Dd has been 'tested' at school today

[Frouby]

And I have no idea what she has been tested for.

She is 14. On target for 7/8 in most subjects at GCSE. Is very good at maths and french. Already consistently working at level 7/8. Really enjoys school. Good social life, fits in if not one of the most popular.

Always done well at school, but a reoccurring issue has been getting her ideas onto paper, especially in essay based subjects. English is her weakest subject. She has never enjoyed reading.

I suspect now they are doing a lot of timed assessments it's come to a head that she can't write quickly enough. Her comprehension is good, her handwriting is beautiful, she is left handed. She is very good at art. She didn't do it at GCSE tho, but her art teacher very much wanted her to.

She does get anxious before assessments. She has been told today that she will get extra time and a reader during exams. She was asked to read out words and sounds. Only her and one other pupil was tested.

I had no idea they had any concerns or that they were testing for anything. She has more or less been told she has additional needs, with no warning and we have had no time to discuss or prepare for this, and have a 14 year olds account of what happened. I am absolutely furious with school, but also pretty upset that she may have had issues all way through school which have only just been picked up on. Poor bugger must have worked so hard to keep up.

Just so I am prepared for next week does this sound like dyslexia?

Sounds like they were assessing for GCSE exam access arrangements and that she has qualified for a reader and extra time. They should really have told you, but I wouldn't be cross - the access arrangements should really help her.

I am not cross about the additonal testing Lady or about the results whatever they are. I am cross that they didn't speak to me or dd before, or send a letter or speak to me after rather than dd.

The test she did (after googling this morning) is for dyslexia which is a pretty big thing. Certainly for a 14 year old to try and process on her own. I have obviously downplayed it to dd, told her the extra time is a good thing and will take a lot of pressure off and how useful a reader will be.

But she is far from stupid and knows it probably means dyslexia and that it is classed as a learning disability. That's pretty hard to handle at the best of times especially at school for the rest of the day without speaking to your mum.

So yes I am cross with school.

“But she is far from stupid and knows it probably means dyslexia and that it is classed as a learning disability.”

My child was genius level on certain aspects of his WISC IV test- but has dyslexia. I hope you aren’t thinking everyone with Spld is of lower intelligence?

I didnt mean that dyslexia makes you stupid, I meant that she isn't stupid so knows what the tests and extra time and support mean, ie learning disability. Which means there is something 'wrong' with her. Which is a shock at 14 and she deserved to have my support for that.

DH is dyslexic. I have a niece and nephew with recently diagnosed autism and ADHD. My dsis is dyslexic. I certainly understand what a learning difficulty or difference or disability is. As does DD. She is (as I said in my OP) bright, intelligent, and works bloody hard.

I just didn't realise how hard she has been working to mask this.

I certainly do not think of dyslexia as having “something wrong”. it is a learning difference. That is exactly the type of sentiment I fight against all the time for my child.

I agree though they should have told you. However that said they are doing the testing for the right reasons so approach it in that way. They are trying to help (although may not have thought it through)

Which is why my 'wrong' was in commas. Because I am an adult and know that a learning difference isnt something wrong, it's something different.

At 14 though it will be 'wrong' to dd. And she will learn in time that it isn't 'wrong'. But been told that you will get extra time and a reader for exams marks you out as different and therefore in a 14 year olds mind, wrong. Especially when you have no warning, no discussion or support from your parents and not even a chance to think about what the test might mean.

I understand and sympathise with you, but having a pop at someone else who is probably going through the same situation and nitpicking my posts to find implied wrongs isn't helping. I posted this thread to get help and support, not criticism for feeling upset for dd.

It doesn't matter what you call it or how you refer to it, dyslexia is an issue, it is a difference and it will impact on dd. It doesn't mean she is stupid, it does mean her life will be more difficult because of this. It has been already, we just didn't have a name for it.

Sorry it just hit a nerve (exhaustion I think). Wish you the best of luck

Thank you . Dd will be fine I know in time. It's just a bit sudden and I am upset it hasn't been picked up on. And feel guilty. She has always had a problem with 'speed' in exams. I feel I should have picked up on it before, but looking online she doesn't meet many of the markers. Just slow in tests and doesn't read for pleasure. And is above average in intelligence. So I never thought it could be dyslexia.

Hopefully, if it is dyslexic she will get some support and start improving her essay skills in time for GCSEs next year.

Does your boy use a laptop? Does it make a difference? Am considering one for Christmas for her.

Yes he does. We have sent him on a touch typing course. It is very helpful

That is what I am thinking for dd. She is hoping to do A Levels and then Uni, so would benefit from it anyway so can't see any need to wait.

Apparently one of her classmates has ine provided by school so will wait for the diagnosis to come through then ask school.

There is no specific test that can be used to diagnose dyslexia.
During a dyslexia assessment the assessor would need to administer a bank of tests - the process usually takes at least 2 hours - was this the case with your dd?

