Supporting your dyslexic child

How can you get your child tested for dyslexia?

If your child is in primary school then speak to your child's class teacher. If your child is in secondary arrange to speak to the head of year.

You can also contact your local dyslexia association who can provide you with information regarding support that is available in your local area.

If you still have concerns after speaking with your child's class teacher or head of year, then you should make an appointment to see the school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). The SENCO will be able to give you lots of advice and help put together an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your child. This should set out the steps that the school needs to take in order to ensure your child receives appropriate support.

This is all done in line with the SEN Code of Practice (2002) which requires ‘schools to provide appropriate support so that all children have the opportunity to benefit from an inclusive education'.

We advise you to read the SEN Guide for Parents and Carers  before meeting with the school's SENCO. The booklet will help you to understand what your child is entitled to and what should happen when you talk to the school.

Applying for an assessment through your local education authority

If for some reason the school is unwilling to refer your child for an assessment, you can apply direct yourself or get help from the Parent Partnership Officer at your local education authority (LEA).

Applying for an assessment through the LEA is free but the service is often over-stretched and you may have a long wait.

Paying for a private assessment

Another option is to pay for a private assessment to be carried out either by a suitably qualified teacher or a chartered educational psychologist who specialises in specific learning Difficulties. A private assessment will cost around £350 and will provide you with a full written report with recommendations for educational support.

For help finding out where you can go for a private assessment contact your Local Dyslexia Association or a member assessment centre. Make them aware of your concerns and explain why you think your child might be dyslexic.

What happens after a child is diagnosed as dyslexic?

If the test was done through the SENCO at your child's school and you already have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), the next step will be to implement the plan. Once this is done you should expect regular meetings with the school in order to monitor your child's progress. Your child should now be receiving appropriate help and support from the school.

If the Individual Education Plan is not helping your child (perhaps it does not take account of the new diagnosis) or has not been implemented properly, you may be better off getting a new assessment done first. Speak to the SENCO about this.

If the test was done independently, the next step will be to meet with the SENCO and discuss the outcomes of the report. This should provide the SENCO with a basis on which to build the action plan in order to help your child.

In some cases the school may reject the findings from an independent assessment; if this happens you should contact your LEA and ask that the school implements an action plan.

If the school still doesn't provide adequate support for your child then you should request the help of the school governor in charge of special needs. If your child has a diagnosed disability then he/she is entitled to support at school under the Disability Discrimination Act.