The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust Resources

How can I help my child at home?

How can I explain about Dyslexia to my child?

You can view and share our booklet 'Understanding Dyslexia', which was written by a parent and child, specifically for parents and children. The booklet is available in two versions, one for primary age and one for secondary aged children.Click here

Helpful information is also available via the CBBC Newsround website here

How can I support my child's reading, spelling or writing?

Top 5 tips - short films on reading, writing, organisation, memory and spelling
Help with handwriting
Helping children read
Readability
Ideas to support your child at home
Some hints and tips
Reading resources
'Ask an Expert' audio interviews
Using graphic organisers

You can also view the parent area on the websites of some of the Trust Member organisations.

What about other Specific Learning Difficulties?

Other useful links for support of those with Specific Learning Difficulties are:

Apprenticeship Factsheet Now Live

A factsheet for dyslexic young people undertaking an Apprenticeship in England has gone live, for further information please click here or download a copy below.

Youth Offending Conference 2014

The first Dyslexia and Youth Offending Conference took place at Goodison Park, the home of Everton Football Club, on 27^thNovember 2014. Over 100 delegates from as far as the Isle of Man to Manchester and from Surrey to Newcastle were welcomed with bacon sandwiches and coffee in the Brian Labone Room. A range of exhibitors such as Dyslexia Action demonstrated their support tools and information for delegates working with young people with hidden disabilities.

Kate Saunders CEO of the British Dyslexia Association opened the event by introducing Donna Stevenson who gave an overview of the Youth Offending project and what has been achieved. This presentation can be downloaded below.

Bob Hext MD of Crossbow Education Ltd gave a presentation on Visual Stress: What everyone should know which can be found here

David Ahern CEO of the Shannon Trust gave a very interesting presentation on the work they are doing teaching prisoners to read using the resource Toe by Toe. This presentation can be downloaded below.

Melanie Jameson, a freelance consultant working across the justice system on SpLD gave an presentation on the vulnerability of young people with Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. This presentation can be downloaded below.

Glenys Heap from Dyslexia Action gave a talk on Hidden Communication needs which highlighted the importance of good and effective communication skills in Youth Offending teams.

Jo Gregory of the British Dyslexia Association spoke about the BDA Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark for Youth Offending teams and Young Offender Institutes. This presentation can be found below as well as an overview sheet on the BDA Quality Mark.

The day came to an end with closing remarks from Lord Storey and thanks from Mel Byrne Director of the Dyslexia SpLD Trust. It really was a great day which demonstrated the hard work and progress that we have made over the past two years with Youth Offending teams.

Katrina Cochrane of BDA and Project Director said "the lasting legacy of the project will be in the relationships built by networking,sharing ideas and finding out about resources and what has worked in YOTs, such as Liverpool."

Many thanks to all the organisers and attendees who made this an inspiring and informative conference.

Teaching for Neurodiversity Resources – Engaging Learners with SEND

These resources support the DfE funded training which ran across England from September 2016 until 31st March 2017.

These training sessions are now available as webinars and all the resources mentioned in the webinars can be accessed below. All resources and videos are free to access, download and use.

Through the training you will Learn About:

The range of neurodiversities
How different Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) overlap
Identifying the signs of SpLDs
Teaching strategies to support learners with neurodiversity
How to pass knowledge learnt on to your colleagues

Take Away:

Tools to help identify and build SpLD profiles
Access to informative resources on neurodiversity and SpLDs
Information about how to signpost for further actions
Knowledge and skills to help you and your team meet the requirements of theSEND Code of Practice

Delegate Packs:

Download PowerPoint Presentations and resources to support cascading this training throughout your settings. There are a range of resources targeted at those working with Primary, Secondary, and Post-16 learners.

Webinars and further supporting resources for this Neurodiversity Training are available. Webinars can be accessed through this link: http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about/projects/webinar-recordings

Achievement for All 3As

www.afa3as.org.uk

A national charity which supports schools to improve the aspirations, access and achievement of learners and young people.

How can my child's school help with dyslexia?

How will the new SEND Reforms change provision in school?

Dyslexia Action has produced some new guidance for parents on what the recent SEND Reforms mean for those with literacy and dyslexia difficulties.

Click here to view the guidance

How can I get help if my child is dyslexic?

speak to your child's teacher
contact your school SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator)
call the BDA National Helpline on 0333 405 4567. Or click here
Contact your local association of the British Dyslexia Association or Dyslexia Action

Questions about Dyslexia

What type of support might the school provide?

