Need help with letter to school re dd3

[HelensMelons]

Hi Ladies

I need a bit of help with a letter that I have been advised to write to the school about dd3.

Dd3 is currently on an Individual Education Plan moving to Stage 2 in September. She is 7, next birthday 8 so here in NI she is going to go into P4.

She is having problems with numeracy and literacy and when I look over the stuff from last year. She is trying to spell things phonically but I can't understand some of them.

I query ADHD and dyslexia. Her brother dd2 is hfa/adhd with s&L difficulties. I don't know that much about dyslexia, I'm afraid so it's just a guess - she is enthusiastic about doing her work then something doesn't seem to click in when she goes to start it - it's weird but, perhaps someone kwim?

Anyway, that's the background basically. I can't afford a private Ed Psych assessment atm. I have been advised to write to the school requesting that she is seen by Ed Psych in September when they do the visits, etc (which is how it's done here in NI, if school is managing the child then ed psych does nothing further, no statementing, just iep).

Ok, sorry, this is a bit long! I would be keen for her to be assessed and if something comes up that fits my feeling then I would also be keen for her to be statemented.

I am not sure how to word this letter without sounding cheeky but also want to make it clear that I dont just want her name put in with the group of other children and then ignored because the school are "managing" her.

My feeling is she might be 'managed' in primary but thats it.

Many thanks!!!

I'm not very experienced in writing these letters but maybe if I write something it will give you a framework to start with and you can make changes to suit the situation better.

Here goes;

Dear xxxx

As you are aware my daughter xxx is currently receiving support in school via an individual education plan.(plas details of any other support she is receiving).

Whilst we are very appreciative of this support we feel that xxxx has made insufficient progress in her literacy, xxxx and xxxx and we feel that it would be beneficial for her to be assessed by the educational psychologist (add this person's name if you know it) on his/her next visit to the school in September.

We feel that in the next year xxxx will be in need of support which may not be possible for the school to provide from it's own resources and therefore would like the school to consider applying for a statutory assessment of special educational need. We feel that this is necessary in order for our daughter to continue to access her education and progress sufficiently well to fulfil her potential.

I would be grateful for a response by xxxxx in order that I can be reassured that xxxx will be in receipt of appropriate support as soon as is reasonably possible.

Yours Sincerely

xxxx

Thanks very much Al1ison, you sell yourself short, this letter is excellent and pretty much says what I was finding very difficult to say!

Thank you for taking the time to compose this for me, I feel more confident now about approaching the school and getting things sorted for dd3 x

You're very welcome. It's much harder when it's about your own child.

Don't know anything about NI, but you very rarely get a statement for dyslexia here in England. They only person I've every heard of who got one was 5 years behind.

However she should be assessed by the Ed Psych - but not for a statement, just for ideas on how your school can teach her better.

Unfortunately I know lots about dyslexia. Here's my (own opinion of) causes of why children don't learn to read:

1. They haven't been taught very well. If this is true you are lucky because this is easy to fix. You need to do a daily structured phonics program with her. I recommend Dancing Bears or Phono-Graphix. You can do them yourself, you don't need school to help.

2. A vision problem. Research Irlen syndrome. Solved by coloured overlays or coloured glasses.

3. A hearing problem. Not easy to solve.

4. An auditory processing problem. Not easy to solve.

5. Retained reflexes. Easy to solve.

6. Visual Thinker. Read 'Gift of Dyslexia'

Al1son, yes it is much harder when it's your own child and also, I think when I do nothing I can pretend everything is ok - not really looking forward to going down the dx route again!

Thanks also Indigo, I didn't realise that about a statement - it's possible that NI is the same as the rest of the UK but I can check. I suppose a statement may be useful then only in terms of the adhd if she was to get a dx. I haven't heard about Irlen Syndrome and will google that - she recently got glasses so I don't know if there is a coincidence. I will read the book you have recommended as well.

Thanks for being so helpful ladies x