Cash pledge for dyslexia education training

22nd June 2009

Teachers should be given more help in learning how to identify dyslexic pupils, a government review has said.

The report called for more help for parents and carers, as well as extra support to help dyslexic pupils perform better in education.

Prepared by government literacy expert Sir Jim Rose, the report recommends that the government funds training for teachers to allow dyslexic pupils to have more access to specialist help.

Schools secretary Ed Balls accepted the report's recommendations, pledging to spend £10m on training for 4,000 specialist teachers over the next two years and to offer better advice to parents.

"The Children's Plan contained a commitment to provide children with dyslexia the help and personalised learning they need in order to fulfil their potential," Balls stated.

"By acting on Sir Jim's recommendations, we will equip schools and teachers with the skills and knowledge they need to deliver the best education to children with dyslexia."

The schools secretary added: "No child should be held back by a special educational need."

The report called for online teacher training courses to be introduced to help find the right techniques for teaching literacy.

Schools should assess the methods used to deliver extra help with literacy and make sure they have the expertise required to deliver these, Sir Jim's report said.

And there should be clearer guidance for parents about what help is available for dyslexia and literacy difficulties.

The National Union of Teachers welcomed the recognition of dyslexia and the extra funding, but warned more specialist teachers would be needed.

"While this is a good start, it is likely that we will require more teachers trained in the future to address the needs of children and young people coping with dyslexia," said general secretary Christine Blower.

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