Extra help for GGD in school

It would be interesting if the OP came back as this thread was started last summer.

I would say your granddaughter's parents need to start pushing now for assessment . Leave her in the school where she is for the moment but after she had been assessed [it might take years} then you need to see that the school can fulfil what the assessment suggests.
Not only dyslexia comes to my mind and the cause needs to be diagnosed.
You could also try going down the Medical route and initially take her to your GP.
If or when the school cannot give the support needed which many cannot these days, then you step in with your money and find somewhere or someone who can.

Please check out the Dyslexia Institute website. My girls attended weekly sessions at the local branch. One went early, missing school assembly, while the other missed a late afternoon games lesson. Obviously there was a cost.
Their website gives addresses/numbers for all the branches throughout the country.

This thread is one of those gransnet at its best discussions. So many of us with experience of dyslexia in our own children and grandchildren.
My 7 years old grandson is creative, athletic, friendly and happy at school. It’s becoming clear that he’s dyslexic like his mum. It’s such a relief to know his school recognise this. I had a real struggle 30 years ago getting any teacher to recognise his mum’s dyslexia.

Cuts to school budgets have meant children with SEN are not always getting the help they are entitled to - fewer SEN staff or TAs, so I would keep an eye on the provision she is actually getting. Secondary school may be more of a problem - I know of two children with SEN whose parents have recently withdrawn them from secondary school as they were so unhappy, bullied and not getting any support. One switched schools and the other is being home educated. If the child is happy at primary school yes, leave her with private tuition if needed, but investigate the SEN provision at the chosen secondary.

If, as you say, the child is happy and fulfilled where she is, why risk imposing what would be a major change to her routine, which would involve moving away from friends and from all that she is comfortable with? I think you've already come to that conclusion, and are just looking for some reassurance. Don't worry, as your instincts are right.

I would wait until change to senior school, some private schools specialize in learning difficulties, expensive but can make a big difference

As a dyslexia specialist I would agree with those who say you should leave your DGD where she is happy. And encourage her with her out of school activities. I would also suggest you look into private tuition in your area. If her reading is poor for her age a good tutor should be able to help her develop her reading skills. This will improve her access to all school subjects and reduce the chance of her falling behind.

I don't think she has had an assessment with a title to it - there was some reason why it wasn't recommended at the time - but extra help has been arranged and she has been given some additional learning aids which she is enjoying. Her mum and dad will keep monitoring it but as everyone says being happy is important - and she is.

Meg

GagaJo
Totally agree, my sons special needs teacher was wonderful, they liked each other and she cared about him.
I know we will always owe her so much.

My oldest granddaughter has quite severe dyslexia as does her Dad. She’s currently studying sports science at university. Her mum had to fight the schools both here and in NZ for help. She’s doing fine but it took a while for her confidence to build up as she thought she wasn’t clever.

If your GDG is happy at school I’d be leaving her there.

Sara1954

Glorianny
I agree, dyslexia is very complex, and it affects every school subject, so a lot of help and understanding are needed, it’s certainly not just having trouble with reading.
We had our son assessed and were told he needed several hours extra tuition a week, as he hated school anyway I thought this would be cruel and probably counter productive, I might have made the wrong decision, but I think it’s best not to make too big a deal of it, while making sure she’s getting the help she needs.

I think it's about finding the right tutor. I've tutored children with dyslexia and others who are on the spectrum. I'm not an SEN expert by any means, but have just 'clicked' with some of them. If that happens, it's a learning sweet spot, where it becomes almost a pleasure (not quite, it's still work, but...).

If she is happy why think about moving her? I am the special needs governor at a school and schools are obliged to have clear learning plans for those with special needs, so this will be in place for your DGD.

Having a had a child who was unhappy at school I have to say that it makes the whole family utterly miserable. If she is happy, leave her be.

I have a clever granddaughter, she survived primary school…just…but the wheels really came off in secondary school. Hang fire and keep saving!

Sara1954

Glorianny
I agree, dyslexia is very complex, and it affects every school subject, so a lot of help and understanding are needed, it’s certainly not just having trouble with reading.
We had our son assessed and were told he needed several hours extra tuition a week, as he hated school anyway I thought this would be cruel and probably counter productive, I might have made the wrong decision, but I think it’s best not to make too big a deal of it, while making sure she’s getting the help she needs.

