best school for extra help? dyslexia?

[dizzy]

Hi
We may be relocating to Hong Kong in January 2011 and I am scoping out scohols for my seven-year-old who has had troubles with learning to read/write. He has all the signs of dyslexia and at his current school has had a lot of support and has been able to get up to grade level.
Does anyone have any idea which would be the best school to send him to?
Thanks

 

[HSI]

You should try The Harbour School. It's small, but they have specialist to help kids with special needs. My son went there for 1 year and I have posted my feedback in the other forum "Harbour School-feedback?". Please see if that will help.
On the other hand, Hong Kong Academy could be another option, but as far as I understand, they have long waiting list. The other international school with big names may be very academic focus and they may not provide sufficient support that you are hoping.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[dizzy]

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I have spoken to The Harbour School and they do seem to be well set up to give kids extra help. However it's twice the price of ESF and I'm wondering if ESF plus extra tuition might be a good option. But I get conflicting reports on how much learning support ESF schools are able to provide. Any other opinions on this, perhaps from people with kids in the ESF system, are much appreciated.

 

[HSI]

You are very welcome. Well I am in the exact situation like yours ... in fact, it took my son 2.5 years on the waiting list for ESF special needs in order to get a place. The one year at The Harbour School is really a "transition" but I have no other good choice in HK. My son's tuition is not paid by corporate like many other expats, but really out of our own pocket. So, it's a real financial stress for us. But afterall, I have to say that this one year tuition was well paid and I am very happy with the school. Given with the individualized attention on your child, the money is well spent.
ESF is good, but you really need to consider the long process and waiting list. You may want to check out their website.

 

[MommyTo3]

ESF does provide a lot of special and individual needs to children, however, there are still 30 children in a class room. It may or may not be sufficient.

 

[Millerwhisk]

I have a son who is dyslexic, he is now nearly 12, he has been in the ESF system since he was 8. The help compared to that which we received in other overseas countries and in uk is minimal. It's very costly for the extra help. Most parents of children with dyslexia I have spoken to end up sending them to boarding school or going home. It really depends how long you plan to stay for primary years it is ok but not necessarily for high school. Extra tuition if you can afford it with the ESF schooling is ok at primary level. Where abouts do you plan on staying? I have heard discovery bay international school is good for learning support as well but more expensive than ESF and again hard to get into. Good luck!

 

[kidz.can.connec]

Hello, I'm a special needs teacher. About your son having difficulties learning and writing, do you need some advice in teaching him? I've students that were diagnosed with dyslexia previously.

 

[Jomama1]

Hi, just wondering if you are still around
My son is 3.5 years old now with very weak text recognition. He can memorize words from storybooks but cannot recognize his own name. Only able to figure out the complete alphabets lately... He just had an eye exam and everything checked out fine. He does have sensory integration needs and very short attention span and i worry that maybe he has more problems than we can tell now. As i believe both Attention Deficit & Dyslexia should not be properly diagnosed before age 5-6, is there any signs i should look for? Any early intervention i should be doing besides Sensory Integration therapy? Many thanks for your help. Feel free to PM me as well.