AQW 22608/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 16/09/2021
Answered On Date: 23/09/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline the assessment processes available for children in school whose parents request a test for dyslexia.

Answer:

Parents are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), in the first instance as the Education Authority (EA) advises that schools are best positioned to identify those children who may have difficulties with Special Educational Needs (SEN), including Dyslexia and will carry out initial baseline assessments and to establish school based supports for their learning.

Should parent/ carers feel that their child/ young person is still having difficulty accessing learning, despite assistance being provided by the school, or other professionals, they can submit a request for a Statutory Assessment direct to EA via their online request form.

Where a school feels it is unable to meet a young person’s needs from the resources typically available, they then may decide to prioritise the child for a Stage 3 psychological assessment.

At this point a referral to the EA Literacy Service, based on the application of the Code of Practice and the Provisional Criteria to access the service, may also be made. The EA Literacy Service will carry out a range of diagnostic assessments prior to any periods of teaching. These are distinct from the assessments undertaken by EA Psychology as they are for the purpose of informing teaching and learning strategies.