Thank your lucky stars that the school assessed her - my dd was only diagnosed with dyslexia in Year 12, when she changed to a new school. My dd sounds identical to your dd - very high IQ, was on track for 7s & 8s, 9s, but couldn't write quick enough and couldn't get her ideas down on paper, so did not achieve them. Also very good at Art. Her school always told us she didn't write enough, but never once suggested there could be an issue - just that she was lazy.
Not ideal that they didn't contact you first, but really if you handle this well, and downplay it, then she'll get over it pretty quickly. The plus of this diagnosis, no matter how it was delivered, massively outweighs any minuses. Dyslexia is a learning disability, but as she's been working crazy hard to get where she is, she'll probably see it as a relief, as there's a reason now why she has had to work so much harder than everyone else and finds writing so difficult. There is no stigma these days, our dd has never been happier since her dyslexia diagnosis (low processing, slow writing and low working memory). If only our she had had extra time for her GCSEs, but we now know she'll get it for her A levels now, and Uni.
Your dd would have been compensating for her whole education so far, and sooner or later that compensation will run out of steam without the extra time and she will start to noticeably struggle.

Lady she was in for about 10 minutes. Am sure it wasnt a full dyslexia assessment, more to assess whether further help is needed. It was the comment after the test 'I am surprised that it hasn't been picked up before...' which makes me assume that there is something they need to assess for.

daisy I am glad they have tested, I jusg wish they had spoken to me before so I could discuss it with dd. She has been struggling with speed or completing enough work since she was small. It's been an ongoing comment. 'Minifrouby is amazing, bright, articulate, contributes to discussion, homework amazing but needs to work on speed/getting more down/completing tests'.

I am sure this will be very positive for her moving forwards, it's just it was dropped in my lap friday teatime and it's been a bit of a shock. And I feel guilty for not thinking about it sooner.

But other than not writing enough or enjoying reading for pleasure she hasn't shown any other signs. A bit hesitant reading stuff outloud now I think about it, and makes the odd mistake but I assumed she knew what the words said but wasnt sure how to pronounce them.

She's been fine today. We went to the garden centre and bought some decorations for the tree, she has done some homework and is currently wallowing in the bath.

Am going to call school tomorrow and find out what she was tested for, whether they have official results back yet and what the next steps are.

OP I understand totally.
I was in shock, and still am tbh, but once it was confirmed it all made sense, and there was a huge sense of relief.

I feel massively guilty I didn't do anything sooner, but the assessor said I must definitely shouldn't - her old school should have picked up on it but didn't, so really they're the ones who should be feeling guilt!
Like your dd she is also very good at French and this in my mind would never have meant she could have been dyslexic, but I was wrong. Plus she was excellent at spelling, and reading.

We live and learn!

It sounds like your dd has had a quick initial screening to check for a 'spikey profile', but this isn't fully conclusive. The school should then offer the full test which will conclude whether your dd is dyslexic or not, and then go on to state what measures need to be put in place, ie extra time. We were told that although initial quick screening could show up any difficulties or unusual patterns, it could be wrong, and no extra time could be promised at that point.

I think she is good at French because there isn't much volume of reading/writing at this stage and maybe because the french department is good at what they do. Its a modern foreign language school so it has an emphasis on language. And because it will have been taught from scratch with no assumptions about ability it's really clicked with her.

Hopefully will get some answers this week. Am glad it's been positive for your dd, am hoping it will be for us. I also feel guilty because I looked at possible causes and low birth weight can be one. She was tiny when she was born, 5lbs 10oz. I worked all way through being pregnant and didn't eat well, I only put about a stone on so blame myself for that. Her dad is dyslexic as well.

Agree with the French. My dd's doing it for A level now, but it's getting much harder.
Never heard the birth weight thing before - my dd was 9lbs 10oz, so really wouldn't worry! It's mostly hereditary, but we're not aware of anyone in our family who is dyslexic, so who knows!

It’s a shock when you hear anything new, the school should have contacted you if they had suspected a learning need. Having said that, many people struggle to get schools to take their concerns on board. You seem to be on the right track, contacted the school and asking for information. My older niece wasn’t diagnosed until university, she was at a grammar school who were not particularly supportive. 15 year old niece was diagnosed with autism, school ignored our concerns for dyslexia so parents did a private assessment- we were right she was dyslexic. It does take time for things to sink in but atleast she has a chance to reach her potential, she clearly sounds bright. Although she’s had to work harder to keep up long term it will have helped her develop skills she may not have-I’ve learnt you have to look at the silver lining. I can’t remeb where exactly but I’m sure it does say in the Send code of Practice says someone about informing parents. Good luck

Thanks Rose. I finally got a phonecall back from head of pastoral care, explained what had happened and asked to be kept informed moving forwards about further tests and the outcome of this one. Told them that dd had been upset and anxious all weekend and we had no one to discuss with, and while we appreciate the testing and understand the positives such as extra time etc, it was a shock.

Head of pastoral had no idea what the test was, who had organised it or who had done it. He said he was finding dd, going to have a chat with her and find out who organised the test, and get someone to call me back.

