More Information & FAQs
At Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia, we believe in a dyslexic friendly society, that enables every neuro-diverse person of all ages to reach their full potential.
More Information
Parent’s General Information
Every school must have a SEND dyslexia policy which details the provision for dyslexic students, this should be on the school’s website. Ask your school’s secretary if you cannot see it on the website. Ask for a meeting with class teacher, SENCo or head teacher, which ever you think will best support you. Explain your concerns and ask what school is providing to support your child and quoting what it says on their website. If you need more help, contact our Helpline or SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Information, Advice and Support Service) in your area.
The SENDIASS offers free, confidential and impartial information, guidance, advice and support. The service used to be called the Parent Partnership Service. It’s available to all children, young people and parents and carers of children and young people.
Leeds – 0113 378 5020
Bradford – 01274 513300
Selby (N. Yorkshire) – 01609 536923
Barnsley – 01226 787234
Kirklees KIAS – 0300 330 1504
Calderdale – 01422 266141
Wakefield – 01924 304152
Sheffield – 0114 273 6009
Doncaster – 01302 862176
Rotherham – 01709 823627
Legislation and law: these are the 2 main documents that govern SEND
Special educational needs and disability code of practice: SEN CoP 0 to 25 years 2015 (Dept for Educ – gov.uk) & Children and Families Act 2014 (Full act of law)
Both of these documents are important but very few schools or teachers know about them or use them.
Does a school have to acknowledge independent assessments?
“Schools should accept any report by an appropriately qualified professional, regardless of source. If that professional identifies a difficulty that has a ‘significant impact’ on the child’s life (i.e. a below average reading score) then the Equalities Act (2010) makes it very clear that the school must not treat that child unfavourably compared to another child (i.e. a typical child that can read at an average level in relation to peers) and that they must put in place ‘reasonable adjustments’ (e.g. a reader in an exam) such that the child is not treated less favourably than others. To ignore findings of significant impact and not take reasonable steps is, in the definition of the law, discrimination – if the findings suggest below average capability of functioning (in any aspect), the school has a statutory duty to do something.” – Quote from BDA Forum which was sent to a helpliner from a Local Authority SEND officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that do not affect general intelligence. You can find out more about dyslexia here.
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Is dyslexia hereditary?
Dyslexia is regarded as a neurobiological condition that is genetic in origin. This means that individuals can inherit this condition from a parent and it affects the performance of the neurological system (specifically, the parts of the brain responsible for learning to read).
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Is dyslexia a disability?
Dyslexia can be a disability under the Equality Act 2010. A disability under the Equality Act 2010 is a physical or mental impairment that affects a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Dyslexia will count as a long-term physical or mental impairment.
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How to tell if your children is dyslexic?
Dyslexia is often identified in primary school, however some people’s coping strategies are so good that the dyslexic difficulties don’t become apparent until much later, perhaps at secondary school or even in university or the workplace.
The first step as a parent is to gain a good understanding of what dyslexia is, and how it can affect your child. You can find out more about dyslexia here.
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What are the signs of dyslexia?
If you suspect that your child may be dyslexic and would benefit from additional support then your first step should be to consult your child’s teacher or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) to discuss your concerns. You can find out more about the signs of dyslexia at any age here.
