Call for Action from MPs

Dyslexia Action made a call for help yesterday from MPs in a bid to ensure 800,000 children with dyslexia get the support they need.

Only with their help can we ensure children with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties receive the teaching they need to succeed.

We have called upon MPs to ask Secretary of State Edward Timpson MP to address our concerns on February 25th when the Children and Families Bill has a second reading.

Currently, 19.8% of school-aged children (approximately 1.6 million) are identified as having a Special Educational Need, with an estimated 800,000 of these leaners with dyslexia or other literacy difficulties.

To ensure we get it right for all children, Dyslexia Action is recommending the following 10-point action plan to Government when considering alternations to the Bill:

• Introduce a compulsory module on dyslexia as part of initial teacher training, along with ready access to CPD in the area of dyslexia.
• Ensure early identification of children at risk, and access to quality screening and assessments to ensure all children reach their potential.
• Ensure a minimum standard for a Local Offer, specifying how those currently supported through School Action and School Action Plus should be supported.
• Ensure the legislation and associated regulations provides clear responsibilities for all those involved in the education of a child with SEN, specifying what each is responsible for, and to whom they will be held accountable, and how.
• Ensure learners with dyslexia and associated needs have access to structured support, including access to specialist teachers, beyond school where necessary, as part of the minimum standard for the Local Offer.
• Ensure provisions are tightened for parents to request an assessment for more than just those who might reach the standard that could lead to the issue of an Educational Health and Care Plan.
• Ensure the regulations issued support the legislation and embrace and support the aspirations set out by the government and a requirement that parliamentarians must be satisfied the regulations ensure the stated objectives will be met.
• Ensure the needs of children with dyslexia and other SEN are adequately resourced, and that these resources are focused on addressing their identified needs, rather than being of general support to all by implementing funding arrangements that ensure funds provided for SEN learners are adequate and used for this purpose.
• Ensure the Ofsted inspection framework is amended so schools are judged ‘good’ or better by Ofsted only if their SEN provision is good.
• Ensure access arrangements and provision of reasonable adjustments for children with SEN for the proposed new-style GCSE is as good as that for the current GCSE.

We will be following the Bill closely and providing you with updates as appropriate. If you would like to get involved and ensure that your voice is heard, consider lobbying your local MP. We have information on how to lobby your MP here and have prepared a letter template  specific to the Children and Families Bill here (to edit,  remove protected view, rename and save the document).

If you want to know more about the proposed SEN changes to the Children and Families Bill, you can read more here.