tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80875925254040711852024-03-14T09:03:37.404+00:00Matthew's Dyslexic Experiences in the Educational System (A Diary)This is the journey of Matthew, 12 years old who has dyslexia and attempts to get a proper education through the UK school system. In our attempt to help him included treatment at the Dore Centre.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-68654182358047494322024-03-13T14:04:00.001+00:002024-03-13T14:04:55.464+00:00BEng(Hons) Marrhew passed his BEng(Hons) with a 2.1 -May 2023 we are all over the moon! He
has been an apprentice for 5yrs, his degree was done via higher apprenticeship
scheme congrats to him
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7v_s_Q0mtiKtCNtFD6hAClUFQMkc7xj2f1OzD2YHJqI9eM3xxf0GbePrBB-CG4qkWvApnYPOiC4nJrMebTzawabXiAdptHOao2VvpxGF2vjbCosqEwlWUn_Ljt8gFqd99p_-AtcMBuj5FKpTBlvIIeNZ_ycNh7wK5LLbTS651Z8dAhfXKPZs-7aK525D/s4032/IMG_4323.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7v_s_Q0mtiKtCNtFD6hAClUFQMkc7xj2f1OzD2YHJqI9eM3xxf0GbePrBB-CG4qkWvApnYPOiC4nJrMebTzawabXiAdptHOao2VvpxGF2vjbCosqEwlWUn_Ljt8gFqd99p_-AtcMBuj5FKpTBlvIIeNZ_ycNh7wK5LLbTS651Z8dAhfXKPZs-7aK525D/s320/IMG_4323.jpeg"/></a></div>Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-35853279738113547022014-03-15T10:12:00.001+00:002014-03-15T10:12:37.097+00:00Quick UpdateHi everyone, haven't been updating for ages, but all is good here. Matthew continues to do well. he has had some GCSE modules in 2013. A* in all his sciences. C in English language and half unit RE. This January 2014 he gained an A in Physics module and a B in English Lit module. All continuing well despite being a teenager! his year we have his GCSEs- yikes.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-10775206503600423762012-07-11T17:12:00.001+01:002012-07-11T17:12:22.433+01:00Top boy in Maths for setY1Matthew had a really good mark in Maths and the teacher announced he was the top boy in the class. He worked hard although he does really love maths. Science marks were also excellent, so he's been accepted on the triple science course. <br />
He's getting his sets tomorrow for next year he hopes to move up a set from 3 to 2 for his languages/RE/English set. All going well, still have the old problems with spelling grammar and punctuation. Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-10889418405144847172012-03-14T17:45:00.003+00:002012-03-14T18:05:29.711+00:00Cats June 2011The cognitive abilty tests raised their heads again last June, we weren't given the results this time and I felt best not to ask and they could be lower.<br />However this week I was given them.<br />Verbal 98 (5th Stanine)<br />Quantatative 119 (8th Stanine) top 11%<br />Non Verbal 128 (9th Stanine) top 3%<br /><br />So it seems Matthew has a very high abilty for Non verbal reasoning and above average ability for Quantitative reasoning.<br /><br />I think at last people (teachers) can see what I've been going on about all this time. I just want him to have the opportunities he deserves.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-74889471558999180442012-03-14T17:42:00.001+00:002012-03-14T17:44:56.540+00:00Laptop!Today Matthew took his laptop to school for the first time. Didn't get a chance to use it but he has the permission to use it. We still need to improve his speed, but you have to start somewhere.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-2716523331953723662012-02-05T12:42:00.000+00:002012-02-15T12:47:35.764+00:00Biology End of Unit Assessment100% in the Digestion Unit!<br />What can I say!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-13521710830006860632012-02-05T12:37:00.001+00:002012-02-15T12:45:09.634+00:00Spanish Assessments20/20 in oral test- 8 sentences to be learnt on "Holidays", using your own vocabulary for more marks.<br />39/40 in written test.<br />Estupendos Matthew!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-25249792551981440362012-01-21T14:18:00.003+00:002012-02-15T12:46:33.451+00:00Parents EveningHad a good parent's evening, nothing new learnt really. <br /><br />Matthew's is working at Level 5a/6c currently for English. If he can get to L6b by end of KS3 I will be over the moon! His target is L5, so fingers crossed. <br /><br />Maths no problems there, they had a maths test that morning, he scored 92% with the class average being 78%! Brill. <br /><br />Science - good marks for tests and homework, physics teacher says he always does well in the tests "somehow" but is disorganised in class. Biology/chemistry teacher pleased with him slightly better at Chemistry than Biology, I asked about him doing triple science next year she said its highly competitive and there are only 60 places! Personally I can't see a problem he is in the top half of the class on the whole. <br /><br />Spanish in the top few of the class, the class is mixed ability and the work is differentiated. I did tell her that Math is thinking of taking it as an option she said he should get a C at least. <br /><br />Geography- teacher wants him in his Geography class next year as was going to twist him arm if he was not considering doing it as an option. <br /><br />ICT teacher -a substitute- but I was really impressed with him even though he looked really young, he was a very enthusiastic teacher and was exceptionally pleased with Math's progress since he had taken over class.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-76306313841376927862012-01-16T18:11:00.001+00:002012-01-16T18:12:38.835+00:00Good School Year so far.Math has had a good Yr 9 so far. Keeping up with the set 1 work with no problems. <br />
