Reading and spelling scores

[user1498927651]

My year 7 DS has received standardised scores in reading and spelling of 127 and 96. Is the difference between these scores a cause for concern? Thanks

What test gave these scores?

Hi, I don't know the name of the tests, just that they are standardised scores. The scores are from my DS's online record. DS says that reading was multiple choice comprehension, spelling was the teacher reading a long list of words and they had to write them.

Is the difference between the scores likely to trigger any further testing or assistance from the school?

It just means he's outstanding at reading and average at spelling. I can't imagine the school wanting to do much about it.

So this difference between scores would not be an indicator of any learning difficulty? Wouldn't this be a difference of two standard deviations?

DS brings his books home and is still spelling many common words incorrectly and missing sounds or syllables in more difficult words. He is at a grammar school. So the school is unlikely to be concerned?

He may be mildly dyslexic. Has he always had problems with spelling, did he find it difficult to learn times tables while being good with maths?

If he's missing sounds or syllables than that's a concern. You could discuss that with the Senco or get him tested privately.

As the scores stand, he's just average at spelling - average is average and not SEN. However, you could list your concerns to share with the school. Examples of problems could be missing syllables, unable to break words into individual phonemes, confusing letters when spelling, omitting words when writing etc - whatever the actual concerns are.

Has he had a hearing test?

Missing out syllables is a concern. First thing I would rule out is a hearing issue.

user1484040234, DS has had a relative difficulty with writing in general since year two. He has seen an OT previously who discovered that he has hypermobility but he scored in the average range for handwriting speed. He still doesn't know all his times tables though he was multiplying in his head at four, has an intuitive understanding of maths, and has always been top of the class.

JoJoSM2 and RafaIsTheKingOfClay, DS hasn't had a hearing test but he can mostly spell words correctly out loud, just not on paper. On paper, sounds and syllables disappear. He will do well in a test on grammar and punctuation, but in his writing he will leave out capital letters and change tense mid sentence.

I guess I am concerned because he seems to show many signs of dyslexia and dysgraphia but hasn't been able to get any assistance at school as he has always scored in the average range. I was hoping that the difference in his scores may trigger some kind of further testing to find out if there is something going on.

If you can afford it, it'd be worth getting him tested privately. Or putting a lot of pressure on the school. The reality of funding in the state sector is that children with more severe needs get prioritised. Clever ones that have developed coping strategies don't tend to get help. However, it can be stressful and pose problems for them all the same. Especially in grammar school setting where everyone is very able and works quickly.

Thanks, I think I will send the school an email and see what they say. I think the grammar school is the best fit for him, despite his difficulties with writing. Things have been much much worse in the past when he hasn't been challenged in his areas if strength.