The spiky profile
What is a spiky profile?
Is your child’s handwriting all over the place, even though they chatter away using vocabulary that has you running for the dictionary? Are they an extraordinarily talented artist, yet struggle in social situations to a debilitating degree? UK schools recognise high learning potential and aim to support all children to achieve within an inclusive mainstream setting.
There are a number of ways in which a spiky profile might present itself. Your child may be extremely bright, but constantly in trouble at school for being late or not paying attention. A child with dyslexia may produce results below their expected level in the classroom but excel on the sports field. Often their giftedness goes unnoticed.
A child with dyspraxia may be bored silly with the level of maths on offer at school but lag behind because when everyone else is writing down their homework, they’re too busy struggling to zip up their pencil case while trying not to knock their chair over as they scramble to the next lesson. Their heads may be bursting with imaginative ideas for stories, but their fine motor difficulties mean that it takes forever to write them down and, when they do, it’s illegible.
Another scenario might be a girl with autism who performs well academically, but has difficulty making friends, leading to social anxiety, or even school avoidance. Inclusive support by special needs staff will recognise that her wellbeing needs could impact her academic attainment. Through awareness of her spiky profile, they will support the girl’s social difficulties to allow her to attend school and flourish.
Signs your child may have a spiky profile
Many clues might point in the direction of a spiky profile: average performance at school yet engaged by books and interests that seem far beyond their years; outstanding problem-solving skills and sense of humour that doesn’t necessarily translate to written work; exceptional flair for an aspect of the arts, such as music, yet finding it hard to keep up in other areas. The only way to find out for sure is for your child to be assessed by an educational psychologist.
How parents can support a child with a spiky profile
Start by focusing on the child. If they are verbal, talk to them about what’s going on at school and find out what changes they would like to happen. Children’s librarians, museum and art gallery staff can help you to seek out support for your child’s learning.
Keen readers may not be challenged by some modern children’s books, so dust off a few children’s classics to stretch their vocabulary. Make full use of technology – older children can download free apps onto their smartphone to help with organisation, recording notes and producing written work.
When it comes to developing strategies to help your child at home, be guided by their interests.
Dual and multiple exceptionality in UK schools
Sometimes you will hear this profile described as ‘dual and multiple exceptionality’, especially in the US, though in UK schools, it may be referred to as more able or as having a high learning potential. The government has ambitions to reduce the attainment gap for all children, especially for disadvantaged children and those with additional needs. This means recognising the needs of the child with a spiky profile, however it presents. Potential Plus UK is an independent charity that supports the social, emotional and learning needs of children with a spiky profile.
How schools can help children with a spiky profile
Parents should approach the school with solutions as well as problems. The school's special needs coordinator should draw up an individual support plan for your child, which ought to incorporate opportunities to support and minimise disruption to their education caused by their difficulties, while promoting their talents and interests. A school may need to call in external services to support with therapy or counselling. Schools often work in partnership with specialist providers, eg riding for the disabled or individual music tuition for special needs. Alternatively, the government provides funding for talented musicians and dancers with additional needs to attend specialist schools up to the age of 25.
It is essential that these students are identified as early as possible and given the chance to realise their potential, preventing the spiky profile from impacting their attainment.
