[friendlylady]

Hi There,

I have applied for my son to attend 3rd and 4th class in St. Rose´s, Balrothery next year. He has been diagnosed with severe dyslexia but is coming on great in his local N.S. with loads of one to one help. I really want (as we all do as parents) to have the best possible education available to him, I just have two small reservations;
1. I do not know any other child who has attended this school so I really genuinely don´t know anything about it apart from the fact it is a specialist school for dyslexia.
2. I am worried about the social aspect of him settling back in with his school friends when he comes back to his present N.S. in fifth class ( he is a popular likable fellow, but is quiet and can get anxious). So any advice or information on this school would be brilliant, I would be so grateful.

[friendlylady]

I have tried ringing and emailing this school for more information but no joy, emails remain unread and after several attempts I got through to secretary who said she'd get principal to ring me, this did not happen. I've no problem with this as I'd prefer for teachers to spend the time with their pupils instead of listening to me on the phone. But I would still like some information if anyone had some, preferably a parent/guardian who has had a child attend in the past. Thanks.

[byhookorbycrook]

Schools only re-opened today, so you might get a call/email tomorrow.
I don't know much about this particular school, but I have friends who sent children to dyslexia units and were thrilled.
The self-esteem that the child gained alone, not to mind the reading gains made it very easy for the child to re-integrate to their own school.

[friendlylady]

thanks byhook, l like this reply, I know this school is the best way to go, just would like to hear from someone for some reassurance is you know what I mean.

[Sweetface]

I did a few days work experience there a few years ago when I was in college, from what I remember it is an excellent place to cater for the needs of children with severe dyslexia. They were using the Wilson Language programme. There were only 9 children in the class I was based in (4th class). The class teacher told me that children travel great distances from down the country to attend the school. The children themselves seemed very happy to me too Like Byhookorbycrook said, you may get a reply one of these days, schools are just back after the holidays and things can be pretty chaotic !!

[djcarey]

My child has recently been diagnosed as severly dyslexic and will have to attend St. Roses in Tallaght. She currently attends a Gaelscoil and I am wondering if she will be able to go back to same after a possible two year absence

[byhookorbycrook]

DJ, you need to talk to the particular Gaelscoil and see what they say.I can't see it would be an issue if the child has a reasonable level of Irish.

[gillmag]

hi can anyone give me some advise my son is nearly 12 and has dyslexia he is in 5th class now. I have only just heard of schools primary schools that cater for dyslexic children. Does anyone know of any secondary schools that cater for same. Hopefully someone out there can help. Thanks

[friendlylady]

Just an update, my son was accepted into this wonderful school, we arrived down and were very impressed with the kids in the playground, they were very confident and friendly and welcomed my son unreservedly. I'm very happy and no he is which important. He has had fantastic resource teaching for the last two years which has brought him on great, honestly it's amazing and it just shows that with dyslexia one to one teaching is the way to go. I'd advise anyone with a child with this condition to inisist on resource teaching, and approch the SENO if they are not getting anywhere. It really works and makes a difference

[byhookorbycrook]

Delighted you and your son have had such a great outcome. I wonder ho you got the SENO to grant resource for dyslexia though?

[E.T.]

Originally Posted by friendlylady

Just an update, my son was accepted into this wonderful school, we arrived down and were very impressed with the kids in the playground, they were very confident and friendly and welcomed my son unreservedly. I'm very happy and no he is which important. He has had fantastic resource teaching for the last two years which has brought him on great, honestly it's amazing and it just shows that with dyslexia one to one teaching is the way to go. I'd advise anyone with a child with this condition to inisist on resource teaching, and approch the SENO if they are not getting anywhere. It really works and makes a difference

I'm glad to hear you've had such a good outcome, it is definitely worth pursuing all avenues to get your child the help they need and deserve.

Just on your point about insisting on resource teaching - resource hours are only granted on recommendation from an outside professional (psychologist/OT etc), the school cannot give resource hours to a child without this. Not all children with dyslexia will even qualify for resource hours, there has to be a certain discrepancy between their IQ and reading ability. Sometimes a child with dyslexia may be diagnosed with another condition too, and given resource hours if this condition is included in the list. Parents and/or teachers cannot insist on a child being given resource hours, no matter how much they would like it to happen.

Most children with dyslexia are taken for extra Learning Support tuition, as long as the school can fit them into a suitable group, and has the time available. The children who most urgently need help, but don't qualify for resource hours, are taken as a priority for Learning Support.

The SENO generally deals with recommendations for Resource hours, or for an SNA.

In a lot of schools the same teacher will take pupils for Learning Support or Resource, which is where people can get confused between the two different types of support.

[byhookorbycrook]

Children with dyslexia are meant to be covered under the Leaning support caseload-provided they are under the 10th percentile in literacy, hence I'd love to know about the resource provision in this case-and if we could swing it for a few of our children!!It was a bad day for children when the DES said children with dyslexia no longer qualified for resource.

[E.T.]

Absolutely agree about the change in criteria. It's cruel to deny children support that has visible benefits not just to their reading ability, but to their confidence in general.

[friendlylady]

Hi, just in reply to a few posts. My son was diagnosed with speech difficulties and dyspraxia from the start, he has had 3 pyschological reports completed, each recommending resource teaching. This was granted at infant level in school by the SENO, i spoke with her myself at the time and she granted 3 hours per week. This has been re newed each year (he is now in 2nd class).

I would definitely recommend the pyschological (sorry for wrong spelling) reports, they seem to get the ball rolling on all levels with the Schools, Doctors and SENO's and most applications will not be entertained without one.

I can obviously only speak for my child and my experiences, and to be honest, I just stumbled along most avenues until I got the right one for him.

I would advise seeing your local GP if you have any concerns, they can usually be a very helpful first port of call. Also most National Schools will have a list of regularly used pyschologists if you ask. Sorry if I'm not an expert in this matter, as I say I can only recount my own experiences.

[byhookorbycrook]

Dyspraxia and speech would have helped with the resource hours. Thought you might have had some hotline to a SENO or way around some of the restrictions for children with dyslexia. Oh well:)Thanks for your reply.