The Trust has an online tool to identify and provide information on supporting children and young people with literacy difficulties: Interventions for Literacy

Resources for Youth Offending Teams

The Youth Offending Team project has developed a training package which it has delivered and continues to deliver to YOT all over the country. The purpose of the session is to promote Dyslexia Awareness amongst those working with Young Offenders and to equip them with the knowledge and resources to cascade this to others working within the field.

A PowerPoint containing the training session, trainer notes plus additional resources from this project and work of others in this area can be found below.

'Every Teacher is a Teacher of SEN' resources

The new Code of Practice states that all teaching and support staff should be trained and have awareness of quality teaching for students with SEN.

These webcasts and accompanying resources will support teachers and support staff in working with students with SEN.

These resources were produced through the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust with funding from the Department for Education in collaboration with Patoss and Helen Arkell.

Follow these links:

Webcast 1: Understanding Dyslexia and Other Literacy Difficulties

Webcast 2: Sir Jim Rose on Dyslexia and the Simple View of Reading

Webcast 3: Simple View of Reading with Strategies

'Every Teacher is a Teacher of SEN' resources

The new Code of Practice states that all teaching and support staff should be trained and have awareness of quality teaching for students with SEN.

These webcasts and accompanying resources will support teachers and support staff in working with students with SEN.

These resources were produced through the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust with funding from the Department for Education in collaboration with Patoss and Helen Arkell.

Follow these links:

Webcast 1: Understanding Dyslexia and Other Literacy Difficulties

Webcast 2: Sir Jim Rose on Dyslexia and the Simple View of Reading

Webcast 3: Simple View of Reading with Strategies

Autism Education Trust

www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk

Dedicated to coordinating, supporting and promoting effective education practice for all children and young people on the autism spectrum.

Literacy and Dyslexia Professional Development Framework

This free online tool provides valuable information and resources to support continued professional development. It enables practitioners to benchmark their skills and plan further training.

To view the whole resource, please click here, or you may wish to view certain key sections below.

Help with Screening and Assessment

Some of your children may not respond to good phonics based teaching as part of a balanced curriculum and may need further investigations for specific needs such as dyslexia-SpLD. For more information on screening and assessment tools and how they fit into a graduated approach, click on the link below:

http://framework.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/resources/screening-and-assessment

Further support can be found on our partner sites, here:

Where can I get specialist training?

To benchmark your current skills and find out what further qualifications may be suitable, please click here. Other training course providers include:

Interventions for Literacy

Based on the well respected book by Professor Greg Brooks, What works for children and young people with literacy difficulties, This work has been updated in the 6th edition by Dr Gary Lavan. To access the online search tool of evidence based interventions click on this link

The Definition of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.

Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category and there are no clear cut-off points.
Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor co-ordination, mental calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers of dyslexia.
A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexia difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.

Source: The Rose Report 2009, Pg 29. - Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties.

Questions about Dyslexia?

This leaflet helps to provide answers to questions you may have when first hearing about dyslexia. This leaflet is available in other languages, at the bottom of this page.

Questions about Dyslexia?

What can I do if I think my child is dyslexic?

Look at the recognised indicators provided by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) here.

For older children and young people, take the dyslexia test, provided by Xtraordinary People. (This is not a formal diagnosis but highlights common issues facing dyslexics and indicates likelihood).

British Psychological Society

www.bps.org.uk

Representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK.

Online Guidance on the SEN Reforms

Below you will find guidance for schools and local authorities to support implementation of the SEND reforms, for children and young people with literacy difficulties, specific learning difficulties and dyslexia. You can either view the full guidance or download individual resource.

Trainers guidance

Send Reforms Guidance

Downloads

Interventions for Literacy

How to find suitable interventions according to need?

'Interventions for Literacy' is a free online tool listing evidence based interventions available for supporting those with literacy difficulties including dyslexia. The search function allows you to tailor selections according to academic year/age, specific need and type of support, such as ICT based.

www.interventionsforliteracy.org.uk

Calibre Audio Library

www.calibre.org.uk

Calibre Audio Library is a national charity providing a subscription-free postal service of unabridged audio books for adults and children with sight problems, dyslexia or other disabilities, who cannot read print.

