What is dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is a developmental disorder which affects up to one in 20 children. It used to be known as 'clumsy child syndrome', because all sufferers have co-ordination problems. Dyspraxic children don't look disabled and many are above average intelligence, making it a 'hidden handicap'. Physiotherapy, exercise programmes and speech therapy can significantly improve their skills.
What causes it?
Not a great deal is known about dyspraxia, but research suggests that some cases may be genetic, as the ratio of boys to girl sufferers is 4:1. Complications during pregnancy and birth may also be a factor.
How soon can it be diagnosed?
"It's unwise to label children too early," says Madeleine Portwood, senior educational psychologist with Durham County Council. "Symptoms like poor co-ordination, concentration and short-term memory are common to a range of developmental disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and autism. And pigeon-holing very young children can affect the kind of help they receive later on."
Portwood, who has a special interest in dyspraxia, believes it's difficult to make a firm diagnosis before the age of seven, although many of the symptoms can be treated earlier.
The baseline assessment which takes place during the first term of the reception year can help to identify children who might have dyspraxia. "If a child has average skills in some areas, but is very weak in others, this can be a sign," says Portwood. By the age of six or seven, when written work becomes much more important, the dyspraxic child's problems will be more obvious.
Does dyspraxia mean a special school?
The good news is that with intervention many dyspraxic children are able to stay in mainstream school. Awareness of the condition is growing and teachers are getting better at picking up the signs, says Jan Long, the Dyspraxia Foundation's education officer. If you think your child has dyspraxia, you should speak to the head teacher and the school's Special Needs Co-ordinator as well as his class teacher.
Primary schools can help dyspraxic children through Individual Education Plans (IEPs). These set learning targets and usually involve some extra help from the class teacher or classroom helper.
But if your child is not making progress with an IEP, you should ask for him to be assessed to see if he qualifies for a statement of special educational needs. 'Statementing' can take up to a year and is a five-step process. As a parent, you will be involved at all stages.
- The class teacher monitors your child and sets targets.
The Special Needs Co-ordinator draws up an IEP if your child is not making progress.
- The school brings in an outside specialist, usually an educational psychologist, who helps to draw up a new IEP, if your child is still struggling.
- You will need to gather information for a statement of special educational needs tribunal, if your child is still not making progress. Anyone who has been involved with the child - the GP, educational psychologist, physiotherapist, speech therapist and the parents - makes a statement.
- A neutral panel considers the evidence. If the assessment is approved, a statement of special educational needs is drawn up, covering the nature of your child's learning difficulties, the special help he needs and how this will be provided.
What kind of help is available if my child is statemented?
"The kind of support offered depends on the local education authority (LEA) and the severity of the child's problems." explains Jan Long. "A child with moderate difficulties might manage with an extra classroom helper or physiotherapy sessions. Alternatively, he might attend a special unit attached to a mainstream school where he would have a lot of support and one-to-one help."
What if the school won't help?
"The system should meet your child's needs," says Jan Long, "but each step of the procedure has to be followed carefully. If you feel you need extra help, the LEA can put you in touch with an independent parental supporter who will help you to put your case together." This panel helps parents through the statementing process. They are trained volunteers who will help you put across your point of view and deal with the paperwork and red tape. You can phone your LEA's parent partnership worker and ask to be put in touch with an individual parent supporter.
Even if you're very unhappy with your child's progress, Jan Long advises against taking him out of school. "Once he's out of the system, it makes information gathering difficult and may jeopardise his chance of getting a special needs statement. It's a bit like a court of law, if the evidence is flimsy, the case gets thrown out."
What do special schools offer?
Some dyspraxic children will need the support of a special school, particularly if they have severe speech and co-ordination problems, or who have been been demoralised by past failure.
Special schools follow an adapted form of the National Curriculum. Children are taught in small classes with a high pupil teacher ratio and a lot of one-to-one attention. Most special needs schools are state-funded, but if you want your child to attend an independent special needs school, the LEA will consider your wishes but is under no legal obligation to comply with them.
Karen Heaney writes about education and parenting issues. She lives in South London and is married with two children.
