Catch up...

[Tweety1]

When the govt announced ‘no child will be left behind’ I have not seen any evidence of anything ‘extra’ so what did this mean? Are your schools doing anything? If so what are they offering? My DS is struggling with English (mainly spelling) and I thought there would be an extra something. I just can’t believe it’s like ‘business as usual’ and the children are just supposed to catch up on all that lost learning.
If anyone knows of any helpful websites for English/spelling if you could post them
DS is going to high school in a Sept and he is so not ready

[Blue nose]

Apparently there is money available for schools to helps individual kids catch up. My SIL who in education and suggested I specifically ask our high school for DD. I've not done it yet.

For spelling it is all about repetition though. 10 mins every day practicing really makes a difference.

Play games like scrabble, hangman.

Do he read much? Reading really helps with so 10 mins everyday. And then discuss what's been read

We paid for a tutor for DD end of year 5 onwards as she's dyslexic and to see how she came in with 60 minutes a week one to one was amazing.

[jndt]

My youngest is in year 7 now but when he was in a mainstream primary last year he was offered a lesson every Tuesday for 45 mins before school in a group of about 5 (every child had a different day depending on their level) to catch up on the year 5 work they missed in March-July 2020. This was on the whole year except January-March 2021 when we were in lockdown. My son has autism so the change in routine unfortunately meant he didn't go to the extra lessons but he was offered them.

[Geordieprincess]

I have kids in year 7 and 11 so know what is happening in our school in those year groups but not others.

The high school this year ran a one week summer school in the July first week of holidays for the children in year 6 going to the high school in sept. They only invited the children with additional needs, dyslexia, ADHD, autism etc. They did assessments and English/maths lessons in the morning then fun stuff in the afternoon. One of my friend’s sons was invited and he then got a personalised plan out of it (although I don’t know if this plan would’ve happened anyway, but maybe they have more money to fund the help now)

In year 11, they do 1 hour extra after school every night revision in different subjects. Anyone is welcome to go if they think it would be useful to them but some struggling or borderline children are told they have to go. This started in sept and will run until they sit their GCSEs in May. Again, I’m not sure how much of this is available in a normal year 11, but it certainly looks like our school is doing stuff to catch up.

As for help with English/spelling. My son is dyslexic and primary school were not great as he “wasn’t as bad as some other kids” so not a priority. We got a specialist dyslexia tutor for an hour a week. We also used the computer system “Nessy” which helps with phonics and spelling and also times tables and he would do 10-15 mins on this every day. This maybe too simple if your son is not dyslexic and struggles with harder spelling but it might help reinforce the basics. There is both a free and paid for version of nessy. We found the free one a bit glitchy but fine. And definitely reading every day, even if only 10 mins. My son has come on so much that he won’t even tell his individual high school teachers that he’s dyslexic (obviously school knows but it doesn’t filter down to every teacher) and just gets on with it the same as the other kids.

[Tweety1]

Originally Posted by Blue nose

Apparently there is money available for schools to helps individual kids catch up. My SIL who in education and suggested I specifically ask our high school for DD. I've not done it yet.

For spelling it is all about repetition though. 10 mins every day practicing really makes a difference.

Play games like scrabble, hangman.

Do he read much? Reading really helps with so 10 mins everyday. And then discuss what's been read

We paid for a tutor for DD end of year 5 onwards as she's dyslexic and to see how she came in with 60 minutes a week one to one was amazing.

See more...

I’ve asked about that only to be told there is nothing for him! They queried Dyslexia in Y5 (first time anyone mentioned anything) but then the learning support did some tests in school and doesn’t believe it’s dyslexia but then no extra support!? I had an online tutor but now managed to get a face to face which hopefully should help.
Yes I make him read to me everyday and whilst he doesn’t like it he does it and he is improving. I also have him copying from a book trying to improve his speed in writing (for things like copying off the board), neatness and hoping whilst he’s writing his mind remembers the spelling - I don’t even know if this works but I’m trying. Was your DD clearly dyslexic what I mean is would I know? His teacher says no but then why is he struggling?
I just feel sad for him as he’s so keen and bright but just finds this hard. If I’m honest he’s one of the youngest in his year and I was thinking if only he had been born a bit later he would be in Y5 now as I think that extra year would do him the world of good. I don’t think he’s streetwise enough to go to High school he sees no wrong in people and just thinks the world is a nice place (which is lovely but we all know what high school is like)

[Tweety1]

Originally Posted by Geordieprincess

I have kids in year 7 and 11 so know what is happening in our school in those year groups but not others.

The high school this year ran a one week summer school in the July first week of holidays for the children in year 6 going to the high school in sept. They only invited the children with additional needs, dyslexia, ADHD, autism etc. They did assessments and English/maths lessons in the morning then fun stuff in the afternoon. One of my friend’s sons was invited and he then got a personalised plan out of it (although I don’t know if this plan would’ve happened anyway, but maybe they have more money to fund the help now)

In year 11, they do 1 hour extra after school every night revision in different subjects. Anyone is welcome to go if they think it would be useful to them but some struggling or borderline children are told they have to go. This started in sept and will run until they sit their GCSEs in May. Again, I’m not sure how much of this is available in a normal year 11, but it certainly looks like our school is doing stuff to catch up.

