My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

SEN

IEP, how do I ask for Dyslexia assessment?

4 replies

Sleepshmeep · 25/06/2013 12:41

DS1 (yr1, 7 in Sept) has just been put on IEP for not making enough progress with reading and writing, after having had extra support (daily reading) since Christmas.

He is very sharp and has always been ahead with a large vocabulary, good cognition and understanding. He is doing well and confident in Maths. He is lacking confidence in reading and writing, and being particularly reluctant and easily distracted at present, with some flat out "no's" at school, which is unusual for him. School think it is just a confidence thing, and want him to have 1:1 support next year. On reflection from first meeting with teacher I am wondering if there may be elements of dyslexia and would like to have him tested (not yet discussed with school), but not sure how to go about this.

My reasons are that I've noticed he often memorises the story, rather than reading the words, has some kind of short term memory issue with spotting HF words in a sentence (also flagged up by teacher).

He does mix sounds in some multi-syllabic words and still gets letters round the wrong way (very noticably in his name).

Other aspects which might be indicators but not associated with reading include; being completely unable to tie shoe laces and difficulty still with knife and fork (holds knife in left hand, struggles to use properly). He has a need to understand WHY to do anything he is asked, is a perfectionist (fears failure) and is wise beyond his years.

He has low-self esteem, says he feels like he is rubbish, and very aware that he is not at the same level as his friends, which is concerning me and I'm wondering if an assessment (private?) now might enable us to get him some support over the summer so he doesn't feel quite so behind starting the new year.

Any thoughts and ideas welcome, we are near Brighton if anyone can recommend an agency or psych.

TIA

OP posts:
Report
granny1933 · 28/06/2013 17:58

Hi Sleepshmeep
understand where you are coming from it is just like listening to the last 12 months (plus )to my grandson age 8
I would advise you to take your child for a private assessment to the dyslexia association we paid £450 but it was the best money spent
Also look on the pc for the dyspraxia association
My grandson was found to be suffering with both and we have been fighting to get him help private as the school as not been helpful
We have a good GP and we went down that road and are now at the stage getting tuition from dyslexia action where we had him tested
I wish you all the best and hope you get all the help needed
my heart goes out to the parents that are fighting and hitting their head on brick walls
BUT ALSO TO THE KIDS

Report
Badgers5 · 30/06/2013 16:46

I can recommend the Helen Arkell Centre which we used for my DD.

Report
Sleepshmeep · 02/07/2013 17:20

Thank you both for your replies and recommendations Smile

I was beginning to wonder if I was being over-sensitive and worrying about nothing there!

Hope you are both getting the support needed for your GDS/DD. Also hoping very much things are different now than when I was growing up in the 80s (relative not diagnosed until very late, lots of associated behaviour issues taken into adulthood).

Both Dyslexia Action and Helen Arkell Centre sound good, thank you. I will make enquiries.

OP posts:
Report
Copthallresident · 04/07/2013 15:37

Another vote for Helen Arkyll. There are certainly strong enough indications of a problem to get tested. Don't get your hopes up though. My DDs have had minimal support in school. Teachers frequently don't understand and pay lip service to actually doing anything. DD2 did get a programme from an SEN teacher at school in Year 2 which we worked through at home and school, learning the basic rules of phonics and endlessly practising letter formation until we got her up to the average for reading writing and spelling but that allowed subsequent primary teachers to deny she has a problem, seemingly oblivious to her problems with memory, processing and speed versus her ability. It has been a little better in secondary but really about ensuring they have coping strategies and extra time in exams. They have both achieved but not without a lot of extra support at home.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.