Special educational

needs and/or disabilities

Training toolkit

For PGCE trainees

Cognition and learning

Dyslexia and specific

learning difficulties

Self-study task 7
Introduction to the self-study tasks
These self-study tasks are designed to help trainee teachers on PGCE courses learn more about
teaching pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. They can be used as stand-
alone activities or to supplement and extend taught sessions on SEN and disability provided by the
school or local authority.
There are 17 self-study tasks in all. Each task will take about two hours to complete, excluding
practical activities.

Every Child Matters

SST1 Inclusion and Every Child Matters

SST2 SEN and disability legislation

SST3 English as an additional language and SEN

SST4 Children’s needs and development

SST5 ICT and SEN

Cognition and learning

SST6 Moderate learning difficulties

SST7 Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties

SST8 Working memory

Behavioural, emotional and social needs

SST9 Behavioural, emotional and social difficulties

Communication and interaction

SST10 Speech, language and communication needs

SST11 Autistic spectrum disorders

Physical and sensory impairment

SST12 Visual impairment

SST13 Hearing impairment

SST14 Handwriting

SST15 Developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia

Working in partnership

SST16 Working with colleagues in school

SST17 Working with parents/carers and other professionals

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 2
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
How to use the materials
This is an online resource. Some of the tasks are for you to do on your own; others are particularly
suitable to do working with a partner.
Where some of the tasks ask you to record information you need to print out the relevant
material first. Other tasks may involve using the internet, which gives you access to rich sources
of information about SEN and disability and online forums for additional advice.
Each task includes the following elements:
"" the professional standards addressed
"" learning outcomes
"" an opportunity to explore the concepts, definitions and research findings most relevant
to the topic
"" ideas for implementing the national curriculum inclusion statement in relation to the topic,
including target setting, practical strategies, the role of additional adults and pupil grouping
"" practical activities − including action research, child study and class observation
"" resources − including books and websites
"" an opportunity to evaluate your progress against the outcomes and plan your next steps.
A useful resource to support your studies is Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in
Schools and Early Years Settings (DfES, 2006). It is available free to all schools and there should
be a copy in your training institution or school. (If you haven’t got a copy, you can order one using
the link.)
It should be read in conjunction with Promoting Disability Equality in Schools (DfES, 2006) −
which you can view, download or order by following the link.

Evidence and sources of information

As you work through these self-study tasks, try to keep a critical and evaluative attitude. Much of
the understanding we have of what works, or doesn’t work, in relation to meeting the needs of pupils
with SEN and/or disabilities has not been fully researched.
Remember:
"" many interventions suggested for one group of pupils with SEN and/or disabilities will often
benefit other groups of pupils, including those without SEN and/or disabilities
"" the quickest way to find out what to do is often to ask the pupil or their parent/carer what they
think works.
Literature reviews of ‘what works’ in relation to literacy and mathematics for pupils with SEN
and/or disabilities, which has been investigated in some depth, are available at: www.dcsf.gov.uk/
research/data/uploadfiles/RR554.pdf
Other sources of information are listed at the end, under ‘Resources and references’. You can use
these to follow up and learn in greater depth about the material covered in this self-study task.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 3
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Self-study task 7
Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties
Professional standards addressed

Q10 Have a knowledge and understanding of a range of teaching, learning and behaviour
management strategies and know how to use and adapt them, including how to personalise
learning and provide opportunities for all learners to achieve their potential.

Q19 Know how to make effective personalised provision for those they teach, including those
for whom English is an additional language or who have special educational needs or
disabilities, and how to take practical account of diversity and promote equality and
inclusion in their teaching.

Q25 Teach lessons and sequences of lessons across the age and ability range for which they are
trained in which they:

(a) use a range of teaching strategies and resources, including e-learning, taking practical
account of diversity and promoting equality and inclusion

(b) build on prior knowledge, develop concepts and processes, enable learners to apply new
knowledge, understanding and skills and meet learning objectives

(c) adapt their language to suit the learners they teach, introducing new ideas and concepts
clearly, and using explanations, questions, discussions and plenaries effectively

(d) demonstrate the ability to manage the learning of individuals, groups and whole classes,
modifying their teaching to suit the stage of the lesson.

Learning outcomes
You will:
"" understand current definitions of dyslexia
"" be aware of some of the barriers to participation and learning experienced by dyslexic
pupils, and
"" be familiar with some of the approaches that support dyslexic pupils’ learning.

