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Primary education

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Question for primary teachers about dyslexia and progress.

5 replies

gloo77 · 16/07/2013 14:07

My DS is dyslexic. Not profoundly and it largely affects his writing and spelling, plus v.poor working memory. He's just coming to the end of yr4 and we're happy with the school/ help he's getting, so this isn't a teacher bashing thread, I promise.

My questions are just me trying to gain an insight into a teacher's perception of dyslexia. In DS's case the school identified him as dyslexic and have provided 1:1 help this year, yet his report makes no mention of dyslexia at all. That seems weird to me as it's clearly affecting his work. So for example with maths he can't write out his workings neatly enough, so makes errors due to the chaos on the page. With English, he writes slowly and illegibly and ducks using longer words as he knows he can't spell them. They're working with him to help him and he's making progress, but again that's not mentioned in the report. It's almost like they actively don't want to use the word 'dyslexia', but I don't understand why. Is there some basic teacher philosophy surrounding that? It's almost like they're embarrassed by the word, yet it helps DS to understand why he's not quite the same as his mates in the way he learns/ writes, etc. Confused

Other question surrounds progress, as he's made just one sub-level of progress in Writing, science and Maths across the year - the school tell us 2 levels per year is the target, so he clearly isn't progressing as quickly as they'd like. I largely take SATs with a pinch of salt, but would you expect dyslexia to noticeably slow a child's SATs level progress at this age? Would you worry about one level of progress in a dyslexic child, or see it as normal?

We've got parents evening in a couple of days and obviously I'll talk to his teacher, but just wondered if anyone can help me understand a bit more. It's more out of interest than worry iyswim.

OP posts:
QueenofLouisiana · 16/07/2013 17:27

A full diagnosis of dyslexia needs more than the school to achieve, so have they arranged for a full assessment? If not, it would need looking into further. If he hasn't been formally assessed, the school will be avoiding using hat word as it would "diagnose" him without the correct procedure being followed iykwim?

You could ask about use of a reader for SATs (allowed for maths & writing) and a writer (can't spell the formal name!) which is allowed for maths and reading paper. Coils also ask about touch typing which would allow him to type work for school or SATs in some circumstances.

I hope that doesn't sound too abrupt, it's been a long day in a sticky lass room and my DS is torturing the piano with his music teacher! Hope it goes well.

gloo77 · 16/07/2013 17:45

Thanks Queen, not abrupt at all. Good thought, but he's had full Ed Psych assessment, so they have it confirmed as dyslexia. They've started in the last term to help him learn to touch type, but it seems a bit half hearted, so I might give it a go with him over the summer.

I'm just really interested in the lack of their using 'dyslexia' when relating to him. Both to him when he's learning but also in feedback, reports, etc. also curious as to whether teachers expect dyslexic children to make less progress than their classmates at this age.

Any views from other teachers v. much appreciated.

OP posts:
mrz · 16/07/2013 20:53

My LEA doesn't recognise the term dyslexia and use SLD

gloo77 · 16/07/2013 21:07

Thanks mrz, though I know our LA does as they have a specific policy concerning dyslexia on their website. Also the school did a whole day of Inset training on dyslexia earlier in the year, so they see themselves as v.aware and dyslexic friendly.

It's just so odd that nobody ever talks to him about it, or seems to note it in terms of problems with progress. Can't get my head round why, so I'm just wondering if there's some over arching rationale, or whether they just haven't really thought it through. The slightly cynical side of me wonders if that means he doesn't get the help he needs as he's not behind where that age group's expected to be.

OP posts:
CounselorTroi · 17/07/2013 22:50

not SpLD mrz? SLD is usually severe learning difficulty where I am. SpLD is specific learning difficulty.

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