Set 3 work is also going well, but we have little idea how his English is coming along. <br />
One thing has changed is his expected levels. At the end of last school year all levels were a L5 apart from maths which was given a N/A! This last autumn term all levels have shifted to L6 apart from English and RE. He is due to meet or exceed these targets apart from History which he may not get a L6 in. Not concerned about history as he has no plans to take it for GCSE. <br />
We have a parents evening on Thurs so looking forward to that. Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-68814814183001106662011-07-18T23:21:00.002+01:002011-07-18T23:25:28.339+01:00Set 1 for Maths & ScienceSuccess at last, the school has realised Matthew's potential and put him up to top set for maths and science. He came 10th out of 211 (top 5%)in his maths exam so together with his assessment results throughout the year he qualifies- YayMath's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-54710349222332646452011-07-07T14:11:00.006+01:002011-07-07T14:37:33.850+01:00Senco meetingWe have a Senco meeting next Tues, to discuss the IEP, and progress, I spoke to him briefly this afternoon. He also said we can modify things?!<br />The SENCo who is also a Math teacher had congratulated Matthew on his Math's result - during dinner break in the dinner queue- very embarrassing! His friend in Set 1 also congratulated him saying that he only had 50% in Maths and told him to start worrying if teachers come up to you to give you good news.<br /><br />It would be nice to get some National Curriculum levels for a change instead of the usual exceeding/meeting etc. level.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-15103271399504079422011-07-07T13:57:00.004+01:002011-07-07T20:33:06.941+01:00Summer ExamsMatthew has once again excelled in his exams. All Sets 1-3 get the same papers. Lowest mark he has was 50% for English, no surprises there.<br />However after being in Set 3 Humanities for 1 term only, he had top mark for Set 3 for Geography (92%) and Spanish (86%), 3rd in History (70%) and Welsh 94%.<br />In Maths he had 85%- top mark, Science 86% -top mark (Physics 95, Chem 86 and Biol 78).<br />The exams were a total nightmare this year, instead of 3 days with 2 exams each day, they were over a 2 week period in lesson time. The exam dates were chopped and changed meaning he was learning 4 subjects 1 night and then discovering 2 had been moved the next day. Also his extra time was given to him in assembly time, lunch breaks or tea breaks or during the following lesson!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-48408830725997809192011-05-09T23:05:00.009+01:002011-07-11T11:48:59.008+01:00Parent's evening Yr 8Well what can I say, every teacher thinks he's a fantastic child. I,m going to log as much of it as I can remember, I'd really like to bottle it forever.<br /><br />Doing great in maths, the teacher is looking forward to the next assessment on Wednesday.(Result 95%)<br /><br />Chemistry teacher thinks he's a darling, she was sad to hear she was losing him from set 3 but happy when he appeared in her set 2 class.<br /><br />Learnsmart teacher (who's head of Middle school-Yrs 9-11)expressed how pleased she was that he won "all those awards" and we must be so pleased with him as he was chosen out of over 200 pupils. She's seen his confidence rise throughout the year, he's proven to be a good leader in a group.<br /><br />Geography teacher thanked us for having such a great child said he really good at geog and he can see him taking it at GCSE, clearly more able than the other in the set 4 group, he's missing his input.<br /><br />RE teacher told us how he is always asking questions and this is what they like to see in RE-a child who shows interest.<br /><br />Art doing fine enjoyed his last project of Fabalous fish more than portraits. Had a D for portraits and B for fab fish.<br /><br />DT teacher thinks he's great, hasn't fallen behind because of his broken arm as he has organised all his friends to help him. Great leadership skills.<br /><br />Spanish- sorry to see him go but he's clearly more able.<br /><br />Welsh teacher loves him really sorry to see him move from her class, we were a while with her as she told does how he helps all the other children and is an absolute gem.