Self-study task 7 4
Dyslexia and specific learning difficulties
Cognition and learning
 Activities Timings
Activity 1 Developing your knowledge of dyslexia 25 minutes
Activity 2 Planning for dyslexic pupils: gathering information 25 minutes
Activity 3 A dyslexia-friendly learning environment 20 minutes
Activity 4 Planning for individuals 25 minutes
Activity 5 Supporting reading 15 minutes
Activity 6 Including pupils with dyslexia 15 minutes
Activity 7 Points for action 15 minutes
Resources and references
Appendix Suggested answers and solutions

Session 3 task 7
Self-study 5
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the inclusion
specific statement
learning difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 1
Developing your knowledge of dyslexia
Approximate timing: 25 minutes
25 mins

Introduction
The most authoritative statement to date of the evidence on issues and interventions in relation
to dyslexia is the report commissioned by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
from Sir Jim Rose, published in 2009 (Rose, 2009). The Secretary of State has accepted all its
recommendations so they have become government policy.
Skim-read Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and
Literacy Difficulties online at
http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/00659-2009DOM-EN.pdf

Defining dyslexia
As you would expect, there has been substantial investigation of dyslexia, and this has resulted in a
range of definitions. Jim Rose’s report gives its own definition (note that this does not assign a cause
to dyslexia, but describes it in terms of the behaviours associated with it):
"" “Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent
word reading and spelling.
"" Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and
verbal processing speed.
"" Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.
"" It is best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off
points.
"" Co-occurring difficulties may be seen in aspects of language, motor coordination, mental
calculation, concentration and personal organisation, but these are not, by themselves, markers
of dyslexia.
"" A good indication of the severity and persistence of dyslexic difficulties can be gained by
examining how the individual responds or has responded to well founded intervention.”
Rose, 2009

Effective support for dyslexic pupils

Teachers can now adopt many interventions that have been tested and found to be successful in
supporting dyslexic pupils and enabling them to make progress in reading. This self-study task will
introduce you to a range of these.
Research suggests that strong and effective teaching of literacy, embodying the principles set out in
the work of such authors as Torgesen (2002), can minimise the barriers to participation and learning
for pupils with dyslexia.
“Intensive preventive instruction can bring the average word-reading skills of children at risk for
reading disabilities solidly into the average range.”
Torgesen, 2002

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 6
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
What do you know about dyslexia?
Check how much you already know about dyslexia by answering the questions in table 1. Reading
Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties may help
with some of the answers.

Table 1: Dyslexia – true or false?

Statement True or
false?

Dyslexia occurs across the ability range

There are dyslexic pupils in every classroom, and dyslexic adults in most staffrooms

Of the UK population, four per cent are severely dyslexic, and an estimated 10 per
cent are mildly dyslexic

Dyslexia is a learning difference – a combination of strengths and weaknesses,

which affect the learning process in reading, spelling, writing and sometimes
number and calculation

Dyslexic learners may also have weaknesses in short-term memory, sequencing

and the speed with which they process information

Dyslexia has a physiological basis – research indicates neurological differences,

generally affecting the left hemisphere, which deals with language and sequential
processing

Dyslexia runs in families

Dyslexia occurs on a continuum from mild to severe

Dyslexia occurs in all ethnic groups and in all languages

People with dyslexia often have low self-esteem, which can lead to reduced
motivation and sometimes to behaviour problems

Dyslexic learners can do as well as anyone else when they are given
appropriate support

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 7
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
How did you get on?
All the answers are true!

A learning difference
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA)1 has suggested that we should see dyslexia as a ‘learning
difference’. Note the emphasis given to identifying the dyslexic learner’s strengths in the two
sections below, which are adapted from the BDA’s pack Achieving Dyslexia Friendly Schools.

Dyslexia is a combination of strengths and weaknesses, which affect the learning process in
reading, spelling, writing and sometimes number and calculation. Dyslexic learners may also
have accompanying weaknesses in short-term memory, sequencing and the speed at which they
process information.
In the past, dyslexia has been referred to as a learning difficulty. However, this can lead teachers
to focus on identifying weaknesses rather than building on their strengths. It can result in an
emphasis on remediation by specialists rather than being addressed by knowledgeable class and
subject teachers, supported by specialist help and intervention appropriate to the pupil’s needs.
Viewing dyslexia as a specific learning difference can help teachers identify the areas where a
dyslexic pupil is strong and those areas where they need support, just as they would with any
other pupil. Recognising a dyslexic pupil’s strengths and weaknesses can enable teachers to
balance the amount of challenge and support they provide.

In this pack the BDA sets out the need for schools to move from a ‘medical’ model, which assumes
that some sort of ‘cure’ for the pupil is the way ahead, to an ‘environmental’ approach in which
teachers look at what is going on in lessons and consider this in relation to the barriers the dyslexic
pupil is experiencing.

