Support for Children
Signs of dyslexia usually become more obvious when children start school and begin to focus more on learning how to read and write.
What is the first step in supporting your child?
If you suspect that your child may be dyslexic 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.
There are two main documents that govern Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) and that can help you with getting support for your child:
SEN CoP 0 to 25 years 2015 (Dept for Educ – gov.uk)
Children and Families Act 2014 (Full act of law)
From our experience, getting support put in place for children in school can be challenging. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – our experienced volunteers are always happy to help!
Looking for support?
We operate a helpline service run by volunteers. Please be considerate when calling, our helpliners are volunteers and some have full time jobs but give what time they can to help.
If you are looking for an assessment, visit our Assessors Directory.
Contact your Local SENDIASS
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Information, Advice and Support Service (SEDNIASS) offers free, confidential and impartial information, guidance, advice and support. It’s available to all children, young people and parents and carers of children and young people.
Some signs of Dyslexia in Children
Signs of dyslexia can become more obvious when children start learning how to read and write. Some signs of dyslexia in children may be:
Children may struggle with:
- Learning the alphabet (names and sounds of letters)
- Pronouncing words correctly
- Tying shoe laces and dressing
- Telling left and right
- Reading, writing and/or spelling (confusing letters b/d and numbers)
- Learning the order of days of the week
- Read slowly or make errors when reading aloud
- Describe visual disturbances when reading (for example, letters and words seems to move around or appear blurred)
- Answer questions well orally, but have difficulty writing the answer down
- Have poor handwriting and slow writing speed
How we can help children with dyslexia
At Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia, we believe in a dyslexic-friendly society that enables all neurodiverse persons of all ages to reach their full potential.
Learn Touch Typing at Our Weekly Typing Club
We think typing by touch is one of the most valuable skills for dyslexics. Our Typing Club offers weekly touch typing lessons for children (+8 years old) at Fulneck School in Pudsey.
Find a Tutor/Assessor Close to You in Our Directory
Our Online Tutors & Assessors Directory is the easiest way to find a specialist close to you. All Tutors/Assessors on our directory hold a recognised dyslexia/SpLD qualification.
General Help and Support for Parents
We provide free information, training and advice to dyslexics and their families. Get in touch with us if you need extra support and would to talk to one of our experienced volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below the answers to the most common questions around dyslexia and related subjects.
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).
Is dyslexia a disability?
Dyslexia is classified as 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.
Does a school have to acknowledge independent assessments?
The short answer is YES but it can be challenging to get the school to agree and action the necessary support/adjustments.
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 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.
How much does an assessment cost?
Costs for assessments vary quite a lot depending on where you live, who is doing the assessment and what type of assessment is being done. The cost is usually several hundreds of pounds.
Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia does not provide assessments, however you can visit our Tutors & Assessors Directory to find an assessor.
As a benchmark, the British Dyslexia Association charges £690 for an assessment with a specialist teacher and £882 for an assessment with a psychologist (Feb 2025).
Is there any funding available for assessments?
Unfortunately, there is not usually any direct funding for diagnostic assessments. Generally, assessments have to be paid for by the individual, parent, or employer.
As dyslexia and dyscalculia are not medical conditions, a diagnostic assessment is not covered by the NHS.
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Become a Member
Join us as the voice of dyslexic people by becoming a member Yorkshire Rose Dyslexia.
Your support enables us to provide free information, events, training and advice and continue striving for a dyslexia-friendly society.
All membership fees paid online are paid by Direct Debit and can be cancelled at any time.
Benefits
In addition to supporting us, you will get access to:
- Our Members Support Group on Facebook
- Our Parents Support Group on What’s App
- Our Typing Club Sessions
- Exclusive Member Events, Discounts & Offers