As for help with English/spelling. My son is dyslexic and primary school were not great as he “wasn’t as bad as some other kids” so not a priority. We got a specialist dyslexia tutor for an hour a week. We also used the computer system “Nessy” which helps with phonics and spelling and also times tables and he would do 10-15 mins on this every day. This maybe too simple if your son is not dyslexic and struggles with harder spelling but it might help reinforce the basics. There is both a free and paid for version of nessy. We found the free one a bit glitchy but fine. And definitely reading every day, even if only 10 mins. My son has come on so much that he won’t even tell his individual high school teachers that he’s dyslexic (obviously school knows but it doesn’t filter down to every teacher) and just gets on with it the same as the other kids.

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Wow yes your school does seem to offering help. I asked his Y6 teacher and said I know there is funding, he went away to see if anything available and came back and said no. Tbh if I ask him to write a story his spelling isn’t great and what you said about primary ‘he’s not as bad as others’ is the same for my DS. I asked where he was academically in his class and they said the middle - but his level for English is only to minimum requirements(level 4) because his speaking is good. I think his spelling is level 3. I’m just so frustrated that they have a child that is clearly struggling but they can’t offer any help.
He has used Nessy before (online tutor) but I will get this myself (he’s having face to face from next week). Is the paid for one much better though as I will get him that? Is Nessy for Dyslexia then?I just wish I knew whether it was Dyslexia as then I can get the help he needs. How do you find this out as like I said on another post the school have said they don’t think he’s Dyslexic! I assume then with your son he’s not in a learning support set (my biggest fear is him being picked on or teased for this) Any help or guidance I would really appreciate
Thank you

[Blue nose]

Originally Posted by Tweety1

I’ve asked about that only to be told there is nothing for him! They queried Dyslexia in Y5 (first time anyone mentioned anything) but then the learning support did some tests in school and doesn’t believe it’s dyslexia but then no extra support!? I had an online tutor but now managed to get a face to face which hopefully should help.
Yes I make him read to me everyday and whilst he doesn’t like it he does it and he is improving. I also have him copying from a book trying to improve his speed in writing (for things like copying off the board), neatness and hoping whilst he’s writing his mind remembers the spelling - I don’t even know if this works but I’m trying. Was your DD clearly dyslexic what I mean is would I know? His teacher says no but then why is he struggling?
I just feel sad for him as he’s so keen and bright but just finds this hard. If I’m honest he’s one of the youngest in his year and I was thinking if only he had been born a bit later he would be in Y5 now as I think that extra year would do him the world of good. I don’t think he’s streetwise enough to go to High school he sees no wrong in people and just thinks the world is a nice place (which is lovely but we all know what high school is like)

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My DD was like that going to high school and seeing no harm anywhere. Her year 6 ended in lockdown so a really difficult start to year 7. The high school should be good with support, like PP said most do extra stuff to get them ready

As for dyslexia has a read on the British Dyslexia Society website. Lots of info there.

I spotted DD in year 2 but I make reasonable adjustments for adults at work so familiar with the signs. Things like B's and Ds the wrong way round, not knowing left/right, obviously struggle with spelling

Dyslexia affects 1 in 10 and runs in families. Does either parents have any signs?
Another one is Visual Stress/Mears Irlens this is when coloured overlays help. A local optician near me in Northwich tests for this at £40 inc eye test. DD doesn't have it but helped stop the school from forcing coloured paper.

A simple one has he had a sight test recently? My stance with school was I'd cover all the basics so I knew it was a schooling issue.

I wouldn't worry about copying writing for now. DD has handouts. Due to her dyslexia she cannot copy off the board, she needs her finger in the text to stop it moving.

We used Nessy too. It was really good for about 4 months then got boring but helped teach her to type.

To help with reading can he have an audio book and follow along with the written one. Do you still read to him? Maybe take turns to keep it fun and easy. DD has read the Alex Rider books and we're now watching the TV series.

[ScoopsAhoy]

I would’ve thought with their sats coming up they’d be offering more help.
My dd is also in year 6 but her issue is with maths, she was doing well before but since covid she’s been struggling so they’ve been putting on maths ‘boosters’ before school 3 times a week for those who need it.
Have you thought of a tutor? Some of those online are much cheaper than in person.
I know it’s not ideal but we considered this before we found out about the extra maths help.
Edit- sorry just saw you’ve mentioned tutor.

