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Original poster

Dyslexia in children

40 replies

Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 16:58

Just wondering if anyone has a child that was screened for Dyslexia in school? My daughter was screened and came back as a high risk for Dyslexia and a low risk for working memory (not sure what is meant by the working memory part) she was referred by our GP to have an ADHD assessment however it’s taking longer than expected because her school aren’t supporting it. So my question is should the school be putting things in place for her learning now theyre aware she has come back as a high risk for Dyslexia? It seems they are just carrying on as normal with her and I’m worried about her being so far behind her class mates and will continue to fall behind.

Just to add I know it’s a screening and not a formal diagnosis, however she’s almost 9 and still cannot read and write fluently. But often comes home upset that her teacher has called her lazy for not finishing her work 😞

OP posts:
Kosenrufugirl · 07/03/2024 16:59

She sounds dyslexic. I would push for the formal assessment. Not fair on your child

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 17:24

Kosenrufugirl · 07/03/2024 16:59

She sounds dyslexic. I would push for the formal assessment. Not fair on your child

Is that something I should speak to our GP about do you know? Or will the school put things in place eventually for an assement. They didn't give me much information on it just dropped it into a meeting we were having about her challenging behaviour and said not much more on it and didn't really have any answers for me when I asked what the next step would be. Thanks for your reply :)

OP posts:
Kosenrufugirl · 07/03/2024 18:31

Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 17:24

Is that something I should speak to our GP about do you know? Or will the school put things in place eventually for an assement. They didn't give me much information on it just dropped it into a meeting we were having about her challenging behaviour and said not much more on it and didn't really have any answers for me when I asked what the next step would be. Thanks for your reply :)

Show quote history

I understand it's the Local Authority responsibility. We had to go private despite struggling for money. We couldn't wait for 2 years. The assessor was great, played a lot of games with our 10 years old over 3 hours and confirmed the initial suspicion. Plus query ADHD. The assessment really helped, it was a good use of £550. The assessor wrote a 30 page report which included the strategies for moving forward. Apparently the school get more money for children with special educational needs. So our child was giving extra support and it really helped. It was good for secondary school too, our child wasn't categorised as uninterested in learning which was our worry as he is fidgety. So far so good. He is on year 9 now and is entitled to extra 25% time for exams and assessments to put him on the level playing field. He is very bright but learns in a specific way. I hope it helps

PurpleBugz · 07/03/2024 19:07

It may just be my LA but to my knowledge the screening is all they will do. Then they can choose to support or not but legally without the proper diagnosis they don't have to. Local to me we have to go private if we want support for our kids and then it's just luck if they will support or not

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 19:10

PurpleBugz · 07/03/2024 19:07

It may just be my LA but to my knowledge the screening is all they will do. Then they can choose to support or not but legally without the proper diagnosis they don't have to. Local to me we have to go private if we want support for our kids and then it's just luck if they will support or not

Ahh ok, thank you. Maybe I'll ask for the screening results to be sent to me so I can look into paying for an assessment for her, thanks for your reply :)

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 07/03/2024 19:43

No idea on how system works there as in a different country but to explain a bit about the working memory. Children with dyslexia really struggle with this. She cannot hold information in her head for too long so eg you send her upstairs to get her shoes and then say grab your coat too. She will hear shoes but cannot hold two things in her head. She needs a checklist and only one word instructions. You may notice she can read a word eg world at the top of a page but then she acts like she never seen the word in her life two lines down. No memory of it. This often leads to accusations of laziness , not bothering but it's a genuine problem.
The only way for her to learn is constant repetition until stuff goes into her long term memory where she will retain it. . Repeat, repeat, repeat. And that's where extra support at school comes in.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 19:46

junebirthdaygirl · 07/03/2024 19:43

No idea on how system works there as in a different country but to explain a bit about the working memory. Children with dyslexia really struggle with this. She cannot hold information in her head for too long so eg you send her upstairs to get her shoes and then say grab your coat too. She will hear shoes but cannot hold two things in her head. She needs a checklist and only one word instructions. You may notice she can read a word eg world at the top of a page but then she acts like she never seen the word in her life two lines down. No memory of it. This often leads to accusations of laziness , not bothering but it's a genuine problem.
The only way for her to learn is constant repetition until stuff goes into her long term memory where she will retain it. . Repeat, repeat, repeat. And that's where extra support at school comes in.

