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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Just need some bolstering: very dyslexic son

27 replies

Bambismum · 17/03/2017 13:57

Just had parents evening last night. I did what I always did - allowed myself to go in with some tinge of optimism. But then I started to leaf through his books and just felt that familiar churning anxiety. Followed by a session with his teacher in which he told us how very far behind he is, as is, basically, obvious by looking at his work. He's 8, in Year 4, and probably has the writing that you'd expect of a Year 1, very scrawly, incomprehensible, spelling a jumble, and no capitals/full stops etc. Not much progress.

The trouble is, we feel like we've thrown as much as we can at it for nearly 2 years now. He goes to see a private dyslexia tutor once a week, which has been bumped up to twice this term. My husband does lots of maths with him at night, and I do spellings/reading etc. which adds up to about an hour an evening which is all we/he can take. We really, really hoped all this would help him progress, but it doesn't look like it. I came home and felt so sick I couldn't eat.

I don't know quite why I'm posting here. I think I'm looking for a fresh perspective, I suppose. I feel we've got tired and bogged down and things aren't working. He is a lovely, lovely boy, and this is getting in the way of me enjoying and appreciating that.

Thank you.

OP posts:
ilovesushi · 01/05/2017 15:26

I am in a similar position with a very dyslexic summer birthday son in Y4. He has some one to one and small group work, but the gap between him and his peers is getting ever wider. I am wondering where he is going to be at with maths and English for secondary. He is so smart, I'll feel so sad from him if he is stuck in some uninspiring bottom set. I am trying to think creatively about his education especially the handwriting, spelling, punctuation - or complete lack of! Maths is also a disaster - we are still working on the teen numbers! My thoughts are to continue working with the problem areas but to also investigate alternatives like speech to text software so he can actually get his good ideas out.
I teach undergraduates and my dyslexic students who use assistive technology do really well. It's that whole making a fish climb a tree thing. He needs to swim not climb. His teacher is on board luckily. Maybe think about alternative ways your DS can learn and express himself. Sounds like you are all working so hard at the moment.

user1475698402 · 15/05/2017 22:07

Hi appreciate my response is late, however reading all these comments echoes my son and what was our situation. We have since got an EHCP for him and feel as though progress is being made. He is year 4 and like you has the reading and writing age of year 1. So many children with dyslexia are not getting the support needed mainly due to funding. Schools are doing their best, but expertise is also scarce.

My son now enjoys other activities outside of school, cricket, tennis and football where he can be with his peers without the pressure.

My biggest worry is now secondary school and what the right step is.

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