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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

Seeking advice on Dyslexia testing

9 replies

LakeToba · 25/06/2019 17:58

Hello, hoping for some advice on whether to get son assessed with an Educational Psychologist for Dyslexia. He is 10 and severely dyslexic, as in he still sounds out the letters in words, has never progressed past the level of ORT or similar. We read him age appropriate books, currently the Young James Bond and he has no problem with understanding. His writing is of a similarly low level. He had a severe language delay, verbal dyspraxia and a stammer, and speech therapy from 2 and a half until 9. Almost all of this is unnoticeable now. He has been diagnosed with Visual Stress and has a mint green overlay. School has assessed him internally and has said he is definitely dyslexic and he gets lots of interventions in school, including Nessy which he works on at school and home. Despite all the help he receives he doesn’t seem to be making much improvement and I’m getting increasingly worried as this time next year he’ll be almost leaving primary. The school have said not to get him assessed as it wouldn’t change anything they do with him. But what about for secondary school? Would it be best to have an assessment in place before he starts? Primary have also implied they might not put him in for the Reading Sats paper and whilst that doesn’t bother me too much, I wonder what they will be doing with him while the other children are being prepared for it. He excels in almost all sports and is very sociable, funny and popular. I’m really worried about how he’ll be able to access the secondary school curriculum. Does anyone have any similar experience or advice please? It would be very much appreciated, thank you!

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 25/06/2019 18:05

personally I would get him tested externally, because it will be useful for the secondary schools to know right from the start. Where are you based OP? there are schools around specifically for dyslexic students, so if you are near one of them they might be worth a look. all the best x

LakeToba · 25/06/2019 18:12

Thank you. Based in Cambridge.

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 25/06/2019 18:26

could you have a look at holme court school in cambridge then? its a school specifically for children with dyslexia and so the staff know the various teaching methods well

LakeToba · 25/06/2019 18:48

He would very much want to move up with his peers though and stay in mainstream education. Will have a look though, thank you.

OP posts:
Catwoman1985 · 25/06/2019 22:40

If you can afford to please do get him assessed. It is so helpful to have a full diagnostic assessment available when students move to secondary. It helps me know what support and interventions they will need, if any, and which strategies to advise teachers to use.

issy123 · 27/06/2019 21:05

Have you thought about applying for an EHC Plan? It sounds like he needs one/

LakeToba · 27/06/2019 23:00

Yes. Recent meeting with school suggests that’s the plan for September (Yr 6). Might not get it but everything geared to try and make it so. (School issued Ed Psych to start assessing in Sept so we can put case forward with reports) Both DP and myself work in education and don’t know anyone with EHCP just for Dyslexia. Anyone with experience?

OP posts:
Catwoman1985 · 01/07/2019 22:22

I know of a few students with EHCPs for Dyslexia but I would say it is becoming less common. However it is possible. The primary shouldn’t be saying he is Dyslexic though unless he has had a proper diagnosis

TungstenAromatics · 02/07/2019 23:05

If I may say (without disrespect), being a dyslexic myself. It's very useful to spend £400 odd on a "real" diagnosis of dyslexia. I went through primary and secondary school, without an acceptant diagnosis of dyslexia. I was born in the 1990s. I didn't get an accurate diagnosis of dyslexia until I was 19 (2009). Even the paper letter I had, wasn't accepted by universities. I have had to make my claims for DSA from my mental health issues (which come from external sources). I still suffer dyslexia, however, with the software nowadays, it doesn't matter. I can list the software I have, and that I would highly recommend, but you need to go to an assessment for school and maybe even uni level assessment, to get the software needed. And again, it's about your child, who will become --(big word) aware of his own learning needs (within time). Don't panic, he is more then what seems the latter at the moment. Give him time. :)

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