For parents of children with dyslexia

[onlyoranges]

How is school for your dcs. Some days I think was there any point in going when I get a fed up, frustrated dc home. School do their best but with a large class and a large range of ability it’s tough for them. The gap widens between her and her peers and everyday she notices more and more. How do other parents deal with it all?

I dealt with it by moving my child to a specialist dyslexia school. Not an option for all I completely appreciate, but I completely hear what you are saying

I'm not sure how to deal with it at the moment-I feel school is a complete waste of time for my son as he's left most of the time sitting there not having a clue what to do. Specialist school too expensive but would certainly do ti if I could. Thinking of a tutor but finding a good one is tough-have tried helping at home with sound foundations and reading bears but he is very resistant. Sorry. not a helpful post but wanted to just say that you're not alone. One positive way Ive found is to find out of school activities that boost self esteem-so far running and music are helping

Have you spoken to the Helen Arkell centre? They may be able to offer advice

I would also be on the SENCO’s case (a lot)

Laura0806 do you find school a waste of time? I feel that. My dc can’t write and he’s going to high school soon. He gets quite down about it all

There should be an LA policy in Dyslexia (I can link ours if you'd like to see it)

It stars how the children should be included in lessons etc and what skills they should be taught

For example touch typing clario audio books etc.

Look for school with good TA numbers

Sorry have to go to Tesco before the teens starve to death!

My daughters state primary school haven't done anything since her diagnosis a year ago. We haven't even been offered a meeting with her teacher. They've just let her drift. I don't think this is uncommon for state schools in our area. After hearing a few too many negative stories about the SEN support in our local , very academic, high achieving, secondary we've decided to move her to an independent school. I know if other dyslexic children whose laptops have been removed from them because it's not the schools policy. I've also know a boy with dyslexia who was permanently excluded three weeks before the start of his GCSEs. 25% of the children at the independent school have a diagnosis of dyslexia. It has a dyslexia unit and children with dyslexia achieve very well there. It's a very good all rounder with amazing creative and sports facilities. It's massively expensive and a huge and quite scary financial commitment but the state system is just a very bad fit for her. She is very bright and I can't sit back and watch her potential drip away and her confidence take a nose dive. Very glad and hugely grateful to be getting her out of there!

She has a tutor too that we pay for. She's very good and my daughter responds well to her. If I tried to teach her myself it would be a bloody nightmare. Things would be thrown! She is much, much more compliant with a tutor!

I can't believe some of these schools! DD was diagnosed in Yr3 by the ed psyche the school brought in because of behavioural problems and the difference between her work and knowing she's bright (iyswim). The SENCO was involved straight away. Things like sitting at the front of the class, off white paper to write on (stops a lot of the glare), writing on a surface that's a slight angle. They brought in a PAT dog (not just for DD).
I found an optician that does SchoolVision. So as well as her normal specs she has tinted specs. Cost more than the voucher but well worth it IMO. The tint stops the optic nerve getting too much information (as far as I understand it) and they're magnified as well, and the right prescription.
Now in Yr6 she hardly uses the tinted specs as the words don't wobble (I have asked her). She prefers looking at a screen (cos the words have never wobbled on a screen) and likes reading my news feed.
We went to a meet the teacher day for her new high school. The SENCO came and found us while we were waiting for our appointment (the current SENCO must have described us to her lol).
It must be absolutely exhausting to have to push for these things. With the right support so much can be done.

I hear you OP! My son was diagnosed just over a year ago. I looked at a private specialist school but it was way too expensive. I even tried to get a job there but still wouldn’t have been able to afford the fees with a teacher discount!

School are doing as much as they can but my son seems to have just shut down. He thinks he’s stupid and will act up to avoid doing the work. It’s exhausting because he’s in a negative cycle of behaviour and playing up to the label of a naughty boy.

I have recently started Nessy at home. He will do this under duress unlike a point blank refusal to write or read with me. My son is also seeing an English teacher at my own school to help improve his confidence.

I find it very frustrating that there is very little support in schools for dyslexic children as it’s seen as ‘just dyslexia’. I have found it’s the emotional repercussions that are the most damaging.

My son is now on the waiting list with CAMHS for CBT. His mental health is in a terrible state and there’s very little available in the state sector.

I find it very unfair that these specialist schools cost more than even a regular private school. There should be more available to support dyslexic children for the average working family, not just the wealthy.

Heartshapedfairylights I know what you mean. When I sat down with dd and told her she had something called dyslexia and it was a problem with how information goes from her eyes to her brain the relief on her face and her saying 'I thought I was stupid mummy' I felt like crying.

(sorry about the bad grammar, it tears me up to think about it)