I think my child may have dyslexia...
Examples of reasonable adjustments at school...
• Offer alternatives to writing as a key method of recording • Provide handouts that contain the learning points rather than asking pupils to copy text from the whiteboard or take notes • Repeat instructions/information and check for understanding of tasks • Use visual timetables with colour coding and symbols • Alter format options onscreen or on an interactive whiteboard • Encourage peer support to record homework tasks in the planner • Provide access to assistive technology such as a computer for pupils who find it difficult to read large amounts of text or to write quickly enough in class • Use multi-sensory ways of teaching • Allow time to respond as many dyslexic students are slower to process information • Break information and instructions into smaller ‘chunks’
Dyslexia is often identified in primary school, however some people’s coping strategies are so good that the dyslexic difficulties don’t become apparent until much later, perhaps at secondary school or even in university or the workplace. The first step as a parent is to gain a good understanding of what dyslexia is, and how it can affect your child. If you believe your child may have special educational needs (SEN) you should contact their teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) to discuss your concerns and the appropriate support to put in place. SEN support is the support that a school or college should put in place for a child/ young person with SEN. A pupil does not need to have an official diagnosis of a learning difficulty in order for support to be given. However, a diagnostic assessment can ensure that any additional support is targeted to the pupil’s specific areas of weakness and strength. There are 4 stages of SEN support: 01 Assessing your child’s needs You should talk to your child’s teacher or the school’s SENCo about your concerns. Alternatively, if a teacher or SENCo has concerns they should contact you to discuss your child’s difficulties and the appropriate support to put in place. If the young person is over the age of 16 they should be fully involved in designing their own SEN support and provision. The SENCo should spend time with your child to work out what kind of extra support they might need. Every child’s SEN support needs are different, depending on what kind of difficulties they have and how serious these are. If necessary, other specialists, such as an educational psychologist, may be involved. 02 Planning SEN Support You and your child’s educational setting, for example preschool/school or college, need to agree how your child will benefit from any SEN support they get. You should be fully involved in discussions about the support that should be put in place for your child. If your child is 16 or over, they should be involved in this process. 03 Putting the plan into action Your child’s educational setting will put the planned support into place. Their teacher remains responsible for working with your child on a daily basis. However, the SENCo and any support staff or specialist teaching staff involved in providing support should work closely to track your child’s progress and check that the support is working. 04 Review the outcomes of the support The SEN support should be reviewed at the time agreed in the initial plan. Teachers and parents should work together to decide whether the support is having a positive impact, whether the agreed outcomes are being met and if any changes need to be made.
Five ways to help support a child with dyslexia right now... 01 Get a routine For most people, routine is important, but for learners with dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions, it is even more critical. 02 Decide what to teach The next step is to spend some time getting to know what learning level your child is at. The work should challenge them but not be inaccessible to them. 03 Teach using a ‘multisensory’ approach Multisensory simply means using more than one of a child’s senses at a time. Because of the way the dyslexic brain works, learning this way is far more effective. 04 Embrace technology Nowadays, there are so many free programs our computers, tablets and smartphones can access that can make a huge difference to young people with dyslexia. 05 Don’t overload your child Learning one-on-one or in small groups is much more intense than a normal school day, because of the way the dyslexic brain works - they tire faster.
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