What can I ask school for?

[KisstheTeapot14]

So, DS is 8. Has been on a SEND plan since YR1 for dyspraxia. Has stuff to do to help with that, kit, exercises within school time etc. Pretty happy with all that.

My major concern now is that he is in Y3 and I feel like he's struggling. Reading age of almost 5 Y, can't write or read beyond very basic stuff - 3 and 4 letter words. Similar in maths too.

I just feel like time is running out to sort this out. He has 3 lots of 20 min sessions for reading in a week.

Anyone with similar experience out there? How and what did you ask school for? How can we try to close the gap?

We do plenty at home, but since he's at school most of the time I do feel the onus is on them to help.

School are going to apply for a pot of money from the local authority.

I can write a supporting statement.

Is Dyspraxia the only diagnosis he has? How was it agreed that they do the extra exercises etc?

I think you should apply for an EHCP, the school should support you in this if they want more money. It might be worth have the ED Psych (and learning support) come out to school to assess him, see what he's struggling with and why. Do you have any ideas why he's struggling?

The school DO have a responsibility to educate your child, absolutely. And continual assessment to see why he isn't making the same progress as other children, then a plan to tackle the disparity with various interventions etc. You might be happy with the support he's getting for his Dyspraxia but they seem to be ignoring everything else.

Yes Dyspraxia only diagnosis. But it can affect other learning - eye tracking for example in reading. We have had visits from a couple of educational specialists - ed psych and physical impairment team. Motor learning has always been on his plan - fine motor skills development, as well as a couple of general goals like number bonds to 10, and to have 3 x 20 min sessions of extra reading 1:1.

I think I just feel like his progress with reading is so slow that we need some medium goals with more impact, and to spend more time on the really crucial skills. He needs to catch up faster than he is doing.

Maybe a spell of 6 weeks of going over the ground he didn't 'get' 1st time round at age 6/7 with phonics.

I'm not the kind of parent who needs their kid to be best at everything, but I am feeling more of a sense of urgency now he's 8 and still so far behind many of his peers.

Things to look at

Whispersync in Amazon
Touch typing - lots free online
Phonics catch up - look up you tube phase 3 jolly phonics
Oxford owl on line
Text to speech and speech to text ICT use -
ClaroPDF or claropen - app
iPad in class
Mind maps or thinking maps
Smart hands or similar - do you have play doh putty lego pegs beads etc to play at home? Or guitar lessons or similar

Yoga is supposed to be good as well

Hope it helps

(Oh and look up the dyspraxia LA policy - maybe things I've missed

You need to request that the school write a very clear supporting statement. The best statements from school are effectively a timeline of support, clearly demonstrating that they have reached the limit of support which they can offer.

For example:

Initially difficulties observed were x,y,z, support put in place was a,b,c.

After time these interventions were not successful, therefore we put in place d,e,f.

Unfortunately we have not seen measurable progress (etc) to the extent hoped for and now need additional support above that which we can offer. We already feel we are clearly providing more support than would normally be available to students in our setting.

The headteacher, senco and head of year all believe that statutory assessment is required to ensure appropriate provision is available.

Then they can fill out the consultation paperwork to show strengths and weaknesses and send it as an accompanying document.

Good luck :)

Thanks All,

Saw very helpful paediatrician this week and have asked for referral to behavioural optometrist to assess for vision problems. He can see OK but I have a hunch that there are more complex issues like eyes not working as team, tracking problems etc. which could be hampering his attempts to lean to read fluently.

www.acbo.org.au/for-patients/about-vision/101-teacher-s-classroom-vision-checklist

This is an Australian site - with good checklists.

I think DS ticks a lot of these boxes.