Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

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tigger2
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:35 am

Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by tigger2 »

Hi !
I have been told by our local council (Kent) that adjustments available for the 11+ must be applied by our primary during the registration period for the 11+ in June.

I know that no two cases are going to be the same but has anyone out there got any advice on the adjustments that are most helpful for dc's with dyslexia and dyscalculia? Dyscalculia is 'new' to us...however our dc has been on the sen register since year 1 and is 'school action plus' :roll: .Extra time has been given in sats testing since year 2.

We have been told that the only adjustment for dyslexia will be the writing test . In Kent this is the paper that is put forward by ht assessment panels ..I would like to see if we could get an adjustment for vr and maths...is extra time (or anything else?) ever given for these in Kent?

Many thanks in advance
Tigger
Belinda
Posts: 1167
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:57 pm

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by Belinda »

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Last edited by Belinda on Sat Nov 03, 2012 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by Guest55 »

It is not easy to get additional time for the 11+.

Even if you get 25% for KS2 tests and later for GCSEs etc it is rare to get anything like that for 11+.

See the thread about '11+ unfair to SEN' ... it is wrong for the 11+ to be different.
tigger2
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:35 am

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by tigger2 »

Many thanks to both of you for your replies-they are very helpful. I am worried about the fact we don't have an Ed Psych report. We have pressed the school for an EP assessment and they have continually refused...they say that the NC levels are not low enough. I phoned around recently for a private assessment and the 'best'rate that I got was an eye watering £650-we are not able to afford that. Dc has been assessed by kcc's Specialist Teaching service who gave us a report and will follow up. Our dc wants to take the 11+ but I do not expect support from school as nc levels are too low .This is why I have asked what is needed to convince kcc that the adjustments are needed. I think the school will support the request for adjustments but feel we must be 'on the ball' with what details are needed for an application.
Tigger
x
mystery
Posts: 8927
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by mystery »

I wonder if there would be any mileage in contacting NFER as they set the Kent papers. I do seem to remember once reading something on their website about adjustments for SEN in the 11+ but can't remember what it was or what it said. Thing is about contacting KCC that the answer will so depend on who you speak to (just like any large local authority). If you can provide them with the answer that NFER gave you, if it sounds good and helpful, that might give you a good starting point for "negotiations".

Also any merit in contacting "*****" - this might be within his area of expertise and not cost you much for a brief piece of standard advice?
senmum
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:01 am

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by senmum »

My dd has severe dyslexia while also being very bright. After an almighty tussle with Essex their indep ed psych assessed her paperwork and recommended 25% extra time in the English 10% in the VR and a reader for the maths and VR papers. But we have a statement and full indep ed psych report. As far as I know this is the first time for both reader and extra time for Essex. But I had excellent legal advice that their blanket ban on extra time was not lawful. Bucks 11+ have a good reasonable adjustments policy that you can find online and it explains the key legal requirements well. All 11+ boards should have one of these but as far as I know Essex is still coming up with theirs. Not sure about Kent but possibly in same but as Essex.
Best of luck but apply promptly and perhaps be prepared to fight it took from June to November for my dd's adjustments to be agreed.
Morning Glory
Posts: 310
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:46 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by Morning Glory »

Bucks reasonable adjustments

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/conten ... _Entry.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is the document that Bucks use (not sure if other Counties use this too) - I sat down with the HT and went through every adjustment to see which one/s would best help DS and whether we had grounds to apply for them. As you can see from this document the HT submits the request which then goes to The Special Access Panel, who ultimately decide. The other thing to note is that all the professional reports have to be no more than 12 months old. Getting extra time in Bucks is notoriously difficult even with the appropriate professional recommendations.

DS has now got a statement so automatically gets 25% extra time and is tested separately in all exams including internal assessments.
mystery
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Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by mystery »

I don't know where you are in Kent Tigger, but I'm not sure that you would have to pay £650 with an Ed Psych I have used in the past.

Seems like you need to know where you stand with the law (an Ed Psych may explain this to free of charge if you chat with them long enough before not making a booking with them), and with NFER as they set the papers for Kent.

Have you tried NFER yet, or "******"? You are not going to get much out of Kent I don't think unless you know your stuff already, unless there is someone helpful in the SEN section who will give you correct info. No use just calling a general admissions number. Also try Parent Partnership?
senmum
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:01 am

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by senmum »

I have used an ed psych from Kent by the name of Janet Frodsham last full report a year ago cost me 500 she was really good at giving me clear guidance to help my daughter. She has a web page if you google her with full contact details -think she is in the Folkestone area best of luck
tigger2
Posts: 755
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:35 am

Re: Exam adjustments for dyslexia and dyscalculia

Post by tigger2 »

Mystery....you will not believe this but NFER today referred me to EPE's Yoyo...as 'He/she is very good ...knows Nfer very well..I can't find any more details but join EPE and send a pm to Yoyo ' !!!!

So there you have it...Yoyo..so good that Nfer rely on Yoyo for advice about Nfer !!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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