[lockstock]

I've been doing a bit of research and I am amazed to discover that dyslexia (specific learning difficulties/SpLD) has literally only just been officially recognised as a learning difficulty in NZ (April 19th 2007 to be precise I think). There are currently discussions going on between the Min of Ed and SPELD (the NZ dyslexia organisation a bit like the British Dyslexia Association) to see how to proceed with regard to addressing the problem in schools. It seems like the first step is to get them to acknowledge it even exists:( . We went through the same in the UK about 25 years ago so there's a really long haul ahead, changing attitudes etc. Considering that in the UK a diagnosis may entitle you to disability living allowance as well as SEN provision at school, it may be worth bearing in mind that it will be quite a while before any child with provision in the UK can expect to receive similar support from the state ed system over there.

[veronica]

while dyslexia is now recognised in the UK in Essex there is still a big tendency to ignore it or call it 'specific learning disablity. which means that the kids get very little specific help. I have been told by the powers that be there that they can't afford to do anything about it as there are so many kids with the problem that the education dept doesn't have the funds to do anything about it. Apart from the block that exists with a lot of teachers still not educated in how real a problem it is.

[lockstock]

Sorry to be pedantic but 'Specific Learning Difficulty' (SpLD) isn't ignoring anything. Unfortunately, the term 'Dyslexia' covers a range of difficulties which don't all need to be, and indeed aren't, present for a diagnosis of dyslexia- I could go into the range but this really isn't the place! - and is too vague a term for what the problem really is. SpLD's can be identified and addressed individually. It's not just teachers who don't know what it is so be careful not to generalise here. In the UK (Essex included), it is a recognised learning difficulty which authorities are legally obliged to address. My point about my original post is that NZ is way, way behind the UK.

[StevieD]

A friend of ours is in her 40's and she went to special lessons when she was at school.

Speaking to our child's teacher on Friday, it most certainly is recognised here, and dealt with. The educational psychologist who tested our daughter in England said that taking her to NZ would be the best possible thing to address matters.

That is our experience, hope it helps.

Steve

[thepiesleys]

Steve

I certainly hope your experience with a dyslexic child is better than ours in NZ so far. I am a secondary school teacher, i work in a large Auckland school - and no- dyslexia along with a whole host of other learning difficulties is not "recognised". Lip service paid - yes- in part, anything in place to support the students? - a big, fat no.

My eldest son (14 today!) is dyslexic, ADD and has dyspraxic tendencies none of which has been given any support in school so far. He attends a very good decile 9 school which we thought we had chosen carefully, unfortuately this has not been the case. I have, as you can imagine been heavily involved in his school career here so far ( 6 months) but again to no real avail. His tutors, deans and principal say all the right "buzz' words around his difficulties, but have no training or experience of any of them and worse than that a few do not seem to want to know either. The only person who has made sense so far is a counciler there who has been wonderful, he has taken my son's issuses to heart and his helping him a lot. My son has been called lazy, disruptive and difficult - all the things we went through and cried about together when he was 5,6,7. - until diagnosis and positive teaching. He is at present stood down from school (suspended) for 2 days for swearing at a teacher - which on investigation - was yet another relief teacher (3 in one day) who overreacted to my son continually asking to be moved to his usual seating postion in class (typical behaviour for him and many others) and sent him in and out of the room until he blew.

As i said firstly i sincerely hope your experience is a more positive one - i am lossing faith now very quickly and i am considering home teaching him for a while for him to catch up , he is very bright and needs challenging and for teachers to have high expectations of him and i just can not see it happening here.

regards
Sue

[Sam B]

Sue - that sounds awful, you must be feeling pretty frustrated. I hope things improve. It is my experience so far here (as a speech and language therapist and not as a parent) that children with any kinds of special needs seem to get those needs better met at lower decile schools. Just an observation and may be incorrect.

I thought the dyslexia/specific learning difficulties debate in the UK was starting to come a full circle, with many people in the field now thinking that it does not exist, more that there is a very significant percentage of the population who have difficulties with the decoding skills needed for reading and literacy?

[Carol]

I hate to say this - but I agree.
There is an AWFUL lot of "brushing the problem under the carpet" here and hoping it will go away.

And - because I have got more cynical in my old age - I suspect much of the problem in NZ in dealing with children with this VERY real learning difficulty - is down to money.

