One in every ten children is dyslexic and many more struggle with reading and writing. Early intervention and a structured multi-sensory teaching programme can make all the difference. As a qualified teacher and member of the British Dyslexia Association, I have taught countless children to read and will help your child to become a confident and competent reader as well as helping them find ways to improve their writing and spelling.

Contact me today to find out how I can help you and your child.

Thursday 15 February 2018

Are you or your partner dyslexic? Then your child could be too.

Are you or your partner dyslexic? Then your child stands a good chance of being dyslexic too. It is hereditary. Your child has a 50% chance of being dyslexic as well.

So, what can you do to help your child?

Well, the first thing to know, is that if you teach them as if they are dyslexic and they're not then you won't do any harm. The way dyslexic children need supporting benefits all children with gaining literacy skills. On the flip-side, if your child is dyslexic and you don't address it, then that will be damaging.

If your child is very little, then teach them lots of nursery rhymes, read lots of stories and put your finger under the words so that they start to make the link between what you are saying and the words on the page. Familiarise your child with letters; buy them an alphabet chart - I put my daughter's chart up next to her nappy change mat when she was 18 months, give them foam letters to play with in the bath, magnetic letters for the fridge and wooden inset alphabet puzzles.


As they get older, you can play games like I Spy. You can use letter sounds or make a collection of picture cards with rhyming names e.g pot, cot, hat, mat etc and play 'I spy something that rhymes with .....' Being able to rhyme is very important when it comes to reading. It is also something many dyslexic children struggle with.


Before your child starts school, think about getting them screened. Schools will typically wait till children are about seven or eight before screening for dyslexia - and some, sadly, won't screen at all. If you know your child is likely to be dyslexic and need support, it is prudent to arm yourself with proof before your child starts school. 


Screening for dyslexia is possible from four and a half years old. Screening does not confirm dyslexia but will give you a sense of how likely your child is to be dyslexic and will also give you an insight into what they find particularly difficult and the sort of support they need. 


If your child is already at school and struggling, make sure the staff know that you or your partner are dyslexic. Share your concerns about your child and see what they can do to support them. If you're not happy with the response or feel your child needs more, then seek out a specialist tutor and consider a screening test to establish their difficulties.


Above all, don't panic. Help is out there; many schools are good at dealing with dyslexia but if they cannot meet your child's needs or if your child needs additional support then tutors like me are available to supplement your child's education and help you to ensure that they reach their potential.


If your child is struggling then contact me today to get them the help and support they need to succeed. Screening and tuition available now.