For Jenny - re Assessment
I started writing this as a reply in the comments but it got a bit long winded so I’ve given it it’s own special post 
I agree that if assessment is going to make a difference to a child, be it in helping them understand themself or opening the door to some form of support that wouldn’t otherwise be available then yes, it’s important and I would find the £300 from somewhere (husband for sale, only lightly used….) Finally having a "diagnosis" that told me why my brain falls over in a hopeless heap every now and again and why I have the short term memory of a particularly forgetful goldfish was like finding out I’m someone completely different and has made a noticeable difference to me. I was working with a good friend a little while ago and he commented on how much more confident I am in other areas now I know I’m not actually thick, just moderately dyslexic.
On the other side of the coin though, if a child is home educated from the start, is not made to struggle or feel stupid because of the typically dyslixic cahracteristics they show but humoured and told that "well don’t worry, maybe reading isn’t your strong point just yet but we will get there in the end if we just keep going" and given stratagies to get round teh other things Dyxies struggle with (sort term memory etc) and encouragement to develop the things they are good at to bolster their self esteme then I’d tell the mother to save that £300 for later in the child’s life when a formal assessment actually will open doors to things like access to Disabled Student Allowance to provide equipment for higher education and special allowances in exams. My assessment meant that the OU allowed me to get all my coursework in audio format as well as books which makes a huge difference to me and also allows me to sit my exam at home, with extra time and with a PC. Add to that the grant I got for the testing and making of a pair of coloured lenses (I have Myers Irene Syndrome which is qutie common in Dyxies) worth £200 Now that’s worth the effort of an assessment!
