Year 3 , teacher thinks son may be dyslexic.

[kilmuir]

Following parents evening meeting his teacher thinks he may be dyslexic. I have been reading up on it and some strong indicators back up her thinking. Have a meeting with her again next week. What is usual procedure, what should be happening next? Thanks

I would recommend that you get a report from an educational psychologist. You may have to fund this yourself, but DD's school paid for hers. We have had to get our DD an independent dyslexia specialist tutor as the school have not been well equiped to help her. An Ed Psych diagnosis will mean your DS will be entitled to extra help, extra time in exams etc.

At the very least your DS's school should be providing him with an individual educaction plan (i think thats what its called) outlining how they are going to support him. They sound on the ball, i told my DD's school she was dyslexic for four years before they took me seriously.

thanks, i will follow up on that info

Dyslexia comes in many different shapes and forms. I have some mildly dyslexic children and a few who are severely dyslexic (Our school has an specialist teacher and the few dyslexic children who have EHCPs receive 1:1 support on top of in class support) but the point I was trying to make is that now identified the teacher will hopefully put into place quality first approaches to the way they teach and to make sure work is accessible. Don't expect a statement just because the teacher has flagged him as dyslexic.

don't think i mentioned anything about a statement?

Wombat - that was a bit uncalled for. The OP said nothing about a statement. She just asked what would happen now and how to support her DS. My DD is quite severely dyslexic but she doesn't have a statement. We have had to go outside of school for the support she needs as she doesn't receive enough support at school despite my toys being thrown on several occasion

The Ed Psych report will still be of use though, as that will be an official "diagnosis". Its not about a label and its not about statements, its about getting the appropriate support for your child. Many teachers just don't have a clue when it comes to dyslexia, sadly.

thanks.
this is all new to me. I just wanted to know what to expect and what the school should be doing.

You don't need an EP report to get appropriate support. If you think having a "reason" will help with self esteem then it may be worth paying hundreds of pounds for a private report.

Without knowing the exact nature of your child's difficulties and what the school is doing already it's not possible to say what needs to be put in place.

My ds was diagnosed in yr2/3 they used empirical evidence, an ed psych and a diagnostic test (I think it was called a Manchester test??) not sure what the test was called but I remember being shown graphs of the results which showed that ds reading level were exceptionally high but he had difficulty with writing, transcribing, spatial awareness, pengrip (the muscle in his thumb would go into spasm).

After he had his diagnosis he was given much greater help in school, up till this point the schools stance was he was a bright but immature and lazy boy?!

Things that really helped in school was a machine called an alpha smart and also ds did all his maths work onto the whiteboard as he was unable to make numbers small enough and the squares in maths books "wriggled" when he looked at the page.

Not sure how upto date my info is as ds is now 17yrs. Fwiiw ds has done well in school and is now enjoying a levels, takes much longer than others to complete written work and does get additional time for exams and so on.

Hth.

I don't think it was uncalled for it was just a fact! OP didn't know what should happen from here on and I pointed out that reasonably adjustments will be made in claas but not to expect a statement or other formal diagnosis as it isn't necessary. I didn't say op expected one just that it isn't going to happen. You'd be surprised how many parents do expect just that and don't have any understanding of how the new code of conduct works. But I'll happily bow out and leave you to it!