maths and some writing with her then it could help.

I haven't tried flexi-schooling, but the usual comment I've seen about it is that schools expect you to cover the same material that they would be doing on the day(s) out of school. So you may not get the freedom to spend the time on the things which you think will help her.

Also, if she tends to react badly to you telling her things, it may be difficult to make progress.

Have you tried really nagging the school about it? I would have thought they should be providing her with the 1-1 help she needs, rather than you having to make up the short-fall at home, either out of school time or by flexi-schooling. But maybe going in and saying you're considering this will startle them into realising how bad the problem is.

I suppose I could go back to school and try nagging them again. I feel close to tears at the thought of it though.

I'm so frustrated and annoyed with school as they never do anything. They were supposed to put her on class action last Sept and have done nothing. I've reminded them twice and they said they'd do it and they've still done nothing. I think they just tell me what I want to hear and then laugh behind my back and have no intention of doing anything.

I've written polite but slightly snotty letters expressing how upset I am that they do nothing. I've copied these letters to the LEA AND THE GOVERNors and stil nothing has been done.

How frustrating! The school really should have better help if she is Dyslexic, i do not know Kip McGrath, do they specialise in Dyslexia/ have trained people as i think this can make a real difference - i would book an appointment with the head and go in with a list of demands/ questions that you want an answer and timescale on, may make them listen if they think you are going to become a real pain in the arse!!!

Just a note about flexi-schooling: our primary school told us that we could have Fridays to do more stretching work with our DS because they don't cover any new material on Fridays. They did ask us to work on French though as he would miss a French lesson (not sure how that fits in with no new material but anyway).

It has worked really well for us, and we're pleased they agreed to it.

One reason it has worked well is that DS is fairly good at being taught by us (DH taught him the piano for the first couple of grades so we knew it could work). He still drags his heels over subjects he doesn't like, even so.

Hi, I home educated my DS for one academic year. During that time I explored the possibility of flexi-schooling and discussed it with the Head Teacher of the school he would return to if that were to happen. The decision on flexi-schooling is totally the decision of the school head. If he/she agrees, then the decision must be agreed with the Governors, and then ratified by the LA. The Head Teacher therefore has the power of veto. If he/she says NO, it goes no further. There is no right of appeal.
Unfortunately, my request was refused (for spurious reasons), but refused nevertheless. End of. This was a shame as if only schools would be a bit braver, flexi-schooling could be a really useful tool for many children and families. I am sure that in years to come, it will be a perfectly usual request which is agreed to oftener than not. Bring it on, please.

Well DD has been working through some Letts maths books the last fe w evenings with me. She's been keen, is concentrating, says she's enjoying it more than school.

So I'm definetly going to approach the head about it. Just need to work out a letter to write now.

Mrs X,

I am writing to you to request that you consider the option of allowing my daughter to be home educated one day a week. I realise that flexi-schooling is an unusual option but I've looked into it in detail and have been impressed by the good reports that I've heard of it.

I do believe that children learn at their own pace and at the moment DD appears to be falling behind. She currently goes to Kip McGrath for maths tuition once a week and has been assessed as been nearly a year behind. I think that with her been dslexic she can sometimes struggle to grasp concepts as quickly as other children. I'm hoping that with some intensive one-on-one tuition she will soon catch up with her peers.

I've been doing as much as I feel I can with her in the evenings and weekends but there is a limit to how much she can cope with and I'm concerned about pushing her too much. Having one day a week to be able to do this would be much more beneficial.

Yours, etc

Have you seen the SENCO? I would request a meeting. Your DD ought to have an IEP and you should have seen it and signed it. She ought to be getting more help through the school and having work on a one to one basis. It sounds to me as if she is being failed.
I think the main difficulty with flexi schooling is that it messes up the social side for her because she simply isn't there.
I would phone the dyslexia phone line, I found them very kind and helpful. They would be able to give you advice, they have lots of experience with people in similar situations. I will see if I can find the number and get back to you. I rang them once in a near tearful stage, I can't remember exactly what happened but DS got the proper help (it was a very dodgy period when he started secondary school and no one seemed to bother to read his notes).
I have re read and see that she was supposed to be on class action-it isn't good enough if nothing has been done since September-insist on an appointment with the SENCO.

I think it was this number
dyslexia helpline
It is a free service-I would give it a go, it is a sympathetic ear if nothing else.

I've had a meeting with the SENCO nearly a year ago. She was the one who said class action would be done, class teacher agreed. Bugger all has been done. They wouldn't do her an IEP as they don't think she's bad enough. I'm going to kick off when I go to parent's evening next week.

I've had loads of stuff through from the Dyslexia Helpline thanks. They are very nice, just wish they could make the school do something.

I'd go to the Head then, and failing that the Governors. If she is behind it is the schools job to do something about it.

If the SENCO said that she needed class action and the class teacher agrees, they have to make her an IEP saying what class action they are taking and when -and you have to see it and sign it. They are not doing their job properly.

I've written to the Governors and the LEA and had no reply from either of them.