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?

I don't know who it was, dd didnt know her either.

I am happy for her to have additional time, who wouldn't be, but I want to know why she has extra time. I don't want dd to struggle or not reach her full potential and I need to be 100% certain it's just dd getting in a tizzy. Which is what English teacher thinks. But it doesn't happen in maths or french or even in science though she does find science more difficult than maths and french. But English is her worst subject.

I don't want to start doing further investivations until I have seen the assessment feedback and have asked for that to be emailed so I have a copy and am not likely to get misinformation or misinterpret anything.

The SENCO will have the scores and necessary information already if exam arrangements have been allocated - that is the person who you need to speak to.

Thanks potato. Will see what happens next week and if no further forward book an appointment with the SENCO.

Daisybank2 People with dyslexia aren't the only people who can have adjustments made for them in exams. There are lots of different difficulties that prevent students from being able to get all their knowledge down in a timed exam.

Thepotato I should imagine the person who assessed OP's dd was a member of the support services within the local authority. All authorities work slightly differently. Of course the SENCo can ask the advisory teacher for support with an assessment. However, the advisory teacher will have a lot of schools to visit / support and won't 'be around' for chats with parents throughout the week. Potentially she fed back verbally to the SENCo as she was on her way out the door, on way to next appointment.

OP It does make a lot of sense to get her eyes checked at this point too though - good thinking.

The advisory teacher would have needed to have a copy of form 8 with part A and B completed by the SENCO before she assessed the pupil. All authorities work slightly differently, but JCQ criteria is set in stone.

At this stage, the OP's dd isn't getting any changes in exams. She is 14. Not yet taking public exams.

We are speculating, but it seems logical that the advisory teacher was in, had a bit of time, and the SENCo took the chance to say 'Will you have a quick peep at Frouby's dd ?'

I don't know that, but it seems a reasonable scenario. As a parent, I would be happy the SENCo has done what she can to start any investigations about my dd's needs, and not cross she hadn't been able to get any particular form signed before she was seen. (Indeed, was happy when it happened to my dd). I can assure you in my authority there isn't a 'form 8 with part A and B' to be completed before an advisory teacher can advise the school on how they can support their pupils. Yes, it is advised you speak to parents first and get their permission, but, occasionally circumstances are such that you make a quick decision on the spot. You do that, knowing the families. My dd was seen, possibly because they knew I have some common sense. Maybe the OP's SENCo made the same judgement there?

Back I think you are right about the SENCO having a bit of time. She was in to see some year 11s but she couldn't see them for some reason. Dds English teacher is head of English so presumably had a conversation that went similar to what you suggest. Dd is actually in top set in English(I thought she was in second set) and there was another pupil doing the same assessment with her.

So suspect the English teacher just thought 'while I have a spare SENCO knocking around, I will just get the extra time these 2 year 10s need sorted'.

I am not upset about the testing or even the way it was arranged now I understand why. I am still a bit 'hmmmmm' about the feedback dd recieved BUT there is nothing much more dramatic than a 14 year old girl and dd could quite easily have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick, turned it into a log on the way home and by the time she has walked through the door it's a whole forest of imagined problems.

Dd feels ok about it all now which is the main thing. If the SENCO feeds back that there is something that needs investigating we will look at that. We are also going to look at some tutoring for English and exam techniques to give her some extra confidence. She wants to do A levels and the uni so it will be money well spent.

Backfor good - op's dd was assessed for exam arrangements so I was specifically referring to the procedure as set out by JCQ, who recommend that exam arrangements are processed during the first year of a 2 year GCSE course.

sounds like my DS who doesn't have a formal diagnosis, but has been noted by Occupational Therapist and Behavioural Optometrist as having 'dyspraxic tendencies'. He benefits from extra time to help him structure his work and add extra detail. The test she had as others have said would be the JCQ.

If she is staying for 6th form or moving elsewhere I'd definitley have a private assessment done this summer so that support can be organised for A Levels as she may find things tricky with the volume of work/writing etc ramping up significantly. My DS uses a laptop (has done since Yr8) as he has issues with speed of writing. This helps massively and his marks and self esteem are great now.

Right have spoken to the Senco today. She did a TOWRIE test and dd scored 78 which is less than the average.

Senco listened to me when I said I was concerned about dyslexia (was hoping she would tell me there were no concerns). Asked a bit about dd as she didn't know her, said it does sound as though she has dyslexia tendencies etc etc.

I have asked that she leave it now until January just to give dd time to relax over Christmas without extra pressure on her. She says for a pupil as bright and focused as dd she would expect her to not struggle as much with timed assessments and that ot is common for issues to be picked up ay this age. But realistically that a diagnosis won't make a lot of difference as dd can read and write and spell, it just takes her longer which is where the extra time comes from.

So am not really much further forward but have a sort of plan. I will be calling in January and booking an appointment with the Senco and Sen at school and pushing for dyslexia diagnosis. But if that takes too long then will pay for a private assessment. And also look into the possibility of a tutor specialising in dyslexia and exam techniques and planning.

there is nothing much more dramatic than a 14 year old girl and dd could quite easily have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick, turned it into a log on the way home and by the time she has walked through the door it's a whole forest of imagined problems.

Love this ^