What actually happened was dd was dragged out of her lesson again. Then as she was in english he dragged the english teacher out of the lesson. The dd spent 10 minutes being spoken to by the english teacher who justified why the test had been organised and telling dd not to worry, while dd wasn't listened to. Dd was trying to explain she was worried because they have offered extra time AND a reader so dd thinks it's pretty bad. English teacher didn't even give her chance to explain about having a reader, she didn't listen at all according to dd.

Sigh. I think I am going to make an appointment to go in and see if I can get any information about the test, the results and where we go from here.

Am not interested in the politics or the reasons for justifying the test, or that it hasn't been picked up on before. Or who did the test or who authorised it. Just want to know the outcome, if there is a problem and if so, how best to support dd.

Am half tempted to look at private screening. At least if we have more idea with full access to results I can support her properly and will be able to make the best decisions.

That all sounds very confusing op - poor dd. In most schools the SENCO is the person who would have organised the assessment as they would have needed to complete the first part of a document called form 8 in preparation for the assessor.

My dd had some assessments and testing done in Spring of Yr11. Just like your dd - she was top set / predicted '8's across the board, and the were just picking up that she struggled to organise herself / get exam papers complete in the time.
I'd had 5 years of teachers telling me how bright / capable / interested she was during lessons and how that was never reflected in end of year exams. It took a newish SENCo being appoinited to try to get something formalised. The SENCo used the opportunity of the LA's Pupil Support Teacher being in school and having a 20min slot (who know, maybe another pupil was away, or maybe something else she was doing finished earlier than expected, or maybe her next school cancelled the appointment - could be any one of a number of reasons, but the support teacher suddenly had 20mins so the SENCo jumped in and tried to get some help for my dd).
I wasn't cross I didn't know in advance. I was pleased that finally they were trying to do something about it.
Unfortunately, because this was nearly Easter just before GCSEs, there was limited stuff she could put in to place - yes a bit of extra time but my dd had to manage it herself, sitting in same room as the pupils without extra time, so it became and additional thing to try to organise and a hindrance rather than a help. Had the school got the help in earlier, then she could have had that as her "usual way of working" and got much better support.
Sadly, finding for any sort of additional need is so limited, it is not that common that dcs like my dd and your dd are picked up and given the support that could make a grade's difference to a bright child. Quite rightly, most efforts are focused on dc that struggle a lot more than our dc. SO, though, no, it isn't 'ideal' the way it has been done, realistically, the SENCo was probably trying to squeeze 3 extra pupils in to get a bit of support, and could only do that this way. Yes, perfect world you would have been involved ealier, but the SENCo isn't working in a perfect world, so if I were you I'd focus on the fact it is good she has been picked up early enough for this to become her 'regular pattern of working' before she gets to public exams, and even the fact they have made time for her at all.

I know what you are saying about funding, my nephew has had major problems since he was 2 and its taken until he was 9 to get a diagnosis then even with an autism and adhd diagnosis there isn't much being done.

Am definitely going to pay for private screening if necessary. Have looked at the process for getting an NHS diagnosis and it will take months. She doesn't have months really, not in year 10.

I just want to speak to whoever did the test first and find out the results of that.

Just a further update her english teacher, who arranged the assessment spoke to me this morning.

She arranged the assessment because she thinks dd needs extra time to ensure she is given every chance in her exams to get down what she knows. She knows dd is a lot more capable than what she is testing at in English and also history.

I discussed with her what had been said to dd after the assessment, the question about a reader as well as extra time, and that the assessor had said that she was surprised dd had managed so long and nothing had been picked up before now.

The english teacher seemed a bit taken aback by that and said the was 95% certain she wasn't dyslexic but obviously those comments need to be understood fully.

She was very helpful and understands where I was coming from for being concerned and has said she is chasing the assessor up but it might be next week before we hear anything else.

English teacher thinks that dd just gets flustered and goes to pieces which is what is causing the lack of words on paper. And that dd generally doesn't like tests. I did point out that maybe dd is getting flustered becasue she can't do it. So we shall see.

If the English teacher is 95% sure your dd isn't dyslexic, then what was she thinking the reason would be for her being awarded extra time? She wouldn't get extra time for just being flustered! All sounds a bit of an unorganised shambles to me! Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

I have no idea daisy. English teacher really confident she isn't just that she needs extra time to help her cope with the pressure.

Assessor has apparently emailed english teacher back (according to what dd said when she came home from school tonight) and a reader isn't necessary but extra time is. English teacher said to me that a reader won't make any difference to dd as she can read and understand perfectly well.

So basically fuck knows. Am going to get dds eyes tested over Christmas and rule something visual out then wait for official feed back from this assessor.

And start early on the christmas booze.

That makes no sense unless the assessor is a member of staff. An external assessor cannot assess for exam arrangements unless the SENCO has completed part A of form 8 and communicated with the assessor prior to the assessment taking place. So if the assessor is a member of staff then presumably you can meet with them?