son might be dyslexic

[karaline]

I think my son is dyslexic. He's a good student, he's getting good grades, he's well behaved but his handwriting is atrocious and both him and his teachers say he is better at expressing himself verbally than in writing and although his work is good it could be more expansive.

I am dyslexic it went undiagnosed until I was in my late 20's and so I left school at 15 without any formal qualifications. I know that isn't going to happen to my boy but I would like to see him reach his full potential and I worry about how he's going to get on with his GCSE's particularly now they are entirely exam based (I know too well how hard exams can be with dyslexia).

I've asked for him to be assessed on a number of occasions, so far the school haven't responded. I understand why he isn't their priority; there are many students struggle much more, who are far more disruptive, but he is my priority. My question is, if I get a private assessment will the school recognise it and give him the extra time in exams?

thanks in advance

From my personal experience schools went park for the private assessment so you have no choice if you want to find out.
Our Primary did not accept the diagnosis purely because it was done be privately!! It's a Catch 22 situation.
We knew this would likely be the case but went ahead anyway. It has been a great thing for us to get the diagnosis as my children now know they are not "stupid" which is what they and their supposed friends had labelled themselves before the diagnosis. They can now understand their difficulties and work around be them and their self esteem is much improved.
We know how to support them in their learning.

Thanks for replying!

Its not that I need to know for my own reasons, its more that hes not far of his GCSE's and I'd like him to have the extra time. So I do need them to recognise any assessment that happens. I suspected it might be the case that they don't.