Trust Offer to Schools and Pathfinders

Available to view or download below, this document includes summary information on partner services and all the Trust's freely available resources.

Trust Offer

The Phonics Screening Check

The Phonics Screening Check - Advice for schools supporting the learner with dyslexia-SpLD. This booklet has been produced as supplementary advice to the guidance provided by Department for Education entitled; 'Departmental advice for Reception and Yr1 teachers'.

The Phonics Screening Check - Responding to results

Leading Improvement using the Primary Framework: Quality First Teaching

Guidance on good literacy and mathematics teaching, which should involve a carefully planned blend of approaches that direct children's learning and challenge them to think. Part of Day 1 of the headteachers' and senior leaders' continuing professional development (CPD) materials.

Quality First Teaching

Literacy and Dyslexia Professional Development Framework

This free online tool provides valuable information and resources to support continued professional development. It enables practitioners to benchmark their skills and plan further training.

To view the whole resource, please click here.

Children England

www.childrenengland.org.uk

The leading membership organisation for the children, young people and families voluntary sector.

Inclusion Development Programme

The resource has been specifically designed to serve two purposes:

to support headteachers, SENCOs and leadership teams in planning to raise the attainment of pupils with dyslexia and other literacy needs and pupils with speech, language and communications needs (SLCN) as part of the annual cycle of school improvement.
to support teachers and support staff in their planning for inclusion and in the further development of teaching strategies to effectively meet the needs of pupils with dyslexia or SLCN.

The IDP details have been preserved by the National Archive and can be downloaded by following the link below:

www.idponline.org.uk

Apprenticeship Factsheet Now Live

The factsheet for dyslexic young people doing an Apprenticeship in England has gone live, for further information please click here.

The Communication Trust

www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk

A campaigning voice for children with speech, language and communication needs.

Publications and Resources for schools

Dyslexia Action provide a teacher's forum and Patoss run local groups for teachers

Contact a Family

www.cafamily.org.uk

The only national charity that exists to support the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability.

Definition of Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.

Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.
Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points.
Co-occuring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor co-ordination, mental calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers of dyslexia.
A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexia difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.

Source: The Rose Report 2009, Pg 29 - Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties.

Council for Disabled Children

www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk

The umbrella body for the disabled children's sector in England.

CRESTED

www.crested.org.uk

The register of schools that help dyslexic children.

Dyslexia International

www.dyslexia-international.org

Working with leading experts to create and promote tools and technologies that enable dyslexic learners to succeed.

Early Support

www.ncb.org.uk/earlysupport

The Government's programme to improve the quality, consistency and co-ordination of services for young disabled children and their families across England.

Guide to Free UK Mental Health Helplines: Signposting the various free helplines that exist for people suffering from mental health issues.

Whilst each of these helplines is slightly different, each one aims to help you in times of crisis. When you contact these free helplines, you will essentially benefit from a 'listening service'. An advisor will talk you through your emotions and offer non-judgmental support.

Studies show that when you are faced with too many options, you are likely to take no action at all. To help address this problem, we outline exactly what each of these free helplines offers for people suffering from mental health problems.

Institute of Education

www.ioe.ac.uk

The top UK university for education research.

Load to Learn

www.load2learn.org.uk

A service providing accessible curriculum resources to support learners who cannot use standard print materials, particularly those with dyslexia or who are blind or partially sighted.

MHFA

www.mhfaengland.org

Internationally recognised in sixteen countries, the MHFA course teaches delegates over two days how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues, provide help on a first aid basis and effectively signpost towards support services. To date, there are over 700 instructors in England who have delivered the MHFA course to over 50,000 people.

National Assocation for Special Educational Needs (NASEN)

www.nasen.org.uk

Promoting the development of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and supports those who work with them.

National Parent Partnership Network

www.parentpartnership.org.uk

Offers information advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs.

Parent Champions

www.parentchampions.org.uk

Making a difference for parents and carers in your community.

Prevent cyber-bullying

Prevent cyber-bullying

In this age of technology and social media, this article will help you understand what you can do to avoid careless online behaviour and prevent cyber-bullying.

SSAT (The School's Network)

www.ssatuk.co.uk

Providing access to practical support in transforming education by being part of a world-class, innovative and influential network of schools.

United Kingdom Literary Association

www.ukla.org

A registered charity, which has as its sole object the advancement of education in literacy.