A new website is providing free and practical support to help teachers understand more about dyslexia and better support pupils with the condition.
The Driver Youth Trust charity has launched the resource to mark this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week, which took place last week.
A social media campaign entitled #YouKnowADyslexic and fronted by comedian Eddie Izzard, who is dyslexic himself, has also been unveiled.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the fact that 10 per cent of people are dyslexic, meaning it is likely that three children in every classroom have the condition.
The new Drive for Literacy website has been created with support from academy chain Ark and offers help about how to spot the signs of dyslexia, advice for teachers on what to do if they suspect a pupil may have the condition, and guidance for supporting dyslexic pupils.
In the campaign video, Mr Izzard sends a message to pupils who may have the condition. He said: “If you’re having a tough time of it now, reach out, talk to parents, friends, talk to your teachers. Things can get better, and will get better but you have to take action.”
The website’s name comes from the Driver Youth Trust’s existing Drive for Literacy programme, which it has been developing in conjunction with Ark since 2009. The initiative is a whole-school programme that trains school staff about dyslexia and how to recognise the signs, screens all pupils, and puts interventions in place for those who have been identified as potentially having a literacy difficulty.
Sarah Driver, founder of the Driver Youth Trust, said: “Drive for Literacy has proven to be a great success with Ark, but we want to ensure more children have access to it. The programme is built around three core elements – equal access where all children can learn despite their difficulties, developing a strong understanding of dyslexia and how to address its impact on individual, and ensuring good teaching and learning practice.
“We know what works in helping dyslexic children to improve their literacy dramatically and this includes developing a whole-school approach and adapting classroom practice with strong input from the school’s senior leadership team.”
The Driver Youth Trust was set up to improve the life chances of children and young people who struggle with reading and writing.
The new website is at www.driveforliteracy.co.uk and for details of the campaign, use the Twitter hashtag #YouKnowADyslexic (or #Ping) or watch Eddie Izzard’s campaign video at http://vimeo.com/108894770
CAPTION: Three in every classroom: Comedian Eddie Izzard is supporting the You Know a Dyslexic campaign