[Geordieprincess]

Originally Posted by Tweety1

Wow yes your school does seem to offering help. I asked his Y6 teacher and said I know there is funding, he went away to see if anything available and came back and said no. Tbh if I ask him to write a story his spelling isn’t great and what you said about primary ‘he’s not as bad as others’ is the same for my DS. I asked where he was academically in his class and they said the middle - but his level for English is only to minimum requirements(level 4) because his speaking is good. I think his spelling is level 3. I’m just so frustrated that they have a child that is clearly struggling but they can’t offer any help.
He has used Nessy before (online tutor) but I will get this myself (he’s having face to face from next week). Is the paid for one much better though as I will get him that? Is Nessy for Dyslexia then?I just wish I knew whether it was Dyslexia as then I can get the help he needs. How do you find this out as like I said on another post the school have said they don’t think he’s Dyslexic! I assume then with your son he’s not in a learning support set (my biggest fear is him being picked on or teased for this) Any help or guidance I would really appreciate
Thank you

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I repeatedly asked my school from year 2 to 4 if he was dyslexic. He failed his year 1 phonics test and year 2 SATS were only just a pass. They repeatedly told me as a boy and a May birthday he was just young and would catch up and there were other kids much worse. The teachers said he was really bright and if they had ofsted in they would want him at the front of the class answering the questions. He usually got 9 or 10 out of 10 in spelling tests. At the end of year 4 they sent his books home and I shocked at how awful his spelling was. If he wrote a story he would spell the same word differently within a sentence. The one that sticks in my mind was played, plaid, plaed where he kind of knew the phonics to get the “ai” sound but used them all. At this point I got a free consultation at dyslexia action, showed them his books, and they said he was a classic case and the very fact he was orally bright and writing poor should have rang alarm bells with the school. We had him tested £500 later the report showed while he was up there on the 80th percentile for knowledge problem solving etc but his reading writing spelling he was 10-15th percentile. Once we presented the report to primary school they gave him 3 x 30 mins a week one on one where he went out to do reading/phonics with a teaching assistant. However, it was the first thing to drop if anything else was going on in school, teacher absence, school trips etc.
2 years of a personal tutor, we did nessy and also a book called toe by toe, both just 10-15 mins a night. He got extra time in year 6 SATS but turned down the reader as it was off putting. When he went to high school he didn’t want extra support, he doesn’t even want extra time in his exams as he doesn’t want to be different. I’ve sat at parents evening to hear German and french teachers say his oral is great but spelling terrible, said well it’s no surprise as he’s dyslexic and can’t spell in English, to which the teachers have been surprised and said that explains a lot and he’s kicked me under the table because he doesn’t want anyone to know.
The paid for nessy was a bit less glitchy like they can collect gems and on the free one they would sometimes disappear but the paid for one they didn’t. The free one was fine though. School had the paid for one which he was allowed to use after his dyslexic report. It was the programme Dyslexia Action recommended too.
Good luck. It was an awful time for us in years 4-6 with worry about high school but he’s thriving now and on course to get good gcse grades and has every teacher wanting him for A level. Never thought he’d be in this position 5-6 years ago.

[Tweety1]

Originally Posted by Blue nose

My DD was like that going to high school and seeing no harm anywhere. Her year 6 ended in lockdown so a really difficult start to year 7. The high school should be good with support, like PP said most do extra stuff to get them ready

As for dyslexia has a read on the British Dyslexia Society website. Lots of info there.

I spotted DD in year 2 but I make reasonable adjustments for adults at work so familiar with the signs. Things like B's and Ds the wrong way round, not knowing left/right, obviously struggle with spelling

Dyslexia affects 1 in 10 and runs in families. Does either parents have any signs?
Another one is Visual Stress/Mears Irlens this is when coloured overlays help. A local optician near me in Northwich tests for this at £40 inc eye test. DD doesn't have it but helped stop the school from forcing coloured paper.

A simple one has he had a sight test recently? My stance with school was I'd cover all the basics so I knew it was a schooling issue.

I wouldn't worry about copying writing for now. DD has handouts. Due to her dyslexia she cannot copy off the board, she needs her finger in the text to stop it moving.

We used Nessy too. It was really good for about 4 months then got boring but helped teach her to type.

To help with reading can he have an audio book and follow along with the written one. Do you still read to him? Maybe take turns to keep it fun and easy. DD has read the Alex Rider books and we're now watching the TV series.

See more...

Aww thank you for all this information. There is no history of Dyslexia and we have been out for a walk today and we were doing times tables and spelling words which he really enjoyed.
We take it in turns to read and I can see an improvement and he reads well but I wouldn’t say he’s a fluid reader (if that makes sense) and sometimes he pops his own word in as it makes more sense . I do make him go back and then when he relooks he reads it. He also mixes up the ‘th’sound so for example he would say thought with an f. We work on this all the time and when he says it and I look at him he remembers and says it correctly. He’s such a little people pleaser and I do worry about him going to High school more so that he’s a boy as he’s not really a tough and tumble type of boy! Hopefully all will be fine - I think we worry more he’s quite excited.