Extra time/scribe/laptop in GCSEs??

[gcseexamshelp]

DS had been using laptop at school but is not keen to use it for mocks and GCSEs.

School have offered a scribe. DS is now very worried how that would work. Has anyone had one? Surely the success depends on how fast they write and if they have to query tricky words or already know the type of vocab he is using? He is a very high achiever verbally.

He had asked for a transcribe which is what he had for SATS but they told him that is not an option. Is that true. I cant get any appointments with IPSEA. Is there anywhere else I can find out?

Thankyou

Have you discussed laptop post covid. All sorts of things seem possible now that weren't before.

Transcripts went a few years ago thankfully. If he uses a laptop or a scribe it has to be his normal way of working in all assessments - but he'd do his exams outside the main hall as others have said.
English requires the spelling and grammar checker off, so that gives access to all SPAG marks. If he has a scribe, he can choose to dictate spelling, punctuation, both or none. The one he chooses affects how many of the spag marks are available to him.
Most of our laptop using students bring their own to use in lessons and we allow them guest access to the network. They can't use those for assessments though.

Has he had a DASH test? Ds had one in year 10 when an OT assessed his fine motor skills.

I know how difficult it can be trying to persuade a teenager to use a laptop in class/school. Ds was badly bullied and the first time he ever used a laptop in class he was called a 'cripple'. It took months of persuasion from us and school to try and get him to use one again after that.

Interesting he is not alone in the bullying for the use of laptop. Unfortunately he believes he wont meet targets anyway and will never have a job so sees absolutely no point in improving typing or trying to do any work. Undiagnosed SEN combined with pandemic and periods of isolation plus the uncertainty of exams this year on top of the handwriting issues are all too much for him.

I am focusing on the absolute minimum - just maths, english and sciences. If he does A levels it would be maths and sciences. School are trying to help but I fear if I push the lap top or scribe any more he will drop out of school totally as he is so fragile. However if I dont do something I am not sure how he will cope with the results if the exams go ahead at the end of year 11 and no one can read them as presumably he must care really.

@Elderado

He could also undertake a series of handwriting exercises. There are quite a few on YouTube.

Unlikely to help at this stage. My son is 13 and at 11 they said if his handwriting is illegible now it is likely to never improve.

I have similar issues with my DS and he rarely uses his laptop now even though he should in every lesson (except maths and french). He can't even read his own writing it is so bad. He has hyper mobility and an ASD. I doubt he will cope with a scribe so I'm hoping the laptop will be an option for him at GCSE. God knows what he will do for maths. I don't have an answer OP but I feel your pain!

My dd was very unsure initially (well one of them, the other one is made of teflon). Now she says that there are more students using laptops as I think the school have finally done some assessments and have identified those who would benefit. We had to really push them for dd. She has though had the benefit of a year practice with the laptop despite the comments from her peers.

Thanks Titsywoo for making me not feel alone at least!

I don't know if it helps but after months of anxiety and laptop refusal in class (Ds has ASD) he did use one for his GCSE mocks. His actual GCSEs were cancelled this year so I don't know if he would have used one for the real thing!

Being in a separate smaller room meant that the bullies did not see him using it.

His laptop use (or refusal) caused so much stress, so I do understand. Ds has poor handwriting and lax finger joints that cause pain. The occupational therapist told us that it was too late at 14 to improve his handwriting.

The DASH test measures speed of handwriting and if you fall below a certain percentage then you are entitled to extra time in exams. Ds's handwriting was not actually considered bad enough for extra time but I've since found out that he is entitled if he needs it, because of his ASD.