Year 9 options stress!

[thornrose]

Sorry in advance, this is a bit of a self pitying rant.

My dd has Aspergers and dyspraxia. I would say she has moderate to severe LD's mainly due to poor memory, processing issues and poor organisation.

It is options time and I'm just despairing she has a "score" of 17 which puts her in the lowest possible category for GCSE passes.

It is very likely she has dyscalculia too and her Maths is probably the equivalent of a year 2 child.

I'm just panicking about where she will fit into the adult world. How the hell will she get a job? She has no "special interest", tbh she has no real interests at all except singing.

She has an awareness of the importance of GCSE's but I don't think she full understands her limitations which is great in a way but I fear that will change over the next couple of years.

I just feel that she has so many barriers it's going to be such a struggle for her. I'm really struggling to find any positives right now.

Hi.

I share some of your worries. What next? being my biggy.

D2 is 15 and doing GCSEs this year. She has target grades of Bs and Cs but got Fs and Gs in her mocks. I'm not holding out much hope of her leaving school with much.

She's planning on going to college next year to do BTEC media or photography. No idea what after that.

Have you looked at foundation level maths?

I'm meeting with her form tutor and SENCO next week. I couldn't face the normal Options evening. They might have some suggestions.

I'll ask about Foundation level maths, thanks. I'm disappointed that she has to do English Lang and Lit. She'll find English Lit really hard as her comprehension skills are very poor.

She is so articulate and bright. We have some great conversations and you'd never guess she had any LD. I think she'll "come into her own" a bit later in life.

Check with them about what access arrangements will be but in place for here during exams , her grade might improve if she giving answer verbally to a scribe .
They can do assessments now to see what she would be allowed during exams , so could with this do better than you think especially in subjects she likes and understands .

Great advice thanks. I work in a primary school and often scribe for Year 6 in their SATS it hadn't occurred to me that this could be possible.

I might be late to add to this thread but ensure your child sees a Careers Adviser in school. If they have a statement of special needs in particular they should be made a priority and the school should make necessary arrangements. What they choose in year 9 could have quite a bearing on what they can do once they leave school.

Even if your child has choosen their options but not started year 10 yet, make arrangements through the school.

Sorry just to add, make sure it's a qualified impartial Careers Adviser, not just some teacher or person from a business etc.

Hi, I'm new here but I just noticed this.
My DD has ADHD, ASD and discalculia and school have suggested that in years 10 and 11 she attends college.
School will ensure she will study soMe GCSE's but will have 2 days a week where she can attend college to do an NVQ. I hope that this will provide her with the best possible chances of leaving school with so e chances.