Dyslexia

In one sentence

Dyslexia is a difference in how the brain processes written language, which can make reading, spelling and working memory tasks harder.

What parents often notice first

• Slow, effortful reading compared with peers.
• Difficulty sounding out or recognising common words.
• Struggles with spelling, even for familiar words.
• Trouble remembering sequences like days of the week.
• Avoiding reading aloud or written tasks.

What this means day-to-day

Your child may be bright, creative and articulate, yet find reading and writing unusually tiring. They may use lots of energy to keep up in class and feel embarrassed or ‘behind’.

When to seek help

If reading, writing or spelling difficulties persist over time despite good teaching, and your child is losing confidence or beginning to avoid schoolwork.

Who can help

• Educational Psychologist
• Specialist Dyslexia Teacher (Level 7)
• SENCO

Common myths

• Myth: Dyslexia means seeing letters backwards.
  Truth: Some children may reverse letters when learning, but dyslexia is mainly about how the brain processes language and symbols.
• Myth: Dyslexia is laziness.
  Truth: Dyslexia is not about effort. Children with dyslexia often work harder than peers just to keep up.