Well this is it, I've started a blog! Hopefully this is going to be a very interesting experience for myself, I'm hoping to gain and glean lots of very important, invaluable information. Fingers crossed anyway, so feel free to help me along my pathway to documenting my life.
One reason I am beginning the blogging world, is because I am going through a very frustrating experience, although really I am not the one going through it, I am a spectator to watching someone very close to me. This person of such a tender age of 11years, said to me the other day 'Just give up, because I will not get anything I want in this life' What would any one say back to that comment to an 11 year old?? I was for a while that same day shocked and dumbfounded that she was feeling that way. I think from that point on I had a voyage of discovery ahead of me. Which is why I am possibly venting my thoughts and feelings into the big world wide web.
So if there are any other parents, carers, grandparents, etc etc of a DYSLEXIC child/teenager/young adult who has come against a brick wall, after brick wall, after brick wall of stubbornness of the school system, please feel free to comment.
This morning I have decided to begin the process of officially statementing my 11 year old personally with the support of my partner of course!! After six years of the school system she has a reading age of 5.4 years... She has been on school action plus since year two, which means she has regular help within school and outside agencies, normally seen by an educational psychologist and hearing specialist, oh and opticians. Here in Devon I have been told for the last three years there is no point in even trying to statement a child who is dyslexic or as they call it in Devon specific learning difficulties, therefore I am going against the system by doing it myself. (there are some exceptional teachers and teaching assistants out there, please understand I am not wanting to attack or criticise. Some teachers and staff alike have gone far beyond the call of duty and there are some equally frustrated staff out there with the system) I would want to name them here however I feel I have to have there permission first. They may well know who they are and I would want to say a BIG THANK YOU to you.
Squealer
I think you should fught this one through to the very end. In appreciation for many teachers out there...yes, there are some fantastic teachers but they system certainly does fail children wit dyslexia on the whole. I think it is unjust that some districts recognise and encourage statementing your child whilst others would rather just let them slip through the net and not recieve the education that they deserve. According to the UNCRC, 25 hours of education a week is an absolute right. The government is responsible for delivering an education for EVERY child born or entering this country. What good is an eduation if it is not catering to the individuals needs? I agree full heartedly with everything you are saying and wish you all the best of luck in your fight for appropraite education for your beautiful little girl.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for that amazingly positive comment, it has bought tears to my eyes. This is exactly the type of information I am looking for, I never even knew the UNCRC absolute right for every child to receive 25 hours of education a week. I am a beginner in this world, so thank you for helping me in my research.
ReplyDeleteThe government has recently changed their educational slogan from 'Every child matters' to 'Help every child to achieve more'. Well, I don't know how much that re-branding cost but this is the sharp end of such a statement. If a bright, enthusiastic dyslexic child needs specific help to 'achieve more' then they should get it, otherwise they are obviously being failed. It's a no-brainer. Dyslexics have a huge contribution to make in the classroom, being highly imaginative, independent, 'out of the box' thinkers, often going on to form their own businesses later in life. It's a frustrating situation for everyone involved. Teachers and teaching assistants can try very hard, but sometimes a statement is needed. A reading age of 5.4 years in secondary school sounds like she must need considerable help. The bottom line is that if a child is unhappy with their education, it clearly needs to be remedied. This is an interesting link, putting the whole thing into context, underlining daily difficulties in the classroom: http://www.teachers.tv/videos/secondary-special-needs-dyslexia-friendly-classroom
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK!!!