DS8 confirmed dyslexia / what is reasonable to expect from school

[jollysuperjillycooper]

DS8 had an assessment on Thursday and it's now been confirmed that he has dyslexia. I have been provided with a very detailed report with recommendations around equipment that can help him with reading and spelling and private tutoring.

I am going to forward the report on the school and was going to ask for a meeting once his teacher has had chance to read the recommendations but I'm not sure what the school will be able to do for him. I'm not expecting them to provide any equipment but would just like to hear from others in a similar situation what is reasonable to expect from the school? I am also looking for a private dyslexia tutor.

I briefly spoke to the SEN lead when DS teacher suggested getting him privately assessed and she did say that the school didn't offer any assessing and we would have to go down the private route. This is fine, I understand there a lot of children that have various SEN and the school can't financially cover costs.

This is all new to me and I'm still trying to understand it all.

It really does seem to depend on the school and the child as to the adjustments. We (DC 8 also) have a quieter room for any assessments and there are interventions (time spend 1:1 or 1:3 outside classroom) spending time on different phonics and handwriting. We also get a touch typing club at school using Nessy Fingers. We are "let off" handwriting (thankfully)!

We do extra at home - if reading is a struggle but they are willing to try then I would recommend the Toe-by-Toe book (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toe-Structured-Multi-sensory-Reading-Teachers/dp/0952256401/ref=asc_df_0952256401?mcid=8fec967740b83747abb293c2a0b7898e&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=10921392613101840902-0952256401-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10921392613101840902&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9180995&hvtargid=pla-2281435176218&psc=1&gad_source=1). It is a bit dry but really has improved reading. We were also told to use audio books to increase vocabulary if reading wasn't possible.

I'm sure others can add to this!

Thank you @gato21 that is really helpful. I will have a look at that book you have linked.

What can be offered at a school SEN Support level will vary from school to school. The school must make their best endeavours to meet DS’s SEN and they must make reasonable adjustments.

Some suggestions of what may be able to be provided are laptop/tablet and assistive technology (e.g. speech to text software, text to speech software, spelling software, reading pen), pre-teaching, precision teaching, interventions (such as touch typing or nessy or toe by toe), looking at placement within the classroom, giving instructions one at a time and checking DC has understood and processed the information, visual timetables, limiting copying from the board.

Tuition from a specialist dyslexia tuition is required is unlikely without an EHCP. If you think an EHCP is required, you can request an EHCNA yourself.

My info relates to an English state school. Definitely meet with school and see what they can offer from the assessment recommendations. There's different funds for supporting a child in school with SEN dyslexia needs, versus paying for assessment.

Our school were able to provide a laptop (we taught ds to type at home), give extra time in assessments, provide coloured workbooks that he found easier, support in small groups with maths when he fell behind due to poor working memory. Other children had a pen reader and a scribe but ds didn't need these.

One thing we struggled with was getting them to agree he didn't need to write with cursive handwriting - apparently Mr Gove's SATs give extra marks for handwriting and spelling, and take no account of any diagnoses.

Hanks for all the replies. Feeling a bit despondent. I sent the report to the school last Monday 20th January apologising that it was a long read but I had highlighted key sections such as the recommendations for school. No acknowledgment from either my DS teacher or the SENDCO. I left it until yesterday (30th Jan) as I understand teachers are busy and phoned the school. Was told by the school office to email and the SENDCO would call me to discuss what provision there is for dyslexia later that day. Still nothing.
Not sure if I'm being unreasonable but all I want to know is what the school can do to support him. I'm not expecting them to give him his own TA or buy specialist equipment.

They are rated Ofsted excellent and have always thought them to be brilliant but I'm a bit dejected that they've not even responded to my emails and no one has phoned for a quick chat.

I'm willing to be told I'm expecting to much but all I want to know is how we can all work together to help DS.

Can you get a meeting in with the SENCO - it's probably best to discuss this face to face!

At this time of year, the SENCO may be quite busy. I would give it a few more days before chasing again.

I think waiting 10 working days (the SENCO might be part time so less than that) is not too bad.

Maybe try to reframe: well done you because the stats on dyslexic kids leaving secondary school, let alone primary without a diagnosis are staggering. If it takes a few months to get the support in place then while ideally it would be faster, you have to work with school, not against it.

In the meantime, there's a lot that can be done at home in terms of supporting your son's self esteem - talking about his strengths rather than weaknesses, finding ways that work for him to do homework, listening to audiobooks, getting equipment to use at home that was recommended in the report. I recommend googling Dyslexic Thinking for helping you think about the skills that your DS may have due to his dyslexia.

Thanks so much. You are right, I need to give them more time to read the report and respond. They are a fab school to be fair and the staff are wonderful. I think I'm just anxious for DS.
I've definitely started doing even more with DS and he seems receptive to everything g we are trying.