More needs to be done to help dyslexic pupils

TdaNews Direct
Published: 8 May, 2008

The Government has called for more to be done to improve teaching for dyslexic pupils.

Schools secretary Ed Balls announced that a review has been ordered on how dyslexic pupils should be educated, in order to ensure they are receiving the optimum learning experience for their condition, reports the Guardian.

Mr Balls told the paper: "The fact is that in too many parts of the country parents and children are still not getting the help they need and certainly not quickly enough."

He added: "[The Government wants] firm evidence as to the way forward [to] convince the sceptics dyslexia exists and [for the review to] tell us how best to get these children the help they deserve."

Currently, there are around 300,000 dyslexic children in England but only five per cent of local authorities are honouring their legal duty to provide parents of sufferers with "clear and transparent information".

In related news, Mr Balls has invited councillors in charge of education from around the country to a summit at Whitehall, to discuss how to boost their GCSE results, reports the Sheffield Star.