Dyslexia - should we change schools, any happy outcome stories?

[donedreaming]

Hi all

Our DS (7) Y3 recently diagnosed as moderately dyslexic. He can read but has problems in lots of SpLD areas - organisation, handwriting, spelling, sequencing etc. The school hadn't identified any problems and did not encourage us to get an EP report. Having been every year since reception with concerns and being told we shouldn't worry we decided we'd just do what we thought was best and get a EP assessment privately as he'd started to have behaviour issues (disruptive, not wanting to go to school etc) and surprise, surprise we were right.

Anyway the school have put in place some interventions - a couple of sessions a week with the TA and learning mentor since January, along with some in class activities and we are seeing some improvements. We're just not certain if it's enough. We have the option of moving him to a small private school where interventions would be extra but with trained SEN teachers and the advantage of small class sizes for all over lessons. We're just not certain what's the best thing to do. Should we move him or possibly have extra tuition outside of school (though we're keen he should hang on to us much 'child' time as possible)? Does anybody have experience of moving or staying and what the outcomes were for your DC? We worry about the impact of the upheaval for him and private would never have been our first choice.

In addition, we're thinking about how to prepare him for secondary school. We're in a competitive area of London where he'll have to sit entry tests for either state or independent.

Thanks for any advice.

oops dyslexic traits running in the family 'other lessons' not 'over'

The biggest problem that a lot of SPLD children face is low self esteem. My 3 ds have all suffered massively and their education and social skills have suffered as a consequence. If I had my time again I would move them out into smaller classes and to where they have extra support in class. Even my husband agrees and for a long time he was in denial, he was also dead against private. Go for it whilst he is still young. Give him a boost now and a chance at keeping his self-esteem in tact.

My dyslexic DS benefitted enormously from being at an indy prep school with small classes, where he had one hour a week of individual help (charged as extra) from age 8 to 13. The individual help made a huge difference to his confidence right from the first term. He has gone on to a selective secondary. I feel very fortunate that we could afford the education he needed to fulfil his potential. I'm afraid it's very common in state schools for the school to think there is no problem if the child is reaching an "average" level, even if that is well below the child's potential and their self-esteem is suffering.

Would the school you're considering take your ds up to age 13? The extra two years before he has to compete for secondary might give him time he needs to find and show his strengths.

We sent DD to an independent school when she was three, obviously we didn't know at the time she was dyslexic, she is now seven and they have been keeping an eye on her for the last few years and and she has just been diagnosed as mildly dyslexic, they are fantastic, she is in a small class size and they have a dyslexic unit so she is now getting one on one lessons which are already making a difference.

I can tell she is doing better because we've just had really good feedback on her year end tests (some of which she had extra help/extra time for), I just don't think in a class of thirty her problems would have been picked up so easily or she would have got the level of help. I love her school and she does too.

HI Whyamihere am I able to ask what school you are at? Is it in London? It sounds fantastic!

My 3 kids all struggle at school and have not had the best help. If I could afford it I would definitely go private.

My step-son has dyslexia and my OH moved him from state school to a local independent. He was much happier there as classes were a lot smaller and he received more teacher help. He did really well in his GCSEs, so a good move we think. Plus his self-esteem improved dramatically. Have just enrolled my ds (3 years old) there too for next year as suspect he might be dyslexic too although it's early days I know. Managed to get a bursary for him as older brother had been there too. If it turns out he isn't then we're more than happy with him gong there and benefitting from extra help and attention in the smaller classes anyway. I'd recommend a move, definitely. If you're in the North West, ds's new school is under personalisededucation.co.uk
Good luck!