Here at Ludgershall Castle Primary School we are currently working towards our Dyslexia Friendly Schools award.
Firstly let’s address the question of What is Dyslexia? You might be surprised to learn that there is no one definition, but it is mostly thought to be a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.
Features of dyslexia can be difficulties with phonological awareness, verbal memory and also verbal processing speed. Other difficulties (known as co-occurring difficulties) can be seen through struggling with Language, Motor coordination, Mental calculation, Concentration and Personal organisation – although these are not markers of dyslexia by themselves.
Dyslexia can also impact maths skills such as having difficulty reading a question, not having quick re-call of number facts and struggling to follow a process to answer a question.
We are often asked by parents if their child has dyslexia because they reverse letters or numbers when writing. Please be assured that this is a very common thing for children to do and in itself does not mean that there are dyslexic traits impacting their learning.
How are difficulties with literacy identified at our school?
When a class teacher identifies that a child is struggling they will meet with myself as school SENCO to decide on the best course of action.
This may be as result of a child not meeting the required pass mark of the Year 1 Phonics screening check, or there may be signs during spelling tests or daily writing sessions that the teaching staff have picked up on.
At this point we would carry out what is called a WESFORD screener. This document, which was created by Wiltshire acts as a way of us identifying the key weaknesses and strengths the child may have.
Please note that we, as a school, are unable to test and diagnose any child with dyslexia. These screeners are merely a way of us being able to focus in on areas that they need more support.
After screening, then you, as the parents will be informed so that we can talk through the plans for future support.
What support do we offer at Ludgershall Castle Primary school?
At our school we aim to teach and deliver our lessons in a way that is accessible to all of our learners. So in whole class teaching this will look like:
Bright and well ventilated classrooms
Learning walls showing worked examples to support
Teachers modelling talking through their learning process
Extra adult support and scaffolding where appropriate
Fun, interactive and multi-sensory activities
Access to resources
Visual timetables
As a result of the outcomes from the WESFORD screening process your child may have the following support available to them:
Small group word and phonics activities
Instructions chunked in to smaller steps
Individualised versions of resources
Use of computing software
Talking tins
Paired reading partners
Here are some ideas of ways that you can support your child at home:
Split spellings in to their sounds
Read together in a cosy, quiet place at home
Get older siblings involved
Keep reading as much as can to them, even if they feel confident to read themselves
Use visual reminders of routines
Play word or memory games when on a journey or at dinner time
Sing songs and nursery rhymes
Let your child see you reading
Count steps
Some websites for more information:
Microsoft Word - Support strategies for all parents and carers_250118 copy.docx
Please follow the link below to watch a video on how we support children with dyslexia here at Ludgershall Castle Primary School.