Lack of funding is causing major problems here in education.

The latest document inflicted on teachers - on implementing ICT in schools here is a joke.
Where they think schools are going to get the money from to be able to do that properly is beyond me - and many others.

Especially when schools are asking for parents to help fund assistance in the classrooms of ordinary everyday schools in the form of teacher aides and (for example) SPELD tutors. I know this because I was asked to ask them.

I havent regretted leaving the teaching profession once in the 9 months I have been away. To be blunt - it was "doing my head in" all the frustrations that went with it.

:mad:

[Carol]

It is my experience so far here (as a speech and language therapist and not as a parent) that children with any kinds of special needs seem to get those needs better met at lower decile schools.



Yes.
Down to funding again.
Lower decile schools get more money per child from the government - and "some" schools (I wont be crass enough to be more precise) seem to have an open cheque book.

It actually makes my blood boil.

:no

[Carol]

i am considering home teaching him for a while for him to catch up , he is very bright and needs challenging and for teachers to have high expectations of him and i just can not see it happening here.

regards
Sue


Probably the best thing you can do Sue.


sad but true.

[lockstock]

Stevie D, yes there are individuals in schools who understand SpLD and can make adjustments to their methodology (some can be very minor changes actually with huge benefits) and it is recognised in NZ but only became 'officially' (ie put in the funding, time and training at state level) recognised in April this year. Until now it has been regarded as simply a problem with reading and writing and addressed as such. There are private organisations who provide specialised intervention (as there are in the UK) but the Min of Ed is now working with them improve provision in schools. But, as experience in the UK shows, it will be a long time before the training has an effect.

Sam B - you're right, in a way. That's why the term SpLD is used rather than dyslexia. The fact is that techniques used to help people with dyslexic difficulties in the classroom can be beneficial to all pupils - one of the perks of having SpLD friendly classrooms.

From what I have gathered so far in NZ (and it's by no means more than a personal observation even though some of the posts on here seem to support it) is that Special Needs seems targeted on behaviour and general learning (intellectual) difficulties and disabilities - hence academically able children risk not reaching their academic potential. This is what most parents fear. In the UK students with SpLD at University are entitled (by law) to a variety of arrangements and extra funding to help them in their study.

I'd rather see NZ's decision last month as a positive, forward looking one. If you are interested in finding out more check out the SPELD NZ website (can't work out how to do links and all that - I can't multi-task on a computer!)

[StevieD]

Very interesting everybody. All I can go on is my experience so far, and we are quite impressed in what we have seen and heard in our child's school.

While I am not naive enough to think that this is some utopian system here, we are quite happy with what has happened so far. The school is only small, decile 10, and luckily enough has just had a whole new ICT suite (Apple computers) and library installed.

I think recognition goes a long way to helping solve these issues so that is a good start.

Happy Birthday to your son, Sue. We wish you luck whichever path you choose.

Steve

[incredible hulse]

Have to agree that I suspect this is all down to money. From our experience there is a huge under investment in Special Needs provision within the education system here. Things that were taken for granted in the UK are just not available here. We also find this true within the medical system but that is another story within itself ..

[Joanne100]

My daughter has an SLD, ive been fighting for help for 4 years starting in Essex, finishing here in Chch.
My advice is to dig ur heels in, make the school listen and help, keep going into the school/teacher over and over until they get fed up of the sight of you! Ive paid out alot of money to get her help but every penny worth it at seabrook mckenzie, see my earlier thread.
A great help is having a teacher that is willing to learn about SLD, my daughters teacher is in contact with her SLD tutor, everyone is working together and its all working out perfectly, but who knows wot will happen next year if the teacher she gets isnt as understanding, I will have to start all over again and annoy them everyday until they take notice:D

[StevieD]

Uhhh - didn't get the help in UK that we were promised coz some kid from Poland who couldn't speak a word of English started at the school, took up the whole time of the allotted teacher, no money available to look after all the other kids... same old story, it is the luck of the draw :(

[lockstock]

That's abolutely right sadly -you still have to keep on making a real nuisance of yourself in the UK which is so wrong. It's the parents who keep pushing who get what they're entitled to and that's not confined to SpLD. I still have battles with the LEA for the kids I teach with Asperger Syndrome - the threat of tribunal usually does the trick for funding but not all parents are aware of what the process is. Working with parents is even more important.