The way forward is shrouded in mist but a clear route is emerging.
As we move into the second week of the Year 8 exams we have a clear state of play emerging. Son is trying his hardest, school clearly is not. Son again was upset this weekend as he clearly thought that school sees him as not very bright and a failure. He found out that he came third bottom in his Drama exam. Well was that surprising when he was given only a short period of time to read questions then an equally short timescale to write answers. Absolutely no help was provided. So clearly autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia do not apply in the world of Drama.
Sadly this has not been an isolated incident.
- In subjects like Mathematics, Design Technology and French he received zero help. No additional time. No help with reading. Nothing. Maybe help was considered but as Son pointed out
“One of the kids broke his hand so the one Teaching Assistant had to scribe for him. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get help. I really struggled to read and understand the questions. Even maths had lots of words I didn’t recognise in the questions.”
- History did not proved a scribe but he was given a laptop to type his answers in. So he still had to try and read the questions. He was given a laptop because the teacher was concerned about being able to read his handwriting. Problem is that son is waiting for some therapy work to try and help with his typing skills. His typing is slow and very inaccurate. He hadn’t practiced answering test questions on the computer. The computer also had the spelling aids disabled. No additional time was provided.
- Science and English did provide a scribe. He hadn’t practiced working with the scribes provided. He was really uncomfortable trying to work with the two assistants he had previously had very little interaction with. He had thought incorrectly that he was getting extra time but with a couple of minutes to go the scribe just said the exam is finishing when it’s 10.15. He struggles to tell the time using an analog wall clock. The scribe in English only read out the questions. She was not allowed to read out the passages which he had to answer comprehension questions on.
“What was the point. The scribe would tell me things like for this question you need to read lines 5 to 12 of the text then describe what writing techniques the author has used. Well I would if I could actually read the text. Some of the text was using slang language – I struggle with proper language, got no chance with slang.”
So basically it’s been a mess. If his marks are not good then this is going to hit his confidence going forward. Currently school are deadpanning my queries but I guess they will just say that appropriate support was provided and he just needs to work harder. Poor results will confirm their assessment of low attainment. I just hope for his sake that he manages to get some decent marks. I’ve told him that for me it’s not he who is being assessed, it’s school. And clearly school have failed – AGAIN. To quote a reasonably popular movie, it feels like that we are moving to the mainstream education END GAME. No we still can’t truly afford to homeschool but this failure of due care can’t go on. Son deserves better than this.
I so agree. My granddaughter will be 16 on Saturday, and there is no way she will pass the exams. My daughter struggles to even get her to school as her anxiety is so high.
Just not right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not right. For too many kids, schools are not fit for purpose. Do more damage than good.
LikeLike
I sincerely wish I could do something to help. I am absolutely speechless which does not happen often to me. I find it appalling the absolute lack of care or education being provided. Whenever you write about school it is so Dickenese in atmosphere. And it kills me that the administrators of the school are so blind. Hugs
LikeLiked by 3 people
I was listening to a mum on the radio the other day. Different part of the country but exactly the same issues.
LikeLike
That is such b.s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is.
LikeLike
😡😡😡
LikeLike
I’ll just be over here mumbling curse words (like the “B” word)🤬 and wishing I could ‘have a chat’ with some people at his school🏏🏒🥊
💌
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think with any communications you eventually realise that they just will not listen. Eventually you move to End Game. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too bad about the school failing to meet your son’s needs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not going to improve.
LikeLike
Incredibly frustrating.. so sorry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too many kids are in the same boat.
LikeLike
As I read this Gary I was screaming and shouting and yelling at the damned school. I won’t tell you what I was screaming and yelling because it is probably unpublishable but I just felt so angry at what is happening to your son. Words fail me and I wish something could be done to change the situation. I wish that I could help
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s why it feels like things are coming to a head.
LikeLike
Yes I am not syrprised. I must keep reading you to see what happens. Some days I just get lost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not easy for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No but you are ine of the ines I want to keep up wuth. I feel your anger with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
i understand your ongoing frustration with the education system there..any process on the homeschool thing? how old is your son now btw?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is 12. I’m putting together a draft schooling plan. One which is better than the school offering. The limiting factor is the single parent, single income thing.
LikeLike
as i said before..it really isn’t expensive…you just gotta get creative:) Here they don’t tell you exactly what to teach , just a general description..my daughter utilizes the local library, and does lots of research regarding FREE events that are educational..it took a few months, but she has it down to a science now.., spending less than $1,000 per year..lots of free resources online , second hand stores for board games, etc
LikeLiked by 1 person
The big cost here is if you are trying to prepare your kid for one of the exams.