Dyslexia-friendly schools
In dyslexia-friendly schools the focus has changed from establishing what is wrong with pupils in
order to make them ‘better’, to identifying what can be put right in the classroom to enhance the
effectiveness of their learning.
Placing the focus on dyslexic pupils learning alongside their peers in the mainstream classroom
also offers the potential to improve the quality and quantity of any additional intervention, eg
a combination of support in class and withdrawal sessions can be tailored more closely to the
lesson objectives and the pupils’ particular needs.
Dyslexia-friendly schools have policies of ‘early intervention’ for pupils with learning differences.
Teachers are trained to be able to take immediate action when faced with a pupil’s learning
differences, rather than referring the pupil for assessment and waiting for a ‘label’ of dyslexia
before acting.

1 www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/files/DFS%20pack%20English.pdf

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 8
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Dyslexia on the web
Browse the following websites to find out about approaches to supporting the learning of dyslexic pupils.
Different sites have differences in emphasis and it is helpful to be aware of this. The first four sites
offer a mix of general and specialist information and support for teachers. The last two offer an
international perspective.
"" The British Dyslexia Association: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk Go to the button ‘About Dyslexia’
and use the side navigation link to the section for schools, colleges and universities.
"" Dyslexia Action (formerly the Dyslexia Institute): www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk Click on the
‘About Dyslexia’ tab.
"" National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) www.nasen.org.uk
"" Schools and inclusion: http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&catcode=ss_tl_inc_02
This is the Schools and Inclusion part of the Becta site – use the search box to explore resources
and support for dyslexia.
"" International Dyslexia Association (based in the USA): www.interdys.org
"" The TEEM website www.teem.org.uk This site contains a wide range of reviews of software to
help learners with SEN, including pupils with literacy difficulties.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 9
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 2
Planning for dyslexic pupils:
gathering information
Approximate timing: 25 minutes
25 mins

This activity will help you think about your practice working with dyslexic pupils.
During your next school placement you may be able to identify a pupil to focus on for the activities
in this self-study task – your ‘focus pupil’. They should have been identified by the school as dyslexic.
It would be helpful if this pupil is in some of the classes you teach. If you do not teach your focus
pupil, for some of the activities you will need to work closely with a colleague who teaches them.
Don’t worry if you are unable to identify a focus pupil or to complete the activities during your
placement. Some example materials have been included so that you can complete the self-study
task. If you use the example materials, you might wish to repeat the practical aspects of this task
with a focus pupil when you start working as a teacher.
If you are completing the practical aspects of this self-study task with a focus pupil, print out table 2
and use it to record your findings. You will need the completed table again in activity 6.
This activity will take you through:
"" the key ingredients of success in reading and writing
"" how to identify your focus pupil’s strengths and needs, and
"" finding out what strategies have been used with your focus pupil so far and the progress they
have made.
It will also help when you observe your focus pupil in lessons.
If you are unable to complete the practical aspects of the task, look at the examples of how the table
might be completed – there are examples for a primary and a secondary dyslexic pupil throughout
the self-study task.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 10
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 2: Putting the information together

Gathering information Pupil’s name:

Age:

Source Your findings

The basics of successful Rose, J, 2009,

reading and writing Identifying and
Teaching Children
Where does the pupil
and Young People
fall on the dyslexic
with Dyslexia and
continuum?
Literacy Difficulties

The pupil’s strengths, The pupil

interests and needs themselves

The success of Other staff, eg the

strategies used so far SENCO, teaching
assistants

School records

Others, eg parents
or carers

The pupil in lessons Observation

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 11
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
The basics of successful reading and writing
The Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading (the Rose Report, 2006) adopted a new
conceptual framework for teaching reading called the ‘simple view of reading’ as its model of literacy
development. As you will have read, this is referred to in Identifying and Teaching Children and
Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties in relation to pupils with literacy difficulties,
including dyslexia.
“Simple View of Reading: this summary of the way in which children learn to read recognises that
skilled reading entails the development of a set of processes by which the words on the page are
recognised and understood (ie word recognition processes), and the development of increasingly
sophisticated language comprehension processes, by which texts as well as spoken language are
understood and interpreted.
“Learning to read therefore involves setting up processes by which the words on the page can be
recognised and understood, and continuing to develop the language comprehension processes that
underlie both spoken and written language comprehension.”
Rose, 2009
The review sets out the model in a diagram:
Diagram 1: The simple view of reading2
Language comprehension processes

Good
Poor word Good word
recognition; good recognition; good
comprehension comprehension

