Thomas Tallis - any opinions particularly on SpLD provision

[LadyWellian]

DD (15) is in year 10 and has just been diagnosed with dyslexia and possibly dyspraxia, and is to undergo tests next month for visual stress/Irlen-Myers. We've been raising concerns since about year 5 but have always been brushed off with a 'no, she's fine'.

She's also missed a lot of school this year with repeated tonsillitis; she has recently had her tonsils out but has been struggling with recovery from the operation, is still very tired and frequently feels unwell.

We're going to give her school (all girls, quite small, Ofsted outstanding) a chance but they have been unsympathetic about the health issues and unless they look like they are going to take the dyslexia seriously (I get the impression they don't really 'do' SEN), we will seriously consider moving her: the way things are going at the moment, her GCSEs are not going to go well.

Thomas Tallis is in the next borough from us but an easy 2 stops on the train. It's twice the size and mixed, but they seem really clued up on SEN. Does anyone have experience of the school and particularly their provision for dyslexic students? I have a friend whose DD (no SEN) went there for sixth form after a miserable five years at DD's school and really thrived. Would we be mad to consider moving DD at this stage?

Can't comment on the SEN provision, but Thomas Tallis is just huge. Moving to such a big mixed school after a small girls school would be quite a shock for anyone, let alone mid GCSE studies.

Surely her current school have no alternative but to take her dyslexia seriously? What's their SEN policy?

Thanks, Fleur. I've just reviewed the current school's SEN policy and in 9 pages the word 'dyslexia' appeared once, in between 'ASD' and 'etc'.

The hugeness is a bit of an issue, as are the boys, but small, single-sex and outstanding doesn't really seem to be doing it at the moment either. I'm so worried about her current level of attainment and engagement that moving mid-GCSEs doesn't seem as crazy as it might: at her last report I don't think she had a single predicted grade above a C (and several were below), so in a sense we don't have much to lose.

I'd wait until the results of her Irlen-Myers are in before moving her: If she's attaining at a C grade consistently while suffering from Irlens she'll absolutely fly once the correct prism prescription is in place.
No experience of the school or that area so can't help there I'm afraid.

Thanks, momb. That would be amazing. It's so hard to have any hope, though. I thought she would be better after having her tonsils out.

I very tentatively raised the idea with DD (in the context of definitely giving her current school a chance to give her some support, waiting until she has had the eye test etc) and her only comment was that she didn't like the uniform.

OP I am local to you and although my DD is not yet secondary school age have done some research as she is dyslexic. Certain schools have a higher level of SEND provision - the Greenwich ones nearest you are Tallis, John Roan and Corelli. However Tallis has a pretty tight catchment at year 7 - not much over 1km most years. There are quite a few good dyslexia tutors around though - pm me if you want any more info

elltee thank you, that is really kind. You may have guessed from my name where I am . DD is currently at a Lewisham secondary in Y10 so we would be looking for an in-year admission if anything, which I suppose would depend on whether they had lost any students off the roll. Tallis is by far the easiest of the three to get to from us, and the nearest, though still probably at least 3km.

We need to have a proper chat with DD's school before deciding anything, but I may well be back to you for tutors at some point.

Just a little bump in case anyone new is looking. DD is firmly of the opinion that her teachers have given up on her, although to a large degree I think she is giving up on herself.

Bumping again - thank god it is the end of term is all I can say.

Does anyone have child at Thomas tallis kidbrooke?
I am looking for secondary schools for my daughter in September and want to know more about it from the parent point of view?

This is a huge school, and the way the time table gets chopped about means that a student may have several teachers per subject, see each one rarely, and not get to know any particularly well, or be known particularly well.

There are very large numbers of students SEN in the school, some with individual 1:1 all day every day, but mostly in a system where by each department head places two or three support staff within lessons in their department.

This means support staff go to lessons where there is the most children with SEN in each individual subject. There is no consistency across the school with the level of support a student will get. It will depend on the exact makeup of each class in each subject, and whether the students in that class with higher needs accept or reject support themselves.

There is a high turn over of staff and a large number of agency teachers - although this is quite a common situation, it does seem to be particularly bad here. Staff morale is correspondingly low. Also quite churn of students.

There is no flexibility within the curriculum, either to sit fewer GCSEs and concentrate on fewer subjects, or to sit for qualifications more suited for less academic children. This means that the support that is available overwhelmingly gets directed to students in subjects that they are not able to achieve in, and won't achieve, so support is not particularly effective. For example, a child with an academic age of three or four is very disruptive, and not learning, in GCSE classes.

There is a culture of "persuasion" rather than discipline, which is very time consuming for staff, and very ineffective.

The school has never been full, and students in all year groups have arrived in a steady stream throughout the academic year, however with the cuts in staffing and the increase in class size, this might not be the case in future.

I am told that students play on mobile phones in most lessons, and that staff are powerless to prevent this.

The sixth form has very strict entry requirements, and many students are told to leave at 16.

I've taken my child out of year 9.