LikeLike
wow..they make them take exams there?? maybe it’s an age group thing…my grandson is only 7…from what i gather, the old rules when my kids were growing up required yearly exams. But they had exchanged a LOT over the last 20 years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are starting to test at 5 now.
LikeLike
yikes
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really annoyed me that the spell check was disabled. Would it have been in the “real world”, outside of the school bubble? I don’t think so! (My thanks to auto correct for sorting out my typos in this comment!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently they are following government policy.
LikeLike
I am so sorry you are having to make these hard choices. It was similar for me but in the end my sons mental health ,ade it unavoidable and having got to that point it was such a relief when we did start home ed although it has been (and still is) a constant financial struggle. On balance the amount of happiness now in the house out weighs the lack of money.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes we are moving that way now. It’s going to be so tight to do. Two parents would have been such a help here.
LikeLike
I did it as a single parent although of course his dad was around a little it still made it a harder choice so I understand that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But if it comes to it then it will work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not that your son has to ‘try harder’ … it’s the education system that’s letting your son down. As I read of his situation, I feel anger and frustration – I can’t imagine how it makes you feel to see him go through this. I have a feeling that, when he leaves school, that’s when he’ll begin to blossom … but I know that doesn’t help much just now and it shouldn’t be like this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I hope so as well. Just need to navigate the next few years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://cherigamble.com/
I found this wordpress site about a mother with a dyslexic child. I’ve looked at some of it and hope that it might be of some help to you. One of the tabs at the top refers specifically to dyslexia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even if it just gives some encouragement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLike
🌞🙆😊
LikeLike
Thank you. Yes checking the site out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does indeed deserve better. He has the potential to outstrip all the teachers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too many kids do. Sadly they are hindered from doing that. Just trying to post about a story of someone who did that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is terrible. Just terrible. He is such a bright boy from all you say here and all he needs is a hand put out to him and …it’s not help, as such…it is just it should be different because that is the way he learns.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too many kids who don’t fit the desired mould are just discarded.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s shocking . Thank goodness he has you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank goodness I have him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. There’s just some kids who don’t fit in and they don’t even have the support from home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which is so so sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does not bear thinking about really in some ways . But that is not in any way to lessen your situation. I just often think, put the rest aside,if someone has your back, it is everything, you know, wherever you are and however you stand, or indeed the world turns, or doesn’t. So, if you don;t have that you are in deep asterisks. (Being very polite here.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deep asterisks is a bad place to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is all so frustrating. I am sorry they are failing him so badly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Robyn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Where do you live?
The school are definitely failing to provide support and depending on where you live whether they’re obligated to, too (I know in the UK they pretty much have to). This made me so sad to read. I wish I knew more, I hope you can ask people for help because your son deserves the help.
There are loads of people I know with learning issues who are not stupid at all. I know that there are books on dyslexia written for dyslexic children – picture form – to help them understand what they’re struggling with.
Love, light and glitter…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yorkshire. Special Needs has been cut significantly. The local government follows government thinking. Cut services to the bone then get awards for running efficient/cost effective services
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦 I know how hard it is to get an EHCP. I thought once one had one, then the schools have to request the provisions. It’s the schools place to ask for it. It is possible for a parent to do but not simple at all. It makes me sad to hear how they aren’t helping at all. What are they in education for? And sad for your son. He deserves more. I really hope that there is something you can do – even if not in the school, so that he knows his marks don’t define him. Sending hugs and strength and sunshine…
💕🕯✨
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad thing is that EHCP are not worth that much now. Certainly in our area. Schools see them as a burden. Our council is cutting them back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
British schooling has to make some serious moves forward – not just for autism – but for all children. Bad news you and your son are having to experience these issues daily.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sadly it’s not changing for another 5 years now Sir.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My heart goes out to your son every time I read one of these posts. I’m afraid he’s not going to have any self-esteem left at the end of this. Your schools don’t have special education classes? Or doesn’t he qualify?
LikeLiked by 2 people
He falls between them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That figures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so sad to see this. You could just as easily be talking about my own son’s time at school – he’s 32 now, so I see absolutely nothing has changed in nearly 20 years! There is no special needs help in education, they are still paying lip service to it. There isn’t the funding and reading this, there STILL isn’t the understanding either. It’s shameful that parents are having to constantly fight tooth and nail to get the help their children deserve. Good luck and my heart goes out to both you and your son, I remember it all so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry your son isn’t getting proper support!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Your son deserves so much better!! Argh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many kids do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The system is all wrong. We should be lifting our kids up not letting them down. How can you become a teacher and have such little compassion? Every kid learns differently, and some a bit more but we just look the other way? No! Do your job be the teacher. This really upsets me. Your son deserves so much more. And he should never think he failed. The system did. Hugs my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome as always.🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person