Mum’s fight for law change over dyslexia testing ‘lottery’
Anger as 16-year-old girl unable to get diagnosis without paying to go private
A mum who had to fork out hundreds of pounds to have her daughter diagnosed with dyslexia has called on the government to change the system.
Alex Castle, of North Street, Sutton Valence, is urging an end to the “lottery” on dyslexia diagnosis which allows some children to get automatic screenings or be fast tracked while others face paying hundreds for a private test.
The mum was advised to have her daughter Maddie, 16, an Invicta Grammar School student, assessed after she was struggling to finish tests in her SATs.
The 49-year-old did exactly that shortly after an attempt to get her daughter extra time she needed for her upcoming tests.
However, Maddie missed the deadline to be assessed for her upcoming GCSE exams, but is hoping to have it done in time for her A-levels.
Ms Castle paid £350 for the
screening.
Unlike eye examinations or hearings tests, dyslexia diagnosis assessments aren’t free on the NHS and costs are usually covered by the parents or in some cases, schools.
Calling for change, Alex said: “It shouldn’t be something that
depends on how much money you have in the bank as to whether your child gets assessed or not - that’s entirely the wrong way of doing it.
“Without the assessments they can’t get the arrangements in place to show their potential at those exams, and those influence
all the choices in their life - which A-levels they do, if they can go to university.
“In state schools a diagnosis of dyslexia can involve schools having to fund assisted technology and additional measures. It’s a difficult situation.”
The Maidstone mum said her family were left with “effectively no choice” about getting Maddie assessed as they faced a battle against time with upcoming tests.
She said: “We were incredibly fortunate that we were in a position to be able to pay for it, but hugely frustrated on the behalf of other parents as it shouldn’t be the case.
“Some schools put a budget towards having a qualified member of staff in school to do screening, and that’s got to be the way forward - they know the child best and it takes pressure off parents paying privately.
“But all the schools are under budget pressure and the money isn’t there, but without the assessment they can’t get the arrangements in place to show their potential at exams.”
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who was not diagnosed with dyslexia until he went to university, has called for more support. In December, he introduced a Bill to Parliament for free testing for all primary pupils which will require government support to become law.