Best schools for Dyslexia in North London

[Lashes77]

Hi my daughter has just turned 12, in year 8 at a very academic secondary. She never met expectations at primary and started to receive help in Year 5 just as covid hit and got an EHCP for dyslexia and language difficulties on the last day for submitting school choices for kids with EHCP’s! Needless to say, I didn’t get the opportunity or a real good look (web tours) of local schools and what they could offer.

The school she attends is not right for her at all, she has been put in a nurture group where the work, behaviour of her peers etc is just not a good fit. Her confidence has grown a little and she is pretty social, she makes friends pretty easily. She has good ideas and has common sense but really struggles to translate anything on to paper or onto a laptop. She is really well behaved too so do not really want to send her somewhere where the learning needs of the pupils are overshadowed by behavioural difficulties.

I have googled and it seems only private schools have what I think we are looking for but sadly I can’t afford a private school. Does anyone know of any good schools that can help with dyslexia and help her catch up even though she’s quite far behind? We are Islington based but I’d happily travel for the right school.
Thank you.

Bloomfield Learning Centre

It isn’t a school as such, but they will assess your child, if necessary and then teach them. I would highly recommend them. Not too difficult to get to from Islington. I’d certainly make them your first call.

Independent schools can be named in the EHCP with the LA paying the fees and SEN support.

Are you looking for a mainstream school or specialist?

Thank you, I will definitely take a look.

I totally forgot the EHCP could be used towards fees, I don’t really know if I’m looking for specialist or mainstream. I think mainstream will be too difficult academically but SEN schools in my experience are overloaded with EBD which can be very disturbing and takes time and effort away from the quality teaching that she needs.

A SEMH school isn’t appropriate but there are other types of SS. Have a look at Abingdon House, Burlington House (formerly The Moat) and Fairley House.

Where in N London? You'll find it very difficult to find a space in a special school, as well as securing the funding. You're better off finding a state school that has good SEN support. Have you looked at Alexandra Park or Heartlands? Both are very popular for SEN so you would probably need to appeal. The only private school suggested that would fit a typical but very dyslexic girl would be Fairly House. Some kids in Haringey get funding for it but it's very difficult and they don't usually have any space.

Sorry, just saw you are Islington. I have heard EGA has good support, however I would in your position contact Fairley House and see if you can afford the 3 day assessment. If not, contact Islington SEN team and start the process for an early annual review. They do not legally have to grant this but normally they do. You can request change of placement in that process.
There are LA taxis taking kids to Fairley House from all over N London. Lots have funded places but you will have to fight.

Thank you all, you've given me a lot of helpful information. I really appreciate it.

Hi I am looking for advice for settling a child in to primary 1, (I have one child already in school but the transition with him was much easier) it has been around a month since schools started in Scotland but my 4 yr old is still crying every morning (to the point she vomited yesterday) does anyone have any advice for me and my husband to make this easier in the whole family?

thanks :)

I'm sorry your child is finding settling in difficult, but suggest you start a thread about settling at primary school in the Primary education section of the forums, as this section is about all the secondary school issues.