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Pupils with dyslexia present schools with a real challenge. This is not surprising as brain imaging techniques reveal that the brain of the dyslexic is 'wired differently'. So it is unlikely there is any teaching approach or product that could be a 'breakthrough' with dyslexia.
However, in the absence of a brain scanner in every Special Needs Department, it can be difficult to distinguish between a pupil who has considerable literacy difficulties and a pupil who has dyslexia. Added to that, it usually takes a long time before pupils have the necessary in-depth assessment carried out by an educational psychologist or a specialist dyslexia teacher to ascertain if dyslexia is the correct diagnosis. So, many schools settle for an interim diagnosis of ‘reading difficulties with dyslexic tendencies’.
Because of the difficulties surrounding a diagnosis of dyslexia, Catch Up® does not specifically collect data on how effective it is for pupils with dyslexia (although we have plenty of data on how beneficial Catch Up® Literacy is for pupils who struggle with reading as they make, on average, close to three times the progress of typically developing pupils. We also know that this data includes some pupils with dyslexia).
However, we do have good anecdotal evidence of dyslexic pupils making progress on Catch Up® Literacy. We glean this feedback from our training Review sessions and the many phone calls to the Catch Up® office with teachers and TAs enthusiastic to share their pupils’ success. So this suggests that SENCOs have found Catch Up® Literacy an important element in their provision map for pupils who they have deemed to have dyslexia.
The bottom line is that schools can’t put a pupil’s learning on hold while they wait for a definitive diagnosis and there are 5 good reasons why Catch Up® Literacy will suit pupils with dyslexic tendencies:
Catch Up® is the working name of The Caxton Trust, a not-for-profit charity registered in England and Wales (1072425) and Scotland (SC047557) as well as a company limited by guarantee (03476510). Catch Up is a registered trademark.