Query

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Can an LEA 'decide' that a known condition doesn't exist there by not having to deal with it?

I ask as my mates DS2 (8) has all the signs for dyslexia, he is still unable to read (tho if the question is read to him he can almost always complete the task) and the LEA deem dyslexia as a non condition.

The have mentioned a statement, 10 hrs outside the class room 'help' such as writing in sand! he is 8, they have in theory been 'helping' him unofficially in this way since he started school.

No tehy can't, its called a balnket policy and is illegal but they often try it

Social Services Depts OTOH can do this, ours has with AS.

What would your friend like him to receive? TBH 10 hours as per a statement is quite high for dyslexia (my own son gets that for AS), you would need a pretty decent set of reports to get mroe- statements are like golddut. Plus, even if you ask for more you would have to start with applying for that statement.

youll get mroe info in the SEN section (most dyslexia- dealing with parents stay there) but for info you may wish to start with:

(all these are googleable)

IPSEA

Dyscovery centre- centre in Newport dealing with SEN, veryn good but not cheap

BIBIC as above but less pecialist for dyslexia (although they do have trained therapists in the firld), much cheaper

the latter two are useful in terms of deciding wjhat is needed and geting those crucial reports

its also common for LEAs not to fund diagnostic assessments: ds1 and ds2 are both deemed dyslexic by teh LEA but to have an actual formal dx we would need to go private

The thing is she would rather they just teach him in a way which means he can learn.

The SENCO is useless (as noted by the head) and no-one has dyslexic training, she knows as was a TA herself to a SN child for 3 yrs there.

She isn;t looking for more than then the 10 hrs they have mentioned if a statement goes ahead, just that the 'proposed' help would be worthless.

Hmm, oyu are going to have a battle for her there. A statement can contain stuff about teaching methods though, such as the use of X Y and Z techniques- for example the ds's mention use of visual cues in them and the statement is legally binding.

I would definitely encourage her to satrt with BIBIC then, they do a 2-3 day assessment (can occasionally be one but thats decided between parents and dstaff and complete lots and lots of stuff on learning styles etc. I think it's £50, used to be hunderds but its funded apart from admin now.

Do get ehr to look at the IPSEA website and speak to them but have seen parents of very severely autistic children battle for a specific teaching methiod to be given a blanket no, at the elast she is going to ahve to go to tribunal I'd expect, but until the statemnt ahs been prepared she cant do much.

Thank you, it is startling reading the IPSEA site and how they have/are using SA+ & IEP in the incorrect manner.

Sadly nnot unsusual in schools; teachers get about 1/2 a day terqaching on all teh different variations of SN (not a joke, my Prof used to run the element at the local Uni) and it ahs one of the highest non attendance rates of all; I personally think attendance at teh very elast, preferably withj much mroe scheduled in, should be compulsory for practising as a teacher.

SENCO's need no further quals; thefirst one we encountered didn't beleive in autism (WTF?) and the seocnd was appointed becuase her Uncle got to make the appts tis all crap