Education for learners with dyslexia - HMIe Report Nov '08

The Cross Party Group on dyslexia was set up by Dyslexia Ayrshire in 2005 with the help of concerned MSPs. The cases of five pupils from Ayrshire were presented to the deputy Minister for Education in the Scottish Parliament in Jan 2007.  Significant concerns were raised about the way in which learners with dyslexia were being provided for given current leglislation.

Further discussions have resulted in the acceptance by the Scottish Government's Department for Education of the need for an approved working definition of dyslexia to help standardise the approach to provision by the many LEAs.

HMIe then undertook their own assessment of current provision for dyslexia in all 32 LEAs across Scotland. The parent representative on the committee set up to oversee the findings, the Dyslexia Reference Group, was a parent from Ayrshire, a member of the Cross Party Group and Committee Member of Dyslexia Ayrshire.

This report is a preliminary study which will form the basis for further development work, which, together with the definition, is intended to become a national programme for the identification and assessment of dyslexia. This is expected to assist in the provision of better support needs for all our children with dyslexia currently within education.

The intention is to have a national standard for education for learners with dyslexia which parents will recognise, rather than what currently exists - the mere chance of coming across a teacher or school or LEA which properly understands dyslexia, or has the experience, or training, or resources to give every pupil with dyslexia the education they need and deserve.

Click here to download the HMIe report.