Dyslexia/APD - Why does the school say get a GP Referral when

[Faultymain5]

there is no provision in the community for assistance and you have to pay for a child psychologist? i don't get it.

The time it took to get a GP appt for the referral, only to be told that has wasted weeks. I could have easily just gone to the psychologist. No?

With regards to dyslexia- Yes. It’s because some schools are clueless about it whilst others are better informed. APD - I don’t know. I would guess this is covered by the Nhs.
Have the school tried Toe by Toe?
I would recommend finding an optician who offers ‘School Vision’.
Many children with dyslexic tendencies benefit from an assessment and glasses with coloured tints, prisms to correct problems with binocular vision, and ‘sync’ which helps with switching from the page to the board view.

APD not covered by the NHS as far as the GP is confirmed. As Dyslexia isn't, and it is similar, I would assume the same.

So many avenues, and not sure where I'm going. It's definitely confusing.

Dyslexia isn't an illness. A GP would know nothing about it.
Much better to contact PATOSS or a dyslexia organisation (Helen Arkell etc)

Dyslexia isn't an illness. A GP would know nothing about it.
Much better to contact PATOSS or a dyslexia organisation (Helen Arkell etc)

You would normally to pay for this yourself (well you do in my area).
School will address weaknesses eg poor spelling - school will do spelling intervention, poor reading - school will do reading interventions, Slow writing speed - extra time.
A diagnosis of dyslexia is very useful for self esteem (knowing it's not because you aren't trying/intelligent etc) but a diagnosis in itself doesn't get you any special help. It's the academic weaknesses which get the help.
I have 2 dyslexic children.

This site may help you:-

www.ipsea.org.uk/

Schools aren't experts unless there is a qualified person with a PhD in dyslexia.
The referral to a GP is the first step in order to get an assessment. So I'm not sure what the issue is?

Loads of parents claim their kids are dyslexic when in fact they're not.
It's a specific learning disorder that needs to be diagnosed with a specialist.

I'd personally blame the government for lack of funding and not schools.

You don’t need a PhD in dyslexia to be able to work with young people with it. I didn’t and was an advisory teacher for specific learning difficulties for a few years.

I did have post graduate qualifications in the teaching of SpLD, but it wasn’t a PhD.

It is possible to have a specific difficulty and to be very able. It’s also possible to have a specific difficulty and be of average or below average ability.

APD is covered by the NHS in my area. However waiting times are ridiculous.