<br /><br />PE teacher described how the group of set1 and set 4 mix is a hard group and how Matthew brings every one together gets on equally well with both groups, is a calming influence, he has a great sense of humour, will go up to "the line" stick his nose over but won't cross it. Suprisingly he is really good at the theory side they are teaching them (trying to cover most of GCSE theory during yrs 7,8 and 9) -no surprise to us!<br /><br />English teacher is glad he has moved up is cautious but thinks he has the abilty but must be carefully managedMath's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-43948768865024592072011-05-04T13:18:00.001+01:002011-05-04T13:21:53.270+01:00Prize<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsna3sInfSRQhhCIAEi2p-MnCfEcq0Q8EmyuOQGVZFfdtrKbL4y6sClVHQu2n6iCAZyrfiQEWN2Hsgub2QXzCHURJrsjP-8mYO6PZoFnFSr5leVmgP8CNozVBSzvyO0on9YL5eRu3n4w8G/s1600/Scan+of+Awrds.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsna3sInfSRQhhCIAEi2p-MnCfEcq0Q8EmyuOQGVZFfdtrKbL4y6sClVHQu2n6iCAZyrfiQEWN2Hsgub2QXzCHURJrsjP-8mYO6PZoFnFSr5leVmgP8CNozVBSzvyO0on9YL5eRu3n4w8G/s400/Scan+of+Awrds.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602834647495500786" /></a>Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-38189040587772855702011-04-16T23:47:00.002+01:002011-04-16T23:53:10.413+01:00Broken wrist had to be reset.Matthew had to go into hospital on Thursday, for a minor operation to have his broken wrist reset. What a surreal week that was. I was working a 12 hr night shift the same night, exhausted on Friday. Going to stay with my sister and brother-in-law and Matthews 2 cousins for a few days, can't wait.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-89486142379687746022011-04-15T15:32:00.004+01:002012-01-16T18:16:15.218+00:00Prize Giving!Arrived at 6.45pm promptly, as website said the start was at 7pm and we had no letter. Actual start was at 7.30pm.<br />
<br />
Still can't believe it Matthew received 4 endeavour awards for Science, History, DT Food and the Special Acheivement Award. He was overall winner in his year (Yr 7) and received the Overall Prize Certificate for Outstanding Endeavour with a prize of a £25 gift voucher. Could have scraped me off the floor we were so shocked! 2 very proud and happy parents. It was a lovely evening with refreshments afterwards.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-88296567619369436822011-04-12T15:36:00.003+01:002011-04-15T15:32:44.158+01:00Prize Giving!Matthew came home yesterday asking for a letter to take in this morning requesting 3 seats for the Prize Giving Ceromony. Apparently he had a letter last week which he promptly lost and also forgot to tell us anything about until yesterday. No idea what it's all about.<br />He couldn't find anyone to give the letter to today so he brought it home. I had to phone school to let them know we want to attend! Hope he's actually getting something or we'll look pretty silly sat there for 2 and a half hours.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-56659552716623260902011-04-12T12:17:00.015+01:002011-07-07T14:26:02.625+01:00Ed Psych Assessment ReportWe had it yesterday, it is a few sheets long. The test done was British Ability Scale II, both the cognitve and achievement scales and the descrepancy between the 2 indicates dyslexia. To me this appears the better test of the 2, working memory and processing speed weren't tested this time as we already know this is a weakness. <br /><strong>Core Scales</strong> <br />Verbal Ability 100 <br />Nonverbal Ability 110 <br />Spacial Ability 113 <br />This gives an <strong>Overall Conceptual Ability</strong> of 109 <br /><br /><strong>Achievement Scales </strong><br />Word Reading 90 <br /> Spelling 82 <br /><br /><strong>Discrepancy Analysis</strong> <br /> ------------------ Predicted Score / Actual Score <br /> -------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Word Reading___ 105__________ 90 <br /> Spelling________ 105__________ 82Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-17112367499130096712011-04-10T16:35:00.002+01:002011-04-10T16:43:11.614+01:00Broken Arm!Oh no the end to a brilliant week leaves us with 1 broken arm. Math was playing rugby and having a great game...... then came down on his hand. Managed to jump the queue in A&E due to the fact I work in the labs and have a friend in X-ray. Felt a bit guilty about going in quickly but hey what other perks do we have in the NHS! Got a McD's on the way home. He's now happily playing on the Wii, thumb from broken arm side still works on the numbchuck, and Mam isn't nagging him to go out in the fresh air and glorious sunshine.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-14376872450790260332011-04-08T18:20:00.006+01:002011-04-12T12:17:29.896+01:00Update from the Ed PsychWell she rang from outside the school with the news that he's moving on Monday, she spoke to my hubby, who "thinks" it's to Set 2!<br /> She's also going into the school to do a twilight session on accomodations for dyslexia for his teachers and anybody else who wants to attend, which is voluntary so hopefully there'll be a good attendance. They had a talk earlier this year about ASD which was well attended.