This is 100% my daughter! That makes sense to me now, thanks for explaining it in that way. I've got a parents evening coming up next week, so lots of questions on how the school are planning on supporting her and if they've any advice on what I can be doing at home for her too. Thank you

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 07/03/2024 19:48

Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 19:10

Ahh ok, thank you. Maybe I'll ask for the screening results to be sent to me so I can look into paying for an assessment for her, thanks for your reply :)

Show quote history

Good idea to go for the private assessment. Screening tests are notoriously unreliable so I wouldn’t necessarily worry about getting a copy of that. Just search for someone local that is properly qualified. Schools/LAs are now very unlikely to be able to fund an assessment.

Scarletttulips · 07/03/2024 19:53

Not all schools accept a private diagnosis - and they don’t have to.

There should be a school educational physiologist you can speak to - if you are loucky.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 19:55

Scarletttulips · 07/03/2024 19:53

Not all schools accept a private diagnosis - and they don’t have to.

There should be a school educational physiologist you can speak to - if you are loucky.

Ahh ok, that's good to know. Thanks for your reply :)

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 07/03/2024 19:58

As a senco working across many schools, I would say there is such a shortage of professionals (and VERY few schools even have a named Educational Psychologist any more, let alone one that would do dyslexia assessments!) so schools are generally very happy to accept a private diagnosis. This isn’t a problem.

Mothersruin123 · 07/03/2024 19:59

In case it helps, I've just applied for a private dyslexia assessment for my 10 year old daughter. They won't even screen at her school but the SENCO pointed me in the direction of the British Dyslexia Association.
They will have a list of assessors in your area, you can apply through them (for a fee) and they will send you several profiles to choose from and arrange for your chosen assessor to contact you. It was very quick and easy, and we have an appointment in August, so a 6 month wait. £550 including the BDA fee. DD's school are brilliant with interventions that are really helpful and I don't particularly expect that to change in the event of diagnosis. However secondary school concerns me at the moment, and it is not too far away.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:01

Shinyandnew1 · 07/03/2024 19:58

As a senco working across many schools, I would say there is such a shortage of professionals (and VERY few schools even have a named Educational Psychologist any more, let alone one that would do dyslexia assessments!) so schools are generally very happy to accept a private diagnosis. This isn’t a problem.

Edited

My daughter has never had any involvement with the SENCO at her school, but I do hear great things about the support they offer in her school from other parents. Hopefully they will offer some support to her now. She does struggle academically unfortunately, I've put it down to missing lots of school during Covid and lockdown etc. However she just isn't catching up with her peers which I can only imagine makes her feel quite isolated at times which leads to lots of friendship difficulties daily in school. Thanks for your reply.

OP posts:
Shinyandnew1 · 07/03/2024 20:02

Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:01

My daughter has never had any involvement with the SENCO at her school, but I do hear great things about the support they offer in her school from other parents. Hopefully they will offer some support to her now. She does struggle academically unfortunately, I've put it down to missing lots of school during Covid and lockdown etc. However she just isn't catching up with her peers which I can only imagine makes her feel quite isolated at times which leads to lots of friendship difficulties daily in school. Thanks for your reply.

Show quote history

That’s good. Why don’t you drop the senco an email and ask if she can recommend anyone locally who will do a full private assessment?

Curlewwoohoo · 07/03/2024 20:03

School did the screening but we've had to go private for an assessment. We haven't found that school do much differently. We've paid for nessy reading and spelling, which we mostly do at home, occasionally school will get Dd to do some there.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:03

Mothersruin123 · 07/03/2024 19:59

In case it helps, I've just applied for a private dyslexia assessment for my 10 year old daughter. They won't even screen at her school but the SENCO pointed me in the direction of the British Dyslexia Association.
They will have a list of assessors in your area, you can apply through them (for a fee) and they will send you several profiles to choose from and arrange for your chosen assessor to contact you. It was very quick and easy, and we have an appointment in August, so a 6 month wait. £550 including the BDA fee. DD's school are brilliant with interventions that are really helpful and I don't particularly expect that to change in the event of diagnosis. However secondary school concerns me at the moment, and it is not too far away.

That's great advice thank you I'll look into it. I think maybe I just need to wait for the school to perhaps decide what interventions they will put in place for her in the mean time. I'm guessing it's going to be a long process. I hope your child's assessment goes well x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:06

@Shinyandnew1

Yes I'll definitely do just that, thank you :)

OP posts:
Littlebluebird123 · 07/03/2024 20:07

It depends what county you're in. In Kent for example, there is no need for a diagnosis and there is no way to get one except via a private diagnosis. However, all schools have to support the child and use dyslexia friendly strategies. They should be able to tell you what they are doing to support your child in school.

