School not helping with possible dyslexia diagnosis

[pasanda]

My dd has just started Year 8. Having an older dd with a diagnosis of dyslexia, I have noticed younger one shows similar traits. Older one really benefitted with extra time in exams as her processing skills were much slower.

I emailed the SENCO at her school to ask for some sort of assessment for dd and this is the reply:

Your email has been passed to me as I conduct the school's assessments for learning difficulties.

Due to lockdown, I have missed my key assessing time. Pupils are usually assessed in Year 9 after Easter according to concerns from teachers. We are not allowed to accept private reports (exam board ruling) and Gloucestershire are reluctant to use the term 'dyslexia', preferring instead to identify the specific area of need a person has. A diagnosis of "dyslexia' does not result in guaranteed extra time in exams. Many people with such difficulties have excellent coping strategies, and others are resistant to accept support.

If you wish, I will request information from *'s teachers regarding any concerns they have and we can act on this feedback.

Please let me know if you want to proceed in this way.

Does this seem OK. I have a friend who's daughter is at school in Oxfordshire and who is having a whole ream of assessments for dyslexia and lots of support.

I am happy to pay for a private assessment but wondering if this is worth it if the school are not allowed to take it into account.

I have no wish to label dd but I really can't get my head round this email at all. It seems such a cop out!

In my experience a private assessment opens doors for the school to take you seriously. However this isn't a guarantee and unfortunately in the state system the provision for specific learning difficulties is a postcode lottery.
If you have the funds, get a private report. Although this won't help with exams it will hopefully help you be taken seriously by the school but don't do it because of that as it's not a guarantee. The report will help you see your DDs strengths and weaknesses so it will be easier for you to help her.
Instead of CGP guides for eg I would suggest things like Oaka Books.

I would reply saying yes to teachers concerns and listing your concerns.
My DD is bright and hides her difficulties most of the time. I pushed my concerns and proper assessment at school in Year 9 should big visual processing disorder and the assessment suggested 25% extra time and use of a laptop as usual working.

Maybe I’ve read it incorrectly but I don’t think your senco is saying they won’t help you. The first thing they always do is get feedback from teachers. So definitely agree to this. It’ll get the ball rolling if there are issues. Even if teachers believe everything is ok at the moment, they may monitor more, as concerns have been highlighted.
I’m not 100% certain but I don’t think JCQ accept reports earlier than yr9 regarding extra time etc. So if she’s only just gone into yr8 you may need to repeat the assessment. But I’m not certain about this!

A diagnostic report doesn't automatically give extra time etc - it just recommends it. The school need to have a prior relationship with an assessor to comply with the JCQ rules. Hope that makes sense

Thanks for the replies. I will certainly go along with what the teacher has recommended. I know a diagnosis doesn't automatically give the extra time but I guess I would like to know for her sake really.
What is the JCQ rules??

@pasanda JCQ rules update every year so best look at their own website. They’re a few pages long but you can just focus on the sections of interest.

Thank you. I will have a look

If the SENCO is testing to request extra time in GCSEs then they do have to be done within a certain timeframe.

My county also don’t call it dyslexia they say specific learning difficulties in x,y z etc.

My DS is in year 8 and very dyslexic. He had a couple of really good assessments done by county council professionals but the last county Ed psych he saw (year 5) didn’t do a comprehensive one so paid for a private one last year. It was fantastic and gave us a really clear idea of his strengths and weaknesses. Although it may not be accepted as evidence for extra exam time it really shows us (school included) what needs working on now.

The earliest time you can test is at the start from yesr 9 for access arrangements. The SENCO will be frantically testing the current year 10 who should have been tested when in year 9 but couldn't because of lockdown. This isn't saying they are not going to test but essentially she's going to have to wait her turn. SENCO is following protocol by asking teachers for feedback and if they need to make adjustments. They are absolutely correct in that they can't accept private assessor scores for exam access arrangements but obviously can accept a formal diagnosis. A diagnosis does not mean an arrangement. What matters is the scores. JCQ have tightened and tightened and inspections are rigorous. Malpractice can lead to a centre being shut down.

Take up the SENCOs offer of canvasing staff and ask that daughter can be tested in year 9. If you test now with private assessor it is a total pain because the EAA assessments are the same but if the pupil has done them, it can skew the results. So she might score low now on the DASH speed of handwriting assessment now but when does it again, might score in the average range.

All very helpful thank you. I've emailed back and asked for teacher opinions but for now will leave anything else because of the catch up they have to do due to Covid (I really don't want to be a pita!)
Will think about a private assessment too. I guess I would really like to know how to help her in the interim