Dyslexia Policy 2026

Statement

At Newbold Verdon Primary School we aim to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners including those experiencing dyslexia to ensure inclusion for all. Evidence suggests that all children taught using dyslexia friendly methods benefit when these strategies are adopted throughout the school and children flourish when a whole school approach to dyslexia is taken.

What is Dyslexia

‘Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.’

(British Dyslexia Association 2026)

Our Aims

All staff at Newbold Verdon Primary School play a vital role in working collaboratively to ensure that the needs of pupils with dyslexia are met effectively. All staff are committed to meeting Dyslexia Friendly School status as specified by the British Dyslexia Association. More details about the quality mark can be found here:

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/educators/creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-school

The aims of this policy are to facilitate and encourage:

• Whole school responsibility for supporting children with Dyslexia
• Dyslexia friendly learning environments
• Early identification of children at risk of experiencing literacy delay
• Effective and equitable access to planned support using staged intervention
• Appropriate strategies or intervention relevant to the child’s specific needs
• Effective profiling and tracking of children’s literacy development

Teaching Strategies

Dyslexic children can thrive in a classroom environment with the right support from teachers and support staff. Learners are supported to be the best they can be by employing a range of strategies to promote effective teaching and learning for all pupils. Teaching will be grounded in the principles of quality first teaching such as:

• reducing cognitive load
• small steps, carefully sequenced
• explicit modelling
• retrieval practise
• teaching of vocabulary
• scaffolded oracy
• adapted activities or methods of recording

When additional support is required above quality first teaching in line with the graduated response, children may receive interventions either in a group or individually such as:

• Precision Teaching
• Nessy
• Colourful Semantics
• Additional Phonics
• Daily reading sessions
• Tutoring

Dyslexia Friendly Classrooms

At Newbold Verdon Primary School we understand that an appropriate school environment is vital for all learners including those with Dyslexia who may experience difficulties with concentration, listening or organisational skills. Therefore, well organised classrooms are:

• Equipped with a resource trolly of labelled items to assist learning such as ear defenders, timers, privacy booths, coloured whiteboards and overlays etc.
• Minimally distracting with low arousal background colours for display and support material including interactive screen backgrounds.
• Adapted so that children with dyslexia are positioned in the class sympathetically where support is accessible.

Early Identification

The school’s assessment and tracking procedures along with teacher observation facilitate the early identification of possible learning difficulties and dyslexic characteristics. Staff complete a checklist of possible dyslexic behaviours and in consultation with parents a dyslexia screening check for children from the age of 6.6 may be carried out.

Training

We recognise the importance of whole school training and aim to provide staff with the knowledge and strategies needed to support children with dyslexia effectively. The school SENDCo monitors training needs to ensure school policy is translated into classroom based practice and to provide support when needed. All staff receive the school SEND Handbook annually and induction meetings with the SENDCo take place for new staff.

Partnership with Parents

Parental support is a key aspect of supporting a child overcome any dyslexic barriers to learning. Parents are always welcome to discuss concerns they may have with class teachers and the school SENDCo.

The school encourages parents to take part in events to support reading such as Book and a Biscuit and parental Read Write Inc Phonics information sessions.

 

Leicestershire Special Educational Needs and Disability Leicestershire SEND Local Offer aims to bring together useful information across education, health and social care into one place. You’ll find information, advice and guidance on a range of local service providers who support children or young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).	SEND Family Hubs At the heart of communities, Family Hubs have been established to support families, children and young people across Leicestershire.  Working with partner organisations Family Hubs provide a one-stop shop and offer advice, information and resources to help families navigate every stage of life; from pregnancy, through a child’s early years, later childhood and into young adulthood.
Leicestershire SEND Hub An inclusive, representative group to support and empower Leicestershire parents, carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities; Working together to ensure parents are at the centre of planning, decision making, and monitoring of local services so that they improve, and enhance the experience and life opportunities of SEND families.	Leicestershire SENDIASS Support for children and young people with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) and their parents in Leicestershire providing free, impartial and confidential advice and support for SEND children or young people aged 0 to 25 years.
Heads Up ​Heads Up (previously known as the Centre for Fun and Families) has been supporting families through life's challenges since 1990. We provide a wide range of support to parents/carers and their babies, children and young people including: antenatal education early years groups mental health support delivered one to one in schools and via our groups ADHD parent/carer support for families in Leicestershire County community engagement and research to improve statutory services	Contact  UK based charity supporting parents and professionals of disabled children. Established since 1970s by families of disabled children, who recognised that even if their child’s conditions were different, they shared a common experience – of being a family with a disabled child.  Contact provides free online workshops for parents. Topics include: Toilet Training children with SEND Understanding your Child's sensory needs Support for siblings Support for parents of children with anxiety
The British Dyslexia Association The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) has been the voice of dyslexic people since 1972. They are a membership organisation working to achieve a dyslexia-friendly society for all.	The National Autistic Society The National Autistic Society help the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their families. Be it running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights or training companies on being more autism-friendly, they are dedicated to transforming lives and changing attitudes.