dyslexia

[kensworth]

Our son of 13 is dyslexic ( it runs in our family).We are battling with his school to get him statemented.They say he is happy at school and making progress!!!!!! reading age 9 years spelling age 5. Every few weeks i am on the phone trying to get him help in class and still nothing. Yesterday we were told he needs to work out his own coping stratergies!!! he has only just learnt to tie his own shoe laces!!!!! literally. He gets no help in lessons although there are LSA staff in some lessons ( told he should just ask them for help but that is not him he needs to be told in black and white that they are there for him .The school said oh didnt know he was like that!!!!)When he has tests he is put down forms because he cant answer the question and again the school say oh yes we should have given him a reader but we didnt .HELP this is driving us to distraction

Get hold of a copy of the SEN code of practice.

Funding reduces as children move up through the Key stages. Schools are less inclined to put in support.

Does he get no intervention at all? What about an IEP?

Ask the governing body for a copy of the school SEN policy. Some schools have it on their websites.

Ask the SENCO to do a round robin to get teacher feedback on your son which should highlight his teachers concerns. Make sure you get the original copies not condensed feedback.

Kick up a fuss, take notes of everything that is said to you. Become a PITA. Apply for a statement.

What progress has he made in regards to his NC levels while he has been at high school?

It is very hard to get a statement for dyslexia. And not clear from your post whether or not he needs it.

You definitely don't need a statement to get a reader in exams....

With a reading age of 9 at 13 I think it is highly unlikely you'd be able to get a statement (although all LEAs vary and I'm only an expert in battling my LEA...) - But if he has made absolutely no progress at all in the last year you might qualify.

Has he been assessed by the school EP? If you can get him assessed by the school EP they will recommend strategies which the school pretty much have to put in place. If you get an independent EP report I don't think the school has to follow their recommendations..... (Again, I may be wrong, but this is my understanding)

So, I think I would put all my battle energy into trying to get him assessed by the school EP and to getting him a reader / writer as needed.

Ring Parent Partnership for advice specific to your LEA.....

hi he is making slow progress about 1 month each year. He has seen an EP who wrote a full report with ideas straegies ect Unfortunatly the school have ignored it!!!DS is not good at putting himself forward and unless the school tell him what he can have he would never ask (not like his mum!!)The SENCO says he just has to work out what strategies ect work for him and get on withit

1 month a year!

Then you should def apply for a statement.

Was the EP report private or did the school commission it? Either way you need to be the biggest PITA mum and make them implement the strategies.

You can apply for a statement yourself. Go to the Ipsea website and send off their model letter - today.

Also - can you change school? This one sounds totally crap.....

Hi , my daughter is dyslexic and i have found it impossible to get her the help she needs so am trying to start up a group for parents in the same or similar situations here is my link
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/1139385-Dyslexia-support-group please contact me if you are interested x