Back from educational psychologist - DD is mildly dyslexic.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

He basicly said that she scores as being very intelligent and her reading is 2 years above her age, her maths is on target and her writing and spelling slightly below her age.

However she has very poor working memory, trouble with phonocological processing and trouble with the speed of her thought processing. A full report is to follow.

He said that her intelligence helps her a lot and raises her level. That if she wasn't above average intelligence then she would be moderatly dyslexic.

He reckons it will become more of a problem the older she gets as she will be expected to remember more complicated/lengthy instructions. Also that she can't hold too much in her head - so if she has an idea/answer she may forget it before she writes it down. He said it also explains why she's so disorganised.

The report is going to give some advice about coping strategies but it seems like a lot of it will be making lists for her. Obviously we need to make teachers aware.

Anyone else with a child like this - would be interested to know how they cope? DD is 7yo and in Year 2.

Well, our assessment was £75 and was done by the EP who used to head the LEA team before they were all made redundant so I feel it is very reliable. This should not be about parents vs teachers, it is about children having a tough time (and believe me my dd was absolutely miserable over her inability to write anything legible). Defining the problem should help parents and teachers to support each child according to their needs. I appreciate the school's limited resources but getting the assessment has helped her teacher plan for her needs and made dd much happier about going to school. It really isn't helpful to know that teachers are scoffing behind your back

£75 is a bargin - ours cost £400!

I really do hope that the teachers take some sort of notice. I do uderstand that as she's only "mild" then there are going to be children with worse problems.

I suppose if nothing else at least they will be aware of the diagnosis and hopefully make some sort of allowance for her if she needs instructions repeating, etc. Her class teacher told me that she doesn't concentrate - well both the EP and her private tutor have said that her concentration is amazingly good. Her EP thinks she appears not to concentrate in class as she can't keep up with whats going on so switches off.

At the end of the day if hte school don't do much to help then we have just staretd her with private tuition once a week so hopefully that will help as well.

If nothing else, our diagnosis gave us the confidence to tell teachers that ds would be tyoping homework from now on. Noone at school had suggested this as an option...and he got extra time for his SATS (again, only because of this assessment)

Stripey, make sure private tuition is by someone qualified to tutor dyslexic kids.

There is a big difference in an ordinary tutor and one who has been trained in how dyslexic children learn. Otherwise you could be wasting your money.

'You may be given the line by the SENCO or the class teacher that there is no budget/time for individual one-to-one time with your DD'

I have been given this line at DDs school. She was given an initial assessment for dyslexia at school and the results were she has severe indicators of dyslexia.

I don't know what will happen next, she is in Year 4 (9yo) and I first raised concerns about her learning when she was 6yo. Makes me very sad that this could have been identified 3 years ago

I have been told that if I want an official assessment, I will have to fund it myself at a cost of £700.

Had to pay ridiculous amount of money for assessment for S3 ( Year4 8yo) and sometimes wish I hadn't as every report now includes phrases such as if it wasn't for his dyslexia..... and any achievement still seems to be measured against rest of class. Still better than watching him get warnings for getting changed too slowly after games. Also now have to pay for extra maths at school timetabled in one of his favourite lessons, drama. Response to assessment varies from teacher to teacher. Still seem to be those who assume cover up for stupidity! Ever hopeful that his love of art will lead him to a future where noone cares if he can't tie laces or spell. In meantime, have learnt to insist on meetings every term with Learnig support etc which seems to keep them on their toes.

I must admit its crossed my mind not to tell school - would that be stupid?

I don't want dd being labelled as thic when she isn't and am worried that some teachers may write her off if they know she's dyslexic.

As shes only mildly dyslexic then I think they're probably not going to do much in the way of support. So whats the point?

DS is dyslexia has problems with reading writing maths anything that involves putting info down
He can quote you the information back verbally SPOT ON
He did a mock SAT test back in Jan,English he could`nt even read it never mind putting the answers down so teacher helped to which the headmistress said this was void.
THe teacher asked if she could do it again reading it to ds then asking him the questions just to prove apoint about dyslexia to the headmistress.
DS did really well ...He scored high
He has 4 extra lessons a week for writing reading spellings and is making progress
But dreading the actual SATs he can have a reader for maths but not english.
We have to give his confidence high and focus on what he can do Football rugby etc etc
Luckily he has a caring teacher

Lazybum - Is your DS IN yEAR 2 OR yEAR 6?

Year 2,
He tries so hard and at times it really is frustrating.I want to cry
But he gets the help at school now
which I think every child should get if they need it.
But we had to fight for it plus we pay for it as we live abroad.

skss,
Dyslexia does not mean thick,some parents do think that .Actually its the opposite
When I told a mum at school she wanted to know if her daughter could catch it????

How is old is your ds?

I wondered if my DD was dyslexic a little while ago. She is a wizz at maths and science but struggled in the earlier years with reading and spelling. Her reading went way above in year 5 but she was still spelling simple works incorrectly in year 9. The last couple of months its all come right. Clicked into place and now that her spelling had caught up she's getting good grades for English.

Just thought I'd give you all our experience and a bit of hope .

Please dont worry too much about key stage 1 sats. My DD was below average in English but by year 6 key stage 2 got the expected level even though the school requested remarks as more than 50% got a level 3 (below expected level) Bad for the teachers.

Sorry skss
Just re read its your dd not ds who is 7

Do think you need to tell the school they can give extra time in the english SATs things like that.

Why do they put so much on the FECKING SATs?

Lazybum - I think dd is quite bright, and the ed psych backed that up. Just worried what some teachers may think though.

My mum used to be a teacher and when I told her she was horrified. "But she doesn't seem stupid" was her reaction

I just hope current teachers are better informed.

It is important to tell the school, they should have resources to make learning for you child a bit easier. They should also work on having a dyslexia friendly classroom.

Its so frustrating not being able to help my daughter as much as I would like to. But, considering we have literally just found out, I am hoping that together with the school, we can make life easier for her. At the moment, she hates her school and wants to leave.

My mil is a teacher she was as much help as a chocolate fireguard now that we know about ds .She is full of advice (none of it worth listening to)

DS just come home from school 2day he did a mock SAT he said it was hard as he could`nt read it very well..Just said oh well its o.k

I really don`t agree with theses SATs its 2 much pressure.Dyslexia or not

Skss keep me informed on how you get on,keep your chin up.Now that you know about your dd it will be easier to explain things

We do maths adding & subtracting imagineing footballs in or out of the bin

keeping everything visible or something he understands and can relate to

Thanks for all the advice.

I told the headmaster today, he said he will tell dd's teacher. He wants to wait for the official report to come back in 3 weeks time before they decide what, if anything needs doing.

I keep telling myself that as her dyslexia is only mild its not going to affect her too much - am I iddign myself?

Anyway I think the private lessons she is booked in for will help. They;re at a Kip McGrath centre so not a specialist dyslexia place but dd has been for a taster session and loved it and begged to go back. I thought if she is enthusiastic and enjoying it then thats very important. I think it is the sort of environment where she will thrive. Just a shame that school can't be like that for her. Still 90mins a week is better than nothing.

Go for it skss

The extra lessons sound good especially as your ds is enthusiastic you can`t ask more from her than that.

Did you know EINSTEIN was dyslexic???

check out www.xtraordinarypeople.com for lots of inspirational dyslexics!