Dyslexia assessment GCSE

[Nettaliek]

Hi, hope this is allowed? I just wonder if anyone has any advice. My son is 16 and has just been assessed and found to have dyslexia. The recommendation is that the school applies for access arrangements in GCSEs. The school conducted their own assessment and found while his processing was well under average his other scores were higher. However they are happy to use the in-depth assessment as evidence. The problem is they cannot sign the official form to apply for more time as they didn't carry out the assessment, and the assessor can't as she does not have an existing relationship with the school. The firm has to be submitted by March 31 and the school hasn't got an assessor that they have a relationship with and I know we'll struggle to find someone with capacity to perform the assessment before then. My son is really underperforming in his mocks which is largely due to him running out if time because of his disability, and it's awful to think we have a professional assessment which is supported by the school but we can't get the form signed. If anyone has any experience or advice I'd be so grateful. Many thanks

The school must have a relationship with an EP. Who do they normally use?

As any access arrangements have to be the pupil’s normal way of working I’m not sure extra time is going to be granted if DS hasn’t already been having it. Applications for late diagnosis can be made but you still have to demonstrate needs.

Unless DS has 2 low cognitive processing standardised scores he may well not qualify anyway. You can see the rules here.

Thank you - the school expected the assessor to be able to sign the Form 8 but she couldn't as there has been no previous relationship. The reason it hasn't been picked up before I suspect is because if the very limited contact time in the classroom over two years of COVID. It's so frustrating that he has a diagnosis from a qualified assessor which agrees with and is supported by the school, and explains his performance in all his timed tests, but we can't get the right person to sign the form. It seems so unfair when he has a recognised disability and access arrangements would make it a more level playing field for him, and we are within the time to apply - but a form is standing in the way.