Children with Dyslexia will be let down if there is no Literacy Support Service

I am extremely concerned about the proposed moves to disband the Literacy Support Service in Brighton and Hove, as this service has proved to be a vital resource for my son.

My is 10 years old and was diagnosed as Dyslexic 3 years ago. I have had to fight very hard to secure any support at all for him, but the Literacy Support Service has enabled him to grow in confidence and flourish at school. Without their help, he would have been left to drift, unnoticed by his school teachers, and become even more disengaged with education.

Unfortunately my experience has shown that you cannot rely on schools to provide appropriate support (as is proposed), and by cutting this vital service, these children will be left at risk,  unable to achieve their potential.

I have had various statements / press releases forwarded to me that suggest that there seems to be some shift for children with autism or  visual / hearing impairment, but there does not seem to be a clear plan for those with Dyslexia / Literacy difficulties.

Dyslexia is recognised as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, and by reducing Literacy or Dyslexia support, you will be discriminating against dyslexic children and the adults they will become, as their ability to manage the effects of their impairment will break down.

I am concerned that dyslexic children, who are otherwise quite able, will get left behind with these proposals, as they will not be considered to be in “the greatest need”. My experience has shown that you can not rely on schools to provide effective support or correct advice to dyslexic children and parents.  My situation became so disheartening that I have actually just moved my som to a different school for year 6. He is now at a school where the dyslexia provision has been wonderful. I have also had to pay for private dyslexia tuition because his previous schools provision was so weak.

This specialist support is the reason my son has improved so much –  he is now attempting work that he just wouldn’t have had the confidence to even try previously.

Without a clear approach, staffed by specialist teachers who are properly trained, dyslexic children in Brighton and Hove will be left to drown at school. This is so short sighted, because these kids are actually quite bright, but they need specialist help to learn in a way that suits them. With this help, they will achieve their potential, be more engaged and better behaved in class, and be able to contribute to society in the most positive ways in the future.

How can we ensure that Dyslexia is not forgotten in Brighton and Hove, and that a strategy is in place to support these children with an understandable criteria to access this support?

J, mother