This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8109554.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Teacher training to spot dyslexia | Teacher training to spot dyslexia |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| More teachers will be trained to identify and support children in England with dyslexia, as a report says greater expertise is needed in schools. | More teachers will be trained to identify and support children in England with dyslexia, as a report says greater expertise is needed in schools. |
| Government adviser Sir Jim Rose, who recently reviewed the English primary school curriculum, said parents needed guidance on the help available. | Government adviser Sir Jim Rose, who recently reviewed the English primary school curriculum, said parents needed guidance on the help available. |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls has announced £10m for extra help, including training for 4,000 teachers. | |
| Charity Dyslexia Action called it a "landmark report". | Charity Dyslexia Action called it a "landmark report". |
| "I have met many parents who have struggled to get the right support for their children," said Mr Balls, who is launching the report on Monday with Sir Jim at a school in south London. | |
| "Sir Jim's recommendations mean that every child's reading needs will be monitored, those who need extra help will receive one to one support, and children with severe literacy difficulties will have the help of a specialist dyslexia teacher." | |
| Defining dyslexia | |
| The report recommends that the government should fund training for teachers so that dyslexic pupils can have better access to specialist help. | |
| It also calls for online training courses for teachers to help them find the right techniques for teaching literacy. | |
| And the report says there should be clearer guidance for parents about what help is available for dyslexia. | |
| In his report, Sir Jim defines dyslexia as a "learning difficulty which primarily affects skills involved in accurate and fluent word-reading and spelling". | In his report, Sir Jim defines dyslexia as a "learning difficulty which primarily affects skills involved in accurate and fluent word-reading and spelling". |
| The charity Dyslexia Action said it was a "great step forward" to have a definition of dyslexia which those affected could recognise and accept. | The charity Dyslexia Action said it was a "great step forward" to have a definition of dyslexia which those affected could recognise and accept. |
| The report will say dyslexia should not be treated as a distinct category of people, but as a continuum, like other disorders. | The report will say dyslexia should not be treated as a distinct category of people, but as a continuum, like other disorders. |
| He is also expected to reiterate that good quality teaching in children's early years is vital. | He is also expected to reiterate that good quality teaching in children's early years is vital. |
| Those with dyslexia can experience mild or more severe difficulties, according to dyslexia organisations. | Those with dyslexia can experience mild or more severe difficulties, according to dyslexia organisations. |
| However, some educational experts question how helpful it is to define dyslexia in such broad terms. | However, some educational experts question how helpful it is to define dyslexia in such broad terms. |
| Professor Julian Elliott, head of education at Durham University, questioned how dyslexia therefore differed from children who simply found reading difficult. | Professor Julian Elliott, head of education at Durham University, questioned how dyslexia therefore differed from children who simply found reading difficult. |
| 'Clarity' | 'Clarity' |
| Dyslexia Action's chief executive, Shirley Cramer, said reading difficulties were a classic symptom of dyslexia, but said other difficulties were often also involved, and some could occur together. | Dyslexia Action's chief executive, Shirley Cramer, said reading difficulties were a classic symptom of dyslexia, but said other difficulties were often also involved, and some could occur together. |
| She described dyslexia as a "basket of issues" and said many people with dyslexia can experience difficulties with: | She described dyslexia as a "basket of issues" and said many people with dyslexia can experience difficulties with: |
|
|
| Dr John Rack, a member of Jim Rose's expert advisory group, said: | Dr John Rack, a member of Jim Rose's expert advisory group, said: |
| "This report represents a landmark for dyslexia in the UK. | "This report represents a landmark for dyslexia in the UK. |
| "Finally, we have agreement on the definition of dyslexia, based on careful consideration of the research literature. | "Finally, we have agreement on the definition of dyslexia, based on careful consideration of the research literature. |
| "That definition has been accepted by the UK's national dyslexia organisations and should therefore provide the clarity which has been lacking in the past." | "That definition has been accepted by the UK's national dyslexia organisations and should therefore provide the clarity which has been lacking in the past." |
| The National Union of Teachers welcomed the report, but warned that training for 4,000 teachers might not be enough. | |
| "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 acting general secretary, Christine Blower. | |