Advocating for Dyslexia Support in Schools: A Parent’s Guide

Securing the right support for your child with dyslexia can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating school systems and policies. As a parent, you play a crucial role in advocating for your child’s needs, ensuring they receive the understanding and help they deserve. This guide offers practical, step-by-step advice to help you work effectively with schools to secure the best possible support. 

Understanding Dyslexia and Your Rights

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that predominantly affects reading, spelling and can affect memory and processing speed. It’s important to recognise that dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence; with the right support, your child can thrive both academically and socially. 

Know the Legal Framework

To feel confident in advocating for your child, it helps to understand the SEN Code of Practice, which outlines how schools must identify and support children with special educational needs, including dyslexia. This includes: 

Reasonable adjustments: Schools are required to adapt teaching methods and provide tools such as assistive technology or extra time in exams. 

Identification and intervention: Schools must assess and address difficulties early, using a graduated approach known as “Assess, Plan, Do, Review”

If your child’s needs aren’t being met, you may need to consider requesting an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) for more structured, legally binding support. 

Preparing for Discussions with the School

What to Bring to a Meeting

When meeting with teachers or the SENCO, preparation can make all the difference. Bring key information to help you make your case, such as: 

• A copy of your child’s diagnostic assessment, highlighting key recommendations. 

• Examples of their work that illustrate specific challenges, like difficulty writing or spelling. 

• A written list of your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty. 

How to Frame Your Requests

Being clear and focused in your conversations will help the school understand your child’s needs. For example: 

• Instead of saying, “My child is struggling,” you could try:

  “I’d like to discuss support for their spelling and memory difficulties as identified in their recent assessment.”

• Outline specific goals, such as,

  “We’d like to explore the possibility of extra time during tests and access to a laptop for writing tasks.”

Questions to Ask During Meetings

If you’re not sure what to ask during meetings, consider these questions to get the information you need: 

About your child’s progress:

• “What strategies have been tried so far, and how effective have they been?” 

• “Can we review any assessment data or observations from teachers?” 

About support options:

• “What reasonable adjustments could be made in class to help my child?” 

• “Are there any intervention programmes available for literacy or memory difficulties?” 

About ongoing communication:

• “How will the school monitor my child’s progress?” 

• “Who should I contact if I have concerns in the future?” 

Monitoring Progress Effectively

Tracking Your Child’s Development

Once support is in place, you’ll want to monitor how effective it is. Keep your own records by: 

• Creating a diary: Note changes in your child’s attitude, confidence, and performance at home and in school. 

• Requesting regular reviews: Ask for termly meetings with teachers or the SENCO to discuss progress. 

What to Do If Progress Is Limited

If your child isn’t making the progress you’d hoped for: 

• Request another meeting: Share your observations and ask for adjustments to their support plan. 

• Ask about assessments: in rare circumstances, the school may need to re-assess your child’s needs or refer them to external professionals, such as an educational psychologist. 

• Consider escalating: If issues persist, explore an EHCP application or seek independent advice. 

Understanding the Role of External Professionals

Who Can Help?

If you feel your child would benefit from additional support or an assessment to better understand their needs, there are several options to explore:

• Specialist Dyslexia Teachers: A Level 7 qualified (Masters, Post Graduate Diploma, Post Graduate Certificate) specialist teacher can provide a full diagnostic assessment and detailed recommendations tailored to your child. This is often the most effective route for identifying dyslexia and ensuring the right support.

• Specialist Services from Dyslexia Help UK: We provide comprehensive assessments, tailored recommendations, and guidance to help your child access the support they need. If you’d like to learn more, we’d be happy to discuss how we can assist.

• Local Dyslexia Charities or Organisations: Some charities offer guidance, assessments, or workshops at a reduced cost, providing valuable support for families who may need additional help.

• Parent Support Groups: Connecting with other parents can provide practical advice and recommendations for local resources.

Practical Steps to Access Support

While external assessments or interventions can sometimes feel out of reach, here are some ways to access support:

• Speak with your child’s school: The SENCO may be able to offer advice or suggest local resources, such as workshops or tutoring services, even if the school doesn’t provide external assessments directly.

• Contact Us: If you’d like more information about our services or how we can support your child, we’re here to help

Tips for Working Positively with Schools

It’s important to approach advocacy as a partnership with the school. Keep the following in mind: 

• Start with a collaborative tone: Assume teachers want to help and focus on working together. 

• Stay factual and focused: Use evidence to explain your concerns and avoid emotional arguments. 

• Document everything: Follow up on verbal agreements with an email summary to ensure clarity and accountability. 

Advocating for your child with dyslexia is a journey, but it doesn’t have to be one you take alone. With preparation, clear communication, and persistence, you can ensure your child gets the support they need to succeed. Remember, your voice is powerful - by working with the school and external professionals, you’re giving your child the best chance to thrive.