Frankie Bridges, a mother from the UK, has spoken out about the emotional struggle of securing appropriate educational support for her son Carter, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at age eight. Despite sending her children to private school—a privilege she acknowledges—Bridges says the system has failed to provide the help he needs.
Carter, born on 15 August 2015, was an August baby, which Bridges says put him at a disadvantage from the start. In 2020, during his first school year, a parents' evening blindsided the family when teachers suggested he repeat Reception. No prior concerns had been raised. The family moved him to a new school after losing trust in the previous one.
At the new school, a teacher quickly noticed Carter's struggles and recommended a private educational psychology assessment. Although he was too young for an official diagnosis at the time, the assessment helped. When he turned eight, he was formally diagnosed with dyslexia. Bridges hoped this would unlock targeted support, but the school could not provide the scribe, speech-to-text software, or in-class assistance he needed.
Teachers later suggested Carter might need a different school, as they feared they could not meet his needs. Bridges is torn: Carter is happy, has friends, and excels in sports, but she worries about his academic future. 'Having the luxury of choice made me realise that even with it, I can't get the help my son needs,' she said.
