re-assessment for Dyslexia ahead of Gcse course

[Se7en11]

Good morning

My DDs school has contacted me and asked that I arrange for her to be re-assessed ahead of starting their Gcse program.

She was assessed at the beginning of year 6 (so in primary school) - but apparently in order to gain that precious extra time at Gcse level, it is a requirement that a new assessment is undertaken.

Her school have suggested 2 points of contact and asked that we arrange this ASAP. Obviously at 5.30am (first opportunity to catch up on emails) I can't ring around to book this and find out the cost.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? DD is mildly dyslexic with poor working memory at last assessment - her hand writing is also atrocious and hasn't improved at all tn the last 3 years - she often types up school work a n d is self taught typist.. shes not keen on learning to touch type although it has bedn suggested many times thru school... i thibk it is just the Burdon of another thing to learn iyswim.

Has anyone's DD/DS been reassessed at this pre gcse level to find that they no longer fall within the scope of requiring extra time?

Also roughly what cost am I looking at? I will need yo factor in working extra shifts to pay for this, so need to plan.

TIA

Sorry about my early morning typos

We had to get our son reassessed so that he could get accommodations at university. He had his initial assessment at 7 with a similar result as your dd OP. We had it done by dyslexia action and it cost 400 pounds (almost 15 years ago now and I think dyslexia action no longer exists). We used it as the basis of getting ds additional support learning to read outside of school (school said he wasn't behind enough to qualify for anything). We then moved school systems and as a result exams weren't an issue for many years. We got ds typing using computer games and luckily his teachers pretty much took one look at his handwriting and agreed he could use a computer.

Interestingly at his reassessment (which cost a ridiculously large amount of money but not in the UK so not relevant to you OP) it was determined that he is now more accurately described as dyspraxic than dyslexic (bottom .01% for fine motor control, where I think his working memory is now last bottom 10% so not really disabling especially now he has compensation strategies) and I wonder if that might be the case for your daughter too.

Hop[e you find somewhere that's not too expensive. Asking for testing ASAP seems a bit unreasonable.

The school should be able to make recommendations as to where to go for rhe assessment. Ours gave us a sheet with 4 or 5 different places. Steel yourself - assessment cost between £350-550!!

Why aren't the school organising her assessment? My son was re-assessed at his state comp and now has extra time until he's finished his A-levels. We didn't have to pay for it. If it's a state school, I'd seriously question why you have to fund it. It will be interesting to see what others say their experience has been though.

My dd year 9 is now being given extra time in assessments . She needs to change pen colour so that the school can prove extra time is beneficial.

Dyslexic doesn’t go away. My DD was re assessed before GCSE and then before A levels as she moved schools. The findings were similar to her original assessment at age 7 and she was allowed extra time. The tests at school were administered by the SEN department and were not the full battery of tests undertaken by the Ed Psych in her original diagnosis via Dyslexia Action. There was NO charge. Talk to the SEN dept at school for more info.

JCQ want reports done no earlier than Year 9 to qualify for exam access arrangements. It is probs the case that there isn't anyone in school qualified to do the tests. You must go with the person they suggest because the school has to have a working relationship with them to accept the report and can reject reports from a specialist with whom they haven't got that relationship. They want you to get that assessment so she can keep on with her access arrangements. Bit annoying. I do the students at my school but then I'm qualified to do so. It will cost you quite a bit but I think you will be able to use the report for Disabled Student Allowance for uni.

Yes needs to prove it again, pain I know, these schools are so bad at helping if your child does not fit the box.
Although they get an extra 25% time my dd could have 25 years she still won’t be able to spell !!!!!

Thankyou all
Very good point @Artbum in that Dyslexia never goes away - I am resigned to the fact that I have to pay for a re-assessment and if that costs £££'s I am fortunate that I earn enough to cover this.

Just seems so much more pressure on DD at a time she could well do without it.

I'll get on the case today and get it all set up.

Is this a private school?
If it is a state school then school need to sort it - not you op.
If there is no-one on the staff they will need to pay.

How old is your dd? Ds lost his extra time in y 11 as JCQ changed their rules and his previous assessment indicated it would be marginal if he met their revised criteria, although he was still able to use a laptop. Ironically his post 16 assessment for uni/dsa reinstated it.

Even in private school it is usually done in house. It can get worse as they get older as their coping mechanisms stop working. DD borderline start of year 6 getting access arrangements, year 9 assessed for 25% extra time and use of a lap top.
It was explained as the work gets more complex the expression of the processing disorder gets more profound.

@linsz she is 14, currently year 9 of a lovely supportive all girls school

school want outside assessment as her previous assessment on the weshler scale was marginally dyslexic and the access assessment they do in house is unlikely to pick that element up, so I have to pay for another full assessment.

i must admit I'm concerned the new assessment either won't pick anything up as she has coping strategies in place now, or it will be so narrow that it won't be recognised. the only way if knowing is by going ahead anyway. it's a bit of an expensive gamble, but I do think I'd be failing DD by not exploring this fully - after all if she does qualify still for extra time for gcse that could make a whole grade of difference to her GCSEs?

My son is dyslexic - diagnosed around 12 and up until university. He has coping strategies. I hope I do not come across wrongly in that if her dyslexia is mild enough not to count on the assessment , then with coping strategies , she will be OK. The extra time etc is only meant to bring those with more severe SpLDs up to a level playing field. I do get ( and really I do ) that those on the cusp -it is hard.

I would go for the proper full assessment. If she is OK then fantastic - if not they will pick it up

I hope you take this well - as I say my son is really quite dyslexic but has had coping strategies / extra time which have got him through a degree. I am not the least unsympathetic - not at all. My advice would be just to do the current accepted assessment. Indeed what else can you do ?

I wish her well.

Sorry if did not make clear - for external exams / university - she will need an outside , independent assessment . Probably better to do it now if you can and see what she is dealing with. The earlier the better in my opinion.

Just to say we're in a similar boat. The extra time makes such a difference to DD. Without it she doesn't have enough time to finish the paper, this really impacts her mark, esp maths where without extra time she simply can't get to the harder questions. With extra time she can, and does really well.

She's 'borderline' too, which is hard to accept as it makes such a difference. I feel that if a kid is borderline then they should be able to at least cope without extra time, rather than it make a huge difference. Like you are school has said that we should due a full assessment as the school assessment is limited.

Fingers crossed for you (and us!).

DS is year 10 and just lost his extra time, though offered a laptop. School did the assessments.

The school’s advice is not the best JCQ the body which regulates and inspects exam access arrangements clearly state that schools do not have to accept private assessments. As the person in charge of this at my school a dyslexia assessment is not essential for extra time etc The school should pay for access arrangement testing the results of this, together with evidence is a substantial, long standing history of need is what is used to apply for extra time. A dyslexia assessment, which although useful is not essential for this. If you already have an assessment I would not waste more money. The school need to check JCQ regulations ! They should not be asking parents to spend money when only they can commission extra time assessments. That’s outrageous. Good luck

I agree that if she has managed to develop strategies that enable her to perform in line with neurotypical students of her age group then that is a tremendous success to be celebrated. LS needs are reassessed periodically and especially in light of external exam accommodations so that you can have current and relevant data to present. Children's needs do change over time so you want to make sure that your DD is getting the support she needs.

In Scotland schools do all of this, parents shouldn’t have to pay because of a child’s additional support needs.