Dyslexia Understood

Dyslexia Understood is based in Bushey, Hertfordshire. It provides a range of services including: CPD training for schools, parent workshops, diagnostic assessments and tuition.

Dyslexia Understood supports schools and teachers by running the Level 5 Diploma, ‘Teaching Learners with Dyslexia, Specific Learning Differences and Barriers to Literacy’. This is held at our course centre in Bushey.

Dyslexia / Specific Learning Difficulties

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) are hugely complex in nature.  There are a number of potential underlying cognitive (thinking) processes and functions that underpin these SpLD.  Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in their cognitive profile, but overall, one would expect most skills to fall at a similar level.  Where an individual has problems in one or more areas in contrast to good or average skills elsewhere, this is defined as a specific learning difficulty.  Children and young people with the specific learning difficulty, dyslexia, may experience difficulties in learning to read, write and spell to the extent that their performance in these areas is below their performance in other areas, despite appropriate learning opportunities and additional education provision. They may also experience problems with the speed of processing information, with memory and phonological awareness.

Did you know?

Dyslexia is the most common type of learning difficulty that pupils are likely to experience, with about 10% of the population having some form of it. Dyslexia is identified as a disability as defined in the Equality Act 2010.

  • Level 5 Specialist Teacher Diploma

    This diploma course will provide you with the knowledge and understanding that underpin Dyslexia and Specific Learning Differences.

  • Inference Training

    Evidence-based programme that will dramatically improve the ability of your pupils in Key Stages 2 & 3 to be able to read for meaning and enjoyment.

  • Training and Workshops

    These are available to empower staff and parents to develop an awareness of how to support learners with a range of difficulties. These include: Dyslexia Understood, Dyspraxia Understood, Phonological Awareness Understood, Spelling, Growth Mindset, Memory and Learning, Reading Beyond the Words

  • Diagnostic Assessment

    We offer full diagnostic dyslexia assessments that will help to understand your child’s strengths and the specific areas of difficulty he or she is experiencing.

  • Tuition

    We offer 1-1 support to help children address their specific areas of difficulty.

Definitions:

In October 2007, The BDA Management Board approved the following definition:

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which mainly affects the development of literacy and language related skills. It is likely to be present at birth and to be lifelong in its effects. It is characterised by difficulties in phonological processing, rapid naming, working memory, processing speed and the automatic development of skills that may not match up to an individual’s cognitive abilities.

In 2009, Sir Jim Rose’s report, ‘Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties’ gave the following description of dyslexia:  

‘Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.  Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities. It is best thought of a continuum, not a distinct category and there are no clear cut-off points. Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor co-ordination, mental calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not by themselves markers of dyslexia. A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic difficulties can be gained by examining how the individual responds or has responded to well-founded intervention.’