GCSE Maths - dyscalculia

[jojo28]

Hi,

My son has dyscalculia and dyslexia. His main problem is his working memory. When he is working with his tutor, he can do the work as she acts as a guide and, in a way, his working memory, talking him through the steps and keeping him on track.

Take that away, and he is lost! He is still on level 1, and the school expects me to believe he will pass his GCSE in a year despite making very little progress over the last year.

I am still trying to figure out what to do. Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a way through? The poor kid is stressed about failing maths and having to re-sit. He is feeling a bit hopeless.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Going from a grade 1 to a grade 4 in a year is unlikely. A grade 1 is a level 1 pass whereas a grade 4 is a level 2 pass.

Does DS have all the exam access arrangements he needs?

Other than the tutor, is DS receiving any support?

He has access arrangements but is not receiving much support in school. No interventions, maybe just the odd bit of attention from a TA in class. He tells me he often just sits there not knowing how to progress, waiting to get help.

I fully understand that the school cannot always provide for everyones needs, but I wish they would at least recognise there is a problem and give me some advice.

I am not sure how to get the school to give him a bit more help - they have his Ed Psych report. It was done when he was 10, I wonder if I need him assessed again.

I would start with requesting a meeting with the SENCO again.

You could look at Numbershark. Some of the tasks will be young for DS, but some will be suitable and it works well for some with SEN.

I know this is a bit of an old thread but how are you getting on @jojo28 ? My DS has probable dyscalculia but we can't get him assessed except privately and I can't really afford it because it wasn't clear whether any support would be offered for GCSE if we did. (DS almost definitely doesn't have dyslexia, for him the problem is just maths.) We are looking at a failed GCSE and more stress for DS. I try to get him help but school have not really done much - the teaching which works for others doesn't for him. The SENCO wasn't much help either. That said, he has had some lovely teachers (as well as one who bullied him for asking questions or not being able to do the work...).

I am just trying to take the pressure off with the maths GCSE. I haven't got him a tutor (I'd need someone who understood dyscalculia and I don't know where to find one). I try to get him to do a few questions every day and make sure that it's not when he's tired (he actually passes out when shown numbers sometimes). Can you just say that he can resit and it's not big deal? I presume your DS is doing foundation level.