With regards to the possibility of ADHD, I don't know what the school have said but they can only report what they see in school. It's unfortunately common for children to present differently at school and home, particularly girls so they may not see the same things you do and it may not seem like she has ADHD at school. Very frustrating!

Just as a side note, pp who said that schools get extra funding for special education kids are unfortunately misled. It's not as simple as that. There is a small amount of money to support children with SEN given to all schools but it's not ring-fenced and goes towards resources and perhaps some class ta support. Any extra funding is usually only available for children with an EHCP. (Kent has a separate funding system but it's still only for those with very high needs.)

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:08

Curlewwoohoo · 07/03/2024 20:03

School did the screening but we've had to go private for an assessment. We haven't found that school do much differently. We've paid for nessy reading and spelling, which we mostly do at home, occasionally school will get Dd to do some there.

Seems the schools just don't have the resources to do much any more, through no fault of their own, I know. I'll have a look at the Nessy and reading thing also, thanks for your reply :)

OP posts:
ChillinwiththeVillains · 07/03/2024 20:12

Our county only accept Educational Psychologist assessments and not dyslexia specialists. Which we only found out when they refused additional time for the 11+ so worth checking.
Second Nessy and possibly suggest Toe by Toe reading scheme too.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:14

Littlebluebird123 · 07/03/2024 20:07

It depends what county you're in. In Kent for example, there is no need for a diagnosis and there is no way to get one except via a private diagnosis. However, all schools have to support the child and use dyslexia friendly strategies. They should be able to tell you what they are doing to support your child in school.

With regards to the possibility of ADHD, I don't know what the school have said but they can only report what they see in school. It's unfortunately common for children to present differently at school and home, particularly girls so they may not see the same things you do and it may not seem like she has ADHD at school. Very frustrating!

Just as a side note, pp who said that schools get extra funding for special education kids are unfortunately misled. It's not as simple as that. There is a small amount of money to support children with SEN given to all schools but it's not ring-fenced and goes towards resources and perhaps some class ta support. Any extra funding is usually only available for children with an EHCP. (Kent has a separate funding system but it's still only for those with very high needs.)

Im based in Suffolk.
I'll ask the school if they will need a diagnosis or if they are willing to support her without one. Although I did have some suspicions about her learning it took me by surprise when they told me she had scored a high risk for Dyslexia.
When speaking to the teacher about her ADHD referral she did refer to my daughter as a bottle of coke that you can see getting fizzy through out the day and when I pick her up from school the lids off and she explodes. I think she does mask it perhaps in school however the teacher did say she does not sit still and is often asked to stand as she is always falling off her chair from swinging on it. I'm wondering if actually she just is very frustrated because of her struggles in school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:15

ChillinwiththeVillains · 07/03/2024 20:12

Our county only accept Educational Psychologist assessments and not dyslexia specialists. Which we only found out when they refused additional time for the 11+ so worth checking.
Second Nessy and possibly suggest Toe by Toe reading scheme too.

Also great to know! Thank you I've had a little look and it seems an assessment is quite pricey so I would definitely like to make sure I'm going through the correct channels. Thank you

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 07/03/2024 20:22

Hi OP

We've just had our Y6 son privately assessed as we had our suspicions and the assessment has confirmed that he does indeed have dyslexia. The assessor prepared a very detailed report, setting out all of his strengths and weaknesses, and ways in which he could be supported. This has been passed to his class teacher, who is liaising with the SENDco on support. It's also been passed to his secondary school in prep for September.

I think we paid about £500 for the assessment and used a company that various parents at our primary school suggested.

Original poster
Ellie75su · 07/03/2024 20:24

ethelredonagoodday · 07/03/2024 20:22

Hi OP

We've just had our Y6 son privately assessed as we had our suspicions and the assessment has confirmed that he does indeed have dyslexia. The assessor prepared a very detailed report, setting out all of his strengths and weaknesses, and ways in which he could be supported. This has been passed to his class teacher, who is liaising with the SENDco on support. It's also been passed to his secondary school in prep for September.

I think we paid about £500 for the assessment and used a company that various parents at our primary school suggested.

That's brilliant, I hope they will now thrive with the correct support.
I think this is the path I will take with my daughter. Thank you for your reply :)

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 07/03/2024 20:25

Just wanted to add, my friend is an Ed Psychologist (but not in same area as us) and she recommended speaking to the school/council to see if they'd accept a report from a private assessor, or only would accept findings through their own assessment process.