Word recognition Poor Good Word recognition

processes processes

Poor word Good word

recognition; poor recognition; poor
comprehension comprehension
Poor

Language comprehension processes

The report describes this diagram as follows:

“… the ‘Simple View of Reading’ provides a model for understanding important aspects of literacy
learning. As shown in [diagram 1], in this view there are two distinct but closely related dimensions:
word recognition processes and language comprehension processes. Both are essential for learning
to read and for understanding what is read.”
Rose, 2009

2 Crown copyright − reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 12
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Look at the diagram and try to answer these questions:
"" If we accept this model, in which quadrant(s) do good readers appear?
"" If we accept this model, in which quadrant(s) do dyslexic readers appear?
Check your ideas against the answers in the appendix.
Given these answers, now try to answer the following question:
Consider pupils who fall into the bottom right quadrant – ie those who are good at word recognition
and less good at language comprehension. Which of the four types of need set out in the SEN Code
of Practice are they most likely to be placed in:
"" communication and interaction
"" cognition and learning
"" behavioural, emotional and social development, or
"" sensory and/or physical?
Check your answer in the appendix.
If you are finding out about a focus pupil at your placement school, complete the first row of table 2
in the light of the ‘simple view of reading’ analysis.
If you do not have a focus pupil, look at the examples of how table 2 might be completed in
the light of the ‘simple view of reading’ analysis – table 3 for a primary pupil and table 4 for a
secondary student.

Table 3: Nazeer, aged 8

Gathering information Pupil’s name: Nazeer

Age: 8

Source Your findings

The basics of successful Rose, J, 2009, Nazeer’s language comprehension is within

reading and writing Identifying and the typical range for his age, but he finds word
Teaching Children recognition difficult.
Where does the pupil
and Young People
fall on the dyslexic He is likely to be in the top left quadrant of the
with Dyslexia and
continuum? simple view of reading model.
Literacy Difficulties

Table 4: James, aged 13

Gathering information Student’s name: James

Age: 13

Source Your findings

The basics of successful Rose, J, 2009, James’ language comprehension is within the
reading and writing Identifying and typical range for his age, but he finds word
Teaching Children recognition difficult.
Where does the student
and Young People
fall on the dyslexic He is likely to be in the top left quadrant of the
with Dyslexia and
continuum? simple view of reading model
Literacy Difficulties

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 13
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Find out the pupil’s strengths, interests and needs
Through this part of the activity you can find out about:
"" a dyslexic pupil’s strengths and interests, and
"" the issues in learning that relate to his or her dyslexia.
The first step in removing barriers to participation and learning is to find out the pupil’s own views. In
this activity you will make an initial exploration of your focus pupil’s strengths, interests and needs.
Later on, in activity 4, you will have a more detailed conversation with your focus pupil to identify
the teaching and learning approaches that they find most helpful. There is an alternative activity for
to do if you do not have a focus pupil.
Make time to sit down with your focus pupil to explore their feelings about learning of different
kinds in a range of situations. The discussion needs to be managed sensitively and should take place
somewhere where the pupil feels comfortable.
The interview can be quite short but needs to be planned. It is a good idea to work on this with
a colleague and take advice from others in the school, including the special educational needs
coordinator (SENCO), on how they would deal with topics that the pupil may find hard to talk about.
You will need some particular advice on the interview if the pupil is young, unless you are used to
working with that age group. The discussion will probably be more successful if you ask questions
that clarify the pupil’s responses to what has happened in the past, rather than asking them about
the future. For example, you might ask the pupil to tell you:
"" about a time when they really enjoyed lessons
"" what they most enjoy doing in lessons
"" what has really helped them with literacy tasks like reading and writing,3 and
"" about a time when something happened in lessons which made it difficult for them to learn in
the way they liked.
When you meet the pupil, listen to them. Let them tell you what they think is the major barrier
stopping them from accessing the curriculum, and about strategies that have helped, so you can
build a picture of what is likely to be successful.
For many pupils this will not be an easy conversation, particularly for older pupils as for them the
comprehension demands of texts are likely to be more substantial. Remember to treat dyslexia as a
different way of learning. Discuss what makes them feel comfortable about reading.
Don’t neglect the valuable technique of reflection. If the pupil says, for example, “I don’t like
spelling”, try not to respond with a question such as “Why don’t you like spelling?” Instead, reflect
the remark back: “You don’t like doing spelling because…”, leaving the pupil to expand on their
previous comment.

3 Activity 4 gives some ideas for detailed discussion.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 14
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Fill in the second row of table 2 when you have completed your interview.
If you do not have a focus pupil, look at the examples of how table 2 might be completed after an
interview with a pupil – table 5 for a primary pupil and table 6 for a secondary student.