I think you made the right decision. My DS is dyslexic and it took me a long time to realise how hard it was for him to try and concentrate for long periods. He now has a range of software that helps him. I find it amazing that he can recall a great deal of the info he has electronically read to him. I need to see things in print. Their brains just function differently.

Does she have a formal Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)? (They replaced S N Statements.) That tells the family what support she should be receiving in school. If she doesn't have one, that is the first step.
If that doesn't seem to be working, then you paying for a SN tutor out of school might be helpful. Unfortunately how you go about finding one varies from area to area. (Approx £30-£50/hr)
Moving her out of a school where she is settled and happy seems to me to be rather extreme.
My professional opinion is start things rolling asap.

Thanks all. I tended to agree with you all before I even posted. Our side of the family tend towards academia but her father's less so (he was diagnosed as dyslexic as an adult), so it's all a bit unknown to me. I hadn't thought about private schools and their league tables, so thanks for that. I also agree with everyone that happiness is paramount.

I can tell my own little story. Fifty years ago I made friends with one of the Chartered Accountants on my firm's Audit team, working for one of the Big Four companies. She told me she was the eldest of her siblings and had gone to a private school. Her sister had gone to a state grammar school and became a partner in a London estate agency earning twice Sue's salary. Her brother had gone to "secondary modern" and was now a millionaire importing wines around the world. She said he couldn't spell for toffee but he had the gift of the gab!! So confidence means a great deal.

I will hang fire. My DD well knows that if she needs financial help it is there waiting and she and her husband are superb parents and know what's best for their children.

Meg

Glorianny
I agree, dyslexia is very complex, and it affects every school subject, so a lot of help and understanding are needed, it’s certainly not just having trouble with reading.
We had our son assessed and were told he needed several hours extra tuition a week, as he hated school anyway I thought this would be cruel and probably counter productive, I might have made the wrong decision, but I think it’s best not to make too big a deal of it, while making sure she’s getting the help she needs.

I wonder what stage of the assessment she is at? Is she just receiving help in-school or has she been given an EHC? Details about those here www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help
There is a possibility of dyslexia and/or dyspraxia.
Many people think dyslexia is purely to do with literacy but it also can be linked to disorganisation and memory problems in children.
I'd say leave things just now and allow her to have at least a year with whatever help the school provides. Then discuss things with her parents. There may be a time when your financial contribution and some extra tuition will be essential.

My DD had expensive SEN tutoring to help her due to her dyslexia. Her tutor was great, but said most of her work came from private school students who weren't being supported in school.

It was worth it though. She passed her English GCSE. I would have hated to be one of the triple paying parents though (taxes, school fees plus private tuition).

I agree with others to leave your DGD at her current school, she sounds very well balanced and happy. You could always pay for private tuition, but be careful not to conflict with her busy sporting schedule which is giving her self esteem such a boost.
Also, if you pay for her to attend an independent school and it is found that she requires additional help, you will be billed for that on top of the fees.

Special needs is really quite vague, how severe are her problems?
Perhaps at this stage if the parents are concerned you could pay for a private assessment.
If she is excelling at sport could she maybe be good enough for an eventual scholarship?
8 is very young, I would wait and see how she is getting on and reassess at 11.

I agree with Oopsadaisy. Keep her in current school where she's happy and get some private tuition.

Sadly, there is little funding for state school students with SEN these days. But private schools are often not much better for SEN.

Best to find a school where she's happy and top up the learning outside school.

If she is happy then I would let her carry on as she is, if she starts to struggle then maybe step in with an offer to pay for extra tuition?

She sounds a very happy child who has many friends at her school, plus outside interests, I would leave her where she is.

I don’t know how things are in your area, but we seem to have lost all the more affordable independent schools who would certainly have been supportive.
My own son attended one where he received amazing help with dyslexia, I had a friend whose son was given the same diagnosis in the state school system and waited years to get additional help.
I’m obviously talking a long time ago, and you’re little granddaughter doesn’t have dyslexia, but it’s certainly worth looking around.
One of our daughters went to a top school because of her sporting ability, she certainly wasn’t especially academic, but they nurtured her, and she left with very good results.
On the other hand, if her current school can offer the right support, I would give them a chance.
Also, talk to her parents before you do anything.