Anyone had experience of dyslexia support in secondary schools in Bolton, Greater Manchester

[neverenoughtimemum]

Hi - My son is currently in Year 4. Last year we had an assessment at Dyslexia Action and they confirmed he has Dyslexia. We've been paying for tution there for the last 12 months which is helping. He's currently on school action at school.

Has anyone any experience of any secondary schools in the Bolton or Bury area regarding dyslexia support? I'm trying to work out where would be best for my son. When he was assessed it confirmed our suspicions that he is bright with an IQ of 126. I'm nervous about sending him to a school that is really pushy academically if they're not going to support him.

We've been looking at faith schools like Canon Slade in Bolton and Bury Church of England in Bury but don't know any other parents in our situation and not sure after going to the open days at the schools

Any advice would be really helpful.

I think the school should be judged on it's SENCo. If you feel that this person has their finger on the pulse and can give you a good idea of how they intend to support your child through the academic and the emotional stuff take this as your guide.

Does your dyslexia tutor have students from any of these schools?

Thanks for the good advice.
I've spoken to the special needs department of one of the schools but wasn't very impressed. Didn't mention about coming out to my sons primary school or getting information about him prior to him starting. Most of what they did say didn't make me think they knew very much about supporting dyslexics.

I plan to visit a few schools again this year.

I would be wary of sending him to Canon Slade and Bury Church (personal experience at Bury Church), St James in Farnworth has just had it's Ofsted and got Outstanding - which I believe in part was down to it's tackling of SEN, well worth looking at (as we are for our DS2).
Also it would be interesting to see what happens with St Catherines having spent all that cash on the academy will they fill it with rubbish staff and harm the reputation still further? - our Primary SENCO seems to think it may be worth thinking about. But of all the schools, if you are in catchment, is Turton apparently.
Feel free to PM if you want to discuss offline

The ds of one of my colleagues is dyslexic and goes to Canon Slade. I think they've been fairly happy with it, but the primary he went to was absolutely hopeless! I get the impression that the pastoral care hasn't been all it could be, though.