Campaigning for recognition of Specialist Teachers
Sunday 30th August 2020
The government funded National Tutoring Programme needs to include specialist SpLD teachers in providing support.
We note there will be a significant proportion of learners with literacy difficulties and specific learning difficulties among the students targeted by this fund, many coming from families who cannot source appropriate dyslexia or learning support themselves. The gap between this group and other students will widen unless the catch-up tutoring delivered within this government initiative is effective in meeting the specific needs of students with learning difficulties.
A qualified specialist teacher not only identifies any specific intervention required for a student experiencing specific learning difficulties but also the impact on their curriculum access and therefore their educational progress. Importantly, applying the techniques and strategies involved in teaching literacy to learners with SpLD, the literacy attainments of many other students are significantly improved.
It is therefore essential that fund allocation is flexible enough for schools to be able to choose and fund qualified, dyslexia-trained tutors.
Sir Jim Rose, on behalf of the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust, Patoss, BDA, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, Dyslexia Guild and Dyslexia Action, CRESTeD have written to urge recognition of our specialist teacher qualifications to support the National Tutoring Programme.
We have offered to work collaboratively with the DfE to address the issues raised and seek together to ensure all students are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential.