Guidence requested pplease

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Friends DS(8), she believes he is dyslexic, he can't read after 3 yrs in same school, can do tasks as long as the written part is read to him, finds writing hard.

LEA says dyslexia doesn't exist.

Teachers admit he has learning difficulties and is far far behind where he should be, he is still at/below Y1 levels.

Has been on SA+ forever, which doesn't mention his learning difficulties by name.

Statement has now been mentioned for 10hrs outside of the classroom help but said help seems to consist of sand writing which hasn't worked in 3yrs.

No TA's with dyslexic training as dyslexia doesn't exist in the LEA's mind.

She has been advised to contact IPSEA.

So [a] who else should she be contacting and how

[b] where should she go for more help/support?

[c] has broken internet
MTIA

Oh and she hasn't had her head in the sand re his difficulties but is finding the lack of educational support harder to deal with as time marches on.

The SENCO is 'useless' in the words of the head and the SENCO hasn't made time to see him just issued a letter inviting him to join a cooking club she runs

Sorry that should read, he has been on SA+ forever and his IEP doesn't detail his LD/specific help just general support is my understanding, his targets don't change as he doesn't reach them, they do reword it tho so it can look like progress has happened.

I know of at least one LEA that doesn't believe in dyslexia. Sounds like the school is being rather rubbish. If they are not identifying his needs clearly then how do they expect him to make any progress. If he hasn't reached his targets then they were not appropriate in the first place. Obviously that will not always be the case but if this is happening consistantly then the SENCO isn't up to the mark. Also it's fine for the head to say the SENCO is crap but that doesn't help anyone and is rather unprofessional.

Your friend can get her ds independently tested for dyslexia but there is a charge and the school doesn't have to pay any attention to it.

I would suggest to your friend that she goes back to the head to make a complaint about the lack of support for her ds, then the governors, then the LEA if the head does not being to remedy the situation. The LEA don't have to 'believe' in dyslexia but they do need to meet every child's needs.

Thanks SBQ have passed on your thoughts.

Have found the info on the IPSEA site startling in how they haven't used SA+ & IEP in the correct way.