News Blog

This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week, which has the theme ‘Breaking through Boundaries’. It is a useful opportunity for us all to reflect on the barriers that those living with dyslexia often face, while also focusing on how individuals, organisations and the education system have continued to succeed and break through these obstacles. Dyslexia affects at least 1 in 10 people and is a genetic difference in an individual’s ability to learn and process information. Over 6 million individuals in the UK have dyslexia although they may not have received a diagnosis.

As part of this week, there was a short video with Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off star, Lizzie Acker. Lizzie candidly shared why she decided to share that she was dyslexic on national television. Lizzie said “I think Dyslexia Awareness Week is so important because dyslexia is still surrounded by a load of really negative stereotypes.’BBC Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis says “I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am if I weren’t dyslexic because it’s given me this ability to problem-solve, and throughout my journey, I’ve come to realise that it’s not just me saying this - many others gain huge value from the differentiation that dyslexia gives them.”

In school, the children have had an assembly talking about dyslexia in a context of having a positive outlook on neurodiversity. The following short video is a really child-friendly explanation of dyslexia. Some of your children may have seen this video in school this week, so we recommend viewing this video as it is a good conversation piece; https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia