Dyslexia Support Service

Last updated: 19/08/2009 Add to My Bookmarks

The Dyslexia Support Service

Children with Dyslexia:

• come from all backgrounds
• are of all intellectual abilities
• have many strengths and are often creative and successful
• have unexpected difficulty in being able to read and write
• often have difficulty with personal organisation
• often have a slow processing speed and poor short-term memory
• can have weak visual and/or auditory perception skills
• sometimes have difficulty with spoken language and numeracy

Recognised Definitions of dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difference which is constitutional in origin, independent of socioeconomic or language background and can occur at any level of intellectual ability. It can cause unexpected and persistent difficulties in acquiring certain skills on one or more of the following areas: reading, writing and sometimes numeracy or spoken language. There may be accompanying weaknesses in the skills that support personal organisation, for example, speed of processing, short-term memory, sequencing and possible weaknesses in auditory and/or visual perception skills.

British Dyslexia Association

Dyslexia is evident when accurate and fluent reading and/or spelling develops incompletely or with great difficulty. This focuses on literacy learning at the 'word level' and it implies that the problem is severe and persistent despite appropriate learning opportunities. It provides the basis for a staged process of assessment through tracking

British Psychological Society

What should you do if you think your son/daughter is dyslexic?

• If you think that your son/daughter is dyslexic your first port of call is their teacher or form tutor

• The teacher will then contact the schools Special Educational Needs Coordinator who will assess your son/daughter and if appropriate put them on the schools special needs register at 'School Action'

• An Individual Education Plan will be written and the school will make extra provision at 'School Action'. You will be invited to go to the school and review your son/daughters progress

• If progress is not made your son/daughter will be moved to School Action Plus and the school may invite one of the Dyslexia Advisers to assess them and suggest additional provision

The aim of the Dyslexia Support Service is to ensure the successful inclusion of children with dyslexia in the counties mainstream schools.

The service supports schools, parents and pupils in ensuring the above by:

• encouraging schools to and supporting them in gaining Inclusive – Dyslexia Friendly Schools quality mark
• providing training so that schools are confident and proficient at meeting the needs of pupils with dyslexia. The following training courses are provided for schools in Cornwall:
• The Dyslexia Friendly Classroom – 2 day course for mainstream teachers and TAs (3 x yearly)
• The DyslexiaFriendlySchool – 5 day course for senior managers including SENCOs (2 x yearly)
• Training for individual schools on request
  
• supporting schools in their implementation of the SEN Code of practice re children with dyslexia.
• encouraging early intervention for pupils with dyslexia.
• liaising effectively with other services i.e. Educational Psychology Service
• monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the progress of pupils who are the subjects of statements of special educational need
• advising on differentiation, multi-sensory teaching methods, individual literacy programmes, ICT facilities, the development of self-esteem and the management of secondary behaviour problems
• attending SEN reviews where appropriate
• listening to and acting on the views of children, young people and their families to ensure that the service is supportive and effective

Who could you ring for further support and advice?

• Parent Partnership – 0845-601 7837

• The Cornwall Dyslexia Association (CDA) runs a telephone help line which is open 9am – 7pm Monday to Friday. 01872 274827

The CDA and the local authority work in partnership with parents to ensure that the needs of children with dyslexia are met.

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