<br />The report went to be typed yesterday.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-73923695714595104712011-04-07T20:43:00.018+01:002011-04-10T16:49:36.109+01:00Contacting the Ed PsychHaving heard nothing now for 10 days, chomping at the bit for the report, my hubbie gave her a call. She is going into the school to test another child tomorrow and is going to discuss Matthew and then give us a ring. She reiterated what she said to me a week last Monday, but added that the SENCo had said to her in the conversation" we have been discriminating against Matthew then?" to which she answered "Yes you have". My husband and I had been discussing this after I had stumbled across this pdf <br /><a href="http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/drc_schools_code.pdf">Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Part 4 Code Of Practice for Schools</a> especially liked chapters 5 & 6. <br /><br /><br />Matthew had Sats Level 4 and his cats average was 108 end of Yr 6. Any child who had these score without a label would have made at least B stream, the justification for putting him in the C stream was that he was heavily supported at primary, in other words he's in the C stream because of his disabilty in spite of his ability.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-3198556764464425202011-04-05T19:04:00.003+01:002011-04-05T19:11:00.785+01:00Matthew makes the 1st team in school rugby.Matthew's off to Llanelli tomorrow representing the school for 7's rugby. He has made the team! Lot's of pats on the back from his mates when they were checking the team list. He went to London last week with the team who were representing Wales in a National competition. He was reserve for the reserves, went all that way and didn't play although he was happy to be the water boy!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-6642837037400820492011-03-30T23:33:00.001+01:002011-03-30T23:34:54.141+01:00Scouts- Otter pack Leader!Matthew was made the leader of the Otter pack tonight More sowing-groan.Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-39390064200524780012011-03-28T15:48:00.008+01:002011-03-28T21:55:18.915+01:00Phonecall from Educational PsychologistJust had a phonecall from the Ed psych, she has spoken to the SENCo telling him that Matthew should be in Set 2 for Humanity subjects..... and he agreed! She was expecting a "discussion" as the school don't like to be told where to set pupils, but Matthew seems to have made his mark as a conscientious pupil. The SENCo taught Matthew for Learnsmart last year and agrees that Matthew is the sort of boy who could cope (with the right help). He says that he'd like him to move straight up, but he has to consult with the Head of Lower School (the 1 who said Matthew didn't have dyslexia as he can read), he says there might have to be a stepped approach through Set 3. Personally I think that this could prove to be more disruptive for Matthew.<br />The Psychologist has volunteered her help to any of Matthew's new teachers who need help with strategies/accomodations to help him.<br />I'm so happy!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8087592525404071185.post-51136435747034503772011-03-25T13:27:00.010+00:002011-03-31T23:15:27.256+01:00Result! An Educational Psychologist who understands.We had the most fantastic education psychologist today. She wasn't frightened of using the word "dyslexia". The WISC IV IQ test was redone with some extra subtsets, we are awaiting the write-up. She had a copy of the letter we wrote to the current SENCo (see below) , it was great that he shared that with her. Matthew still has a gap between his reading and spelling and his age but it is moving upwards with his age.<br /><br />Matthew most definitely has dyslexia- I could have cried, the first person who has not skirted around the issue whispering Specific Learning\difficulties, it could be this or that.<br /><br />She believes he is a bright child who should NOT be in set 4.<br /><br />Her 1st task is to write a pen-portrait for all his subject teachers with possible accomodations, this will be the 1st time they will be given his diagnosis of dyslexia.<br /><br />She is going to tackle the Set 4 problem, but says she has had stand up arguments with teachers (HOYs and school managers) who won't accept that Dyslexic children should be in higher sets. She stated thar poor basic skills should not be a bar to higher sets. She says don't expect him to move overnight, but if there are 2 or 3 teachers who will stand up and say Matthew should be in a higher set then she stands a chance. I'm sure a good few of his teachers will agree in light of his "new" diagnosis.<br /><br />Can you believe we are still fighting this battle after a diagnosis when he was 7.5 yrs old- bizarre!Math's Mamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03315595746799192776noreply@blogger.com0