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Dyslexic pupils missing out on vital help
Friday, 17 July 2009
Hundreds of dyslexic children will be forced to wait for up to a year for crucial support in class due to a lack of school resources, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
Over 260 children have been told they must now go on a waiting list for extra classroom support — such as much-needed specialist teaching to prevent dyslexic children falling behind — even though many had been given a commitment they would get support next term.
The crisis, which has been felt hardest in the South Eastern and the North Eastern Library Board areas, emerged after more than 300 new pupils were identified as requiring similar support for the same learning difficulty during the current academic year. The figures have angered parents who are concerned that their children are losing out on support when they need it most.
The South Eastern Education and Library Board has admitted that 184 children must now wait a full year — until September 2010 — for the help.
A SEELB spokesman said: “The board has appointed two additional teachers to address the demand for additional support for pupils with dyslexia. Consequently, some 330 pupils will receive support in September 2009. A further bid for additional resources to address the waiting list was submitted to the Department of Education. The board awaits a response. The board regrets that pupils have to wait for a specialist teacher.”
Meanwhile, the North Eastern Education and Library Board has confirmed that an estimated 74 children will be on its waiting list for dyslexia support from September 2009. Among those waiting for support are Jake McCready (8) and Ashleigh McBurney (9) — both pupils at Dundonald Primary School. Their families are angry and worried about the delay.
Jake’s mum Diane said: “Jake was diagnosed with dyslexia in April and all I want is for him to get the help that his school is telling me he needs.”
Ashleigh’s mum Nicola said: “I cannot believe the amount of children who are in the same situation as Jake and Ashleigh.”
A Department of Education spokesman said the majority of schools had staff awareness training in developing a dyslexia-friendly learning environment.
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How come money is available for teaching young kids languages and not for special needs kids? Its a disgrace and know mistake.
Posted by Kerry | 18.07.09, 10:07 GMT
What is the point in diagnosing a student with dyslexia if there is then no support available to help them?
I suspect that most of these children diagnosed with dyslexia are in fact 'instructional casualties', and what they need is access to a structured group or classroom intervention program, not one-on-one support, which may or may not be effective, depending on the kind of support provided.
The assumption that a diagnosis of dyslexia is going to give immediate access to support and funding is I think a myth.
It would make more sense to focus on what programs are needed within the existing classroom situation to support students with reading difficulties, whatever the cause, rather than spend time and effort in diagnosing a special group of students with dyslexia, and then find that there is no specific support available to meet their needs.
Posted by Molly de Lemos | 18.07.09, 01:05 GMT
www.TheEasyEssay.com is a free program that is being used from Special Education to college education, FCAT, SAT, ACT test preparation, home schooling, and educational rehabilitation, as well as in business for concise, organized and targeted memos, speeches, reports, and recommendations.
A noted side effect of the program is that users begin to communicate logically.
“I got feedback from the teachers. They love it and we are looking at using it with some of our AT devices.”
Dr. Suzanne Pope Dobson - Calhoun High School (Special Education Department Head)
Posted by BARRY MORSE | 18.07.09, 00:31 GMT
On average over £80 000 per year is spent on prisoners.... How much is spent on a child?
Posted by cm | 17.07.09, 19:05 GMT
Not a replacement for special tutoring that is critical for dyslexic children, but Ghotit offers writing assistive solutions free to educational institutes.
Try it at: www.ghotit.com
Ghotit - Developed by dyslexics for dyslexics
Thanks,
Ofer
Posted by Ghotit | 17.07.09, 14:54 GMT
It has been known for a long time that the UK fails to support its weakest children in maths and english at primary school, whether they have dyslexia or not. That failure means they cannot access properly the secondary school curriculum. The children know they are weak and feel disheartened and disillusioned and at this very young age turn away from seeing any advantage in education. This is an area where Northern Ireland with such a small number of primary school children to deal with could make a big difference to these children's lives, and provide a leading example to the rest of the UK (one small district in Scotland has already achieved this).
These are the kids at the bottom of the pile. What priorities do are politicians choose instead? We have a "loca"l government obsessed with whether grammar school education is fair or not, concentrating their minds on those children at the top of the pile who will do well whatever the educational arrangements and provision.
Posted by Michael Dubitante | 17.07.09, 13:50 GMT
If this is the case why is education funding being wasted to teach Polish to primary school kids when English should be the only language taught. It is clear that kids with dyslexia are being treated as a lower priority to some politically correct culturally orientated idiocy that is costing £1.5 million. This money would be better directed at addressing an issue that is affecting hundreds of kids with dyslexia.
Posted by Thos | 17.07.09, 08:44 GMT
I have researched and developed the world`s only effective reading programme for dyslexia .Check it out .www.readspeak.co.nz.
Cheers ,
John Callahan
Auckland N.Z
Posted by John Callahan | 17.07.09, 03:08 GMT