Table 5: Nazeer, aged 8

Gathering information Pupil’s name: Nazeer

Age: 8

Source Your findings

The pupil’s strengths, The pupil has told Nazeer likes watching and playing cricket. He
interests and needs you… gets on well with the teaching assistant and
his study buddy, Tom. He learns best when he
does not feel hurried and when teachers take
the trouble to make sure he understands what
is being asked of him. He does not like being
picked out for special help in class.

Table 6: James, aged 13

Gathering information Student’s name: James

Age: 13

Source Your findings

The student’s strengths, The student has James likes watching cartoons on television,
interests and needs told you… particularly ‘The Simpsons’. He enjoys art and
design and design and technology lessons. He
likes to use his laptop for any written work.
He learns best when he does not feel hurried
and when teachers take the trouble to make
sure he understands what is being asked of him.
He does not like being picked out for special
help in class.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 15
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Finding out about strategies used so far
Arrange a meeting with the SENCO or a specialist who has worked with your focus pupil in the past.
It is likely that the pupil will have targets for reading or writing, perhaps in an individual education
plan (IEP) or other school target-setting record.
In this meeting, you need to explore:
"" whether checks have been made on the pupil’s hearing or sight
"" the strategies that have been used so far to support the pupil in reading, writing and spelling
"" what has and has not worked
"" how staff decided what worked, and the implications of this for the way you should approach
planning for the pupil
"" how targets were established, and
"" what the story so far suggests will help the pupil to meet targets for their learning.
It can also be valuable to find out what the pupil’s parents/carers think about these questions. If you
are able to arrange a meeting with them, have a look at the ideas in self-study task 17 ‘Working with
parents/carers and other professionals’ beforehand.
In your meetings with the SENCO/specialist and with parents/carers you may hear about the pupil’s:
"" memory and whole-word recognition – pupils need to be able to recognise phonemically both
regular words and irregular words, which have to be memorised
"" ability to scan text and interpret the meaning efficiently – this is an issue for many secondary
students who can read, but only slowly
"" phonological awareness, and
"" knowledge of phonics and the 44 letter sounds of the English language.
You will find ideas about removing the barriers for pupils for whom these are issues later in this
self-study task.
When you have spoken to colleagues – and, if possible, parents/carers – complete the third, fourth
and fifth rows of table 2.
If you do not have a focus pupil, read through the examples of how table 2 might be completed
following this activity – table 7 for a primary pupil and table 8 for a secondary student.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 16
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 7: Nazeer, aged 8

Gathering information Pupil’s name: Nazeer

Age: 8

Source Your findings

The success of Other staff, eg the Nazeer’s teaching assistant has told you that he
strategies used so far SENCO, teaching finds it difficult to read aloud or explain what he
assistants has read.
Nazeer’s working memory can fail him badly,
perhaps due to anxiety, and this makes it hard
for him to take part in formal oral work in class.

School records Nazeer has no hearing or visual impairments.

Others, eg parents You have not been able to speak to Nazeer’s

or carers parents.

Table 8: James, aged 13

Gathering information Student’s name: James

Age: 13

Source Your findings

The success of Other staff, eg the James does not have his own teaching assistant
strategies used so far SENCO, teaching and is getting used to working with his laptop.
assistants This has helped him greatly with writing. He
takes trouble to set the laptop up in the colours
he likes.
He has used a coloured overlay for reading
in the past, but finds that this is no longer as
effective as it was at first.
His working memory can fail him badly, and
he finds it hard to take part in formal oral work
in class.

School records James has no hearing or visual impairments.

Others, eg parents You have not been able to speak to James’

or carers parents.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 17
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Observe your focus pupil in lessons
If you are working with another trainee teacher, ask them to sit in on a class in which your focus
pupil is working and carry out the observation.
If you are working on your own, you might either:
"" observe the pupil in someone else’s class, or
"" ask your mentor or an experienced teaching assistant to help with observing the pupil in one or
more of your lessons.
Watch for:
"" ways of working that the pupil clearly enjoys, so you can bring those into your planning
"" approaches that are successful in encouraging the pupil to join in discussions appropriately
"" effective ways of praising or reinforcing success for the pupil (sometimes pupils who have a low
opinion of their abilities find praise very hard to accept, particularly for written work)
"" approaches that are successful in encouraging the pupil to read and/or write, and
"" any barriers the pupil experiences in relation to oral and written work.
Complete the final row of table 2 following your observation.
If you do not have a focus pupil, read the examples of how table 2 might be completed following this
activity – table 9 for a primary pupil and table