[SENco-forum] Computerized Assessments for post 16 year

Of course dyslexia should be picked up & supported as soon as possible.

Sink or swim is not the usual criteria for deciding  SEN support for
physical or learning disabilities.

 'Well he is exhausted, but managing on crutches so we don't have to bother
with putting in ramps for a wheelchair' is a statement that most would find
disgraceful.  Same goes for undiagnosed dyslexics - they are not coping or
achieving - they are exhausted most of the time, as are their families.

The brighter the child with dyslexia the quicker they pick up their own
strategies -where does that leave the rest!   Even then the bright ones get
slower and slower until they finally grind to halt (at best), drop out of
education demoralised, have poorer life chances and at the extreme end
commit suicide. OK we can all find success stories of the one that made it
to uni - whoopee!  For the 1 that makes it loads do not.

It beggars belief that we cannot have a system that supports each child to
their potential be they in the bottom 20% with dyslexia or the top 20% with
dyslexia.   Behavioural problems are a barrier to learning, teachers not
teaching in a dyslexia friendly manner are a barrier to learning.  Dyslexia
is a disability.

There is no reason why a child cannot have MLD /IQ of 85 and dyslexia and
supporting each SEN is not mutually exclusive, but best done by supporting
in a dyslexia friendly way. No amount of over learning is going to bring
results if the student is not 'hearing/seeing' what you are trying to teach
in the first place.

Tempting though it is to leave the above average with dyslexia on the
grounds that they are kind of average, 'coping' or 'achieving' the COP and
DDA laws are there to protect all equally, not as LA's would like on a
'first come first serve' basis starting with those registering below the
bottom 2% until the money runs out, or platitudes ' look how much they are
achieving on their own, or blackmail-'well we have lots of children worst of
than yours' basis.

The only reason not to bother screening is if you do not have the expertise
to support efficiently (cost & effectiveness basis). Training of teachers is
what really needs addressing if anything is ever going to change beyond
slapping on a sticking plaster.

Not knocking SENco's, but the education system.    Being stuck in it and
fighting it for 15 years, with another 10 years to go (for my children) and
another 10 before retirement is sucking my will to live!

Sharon Tringham  SpLD Tutor & exhausted mother of 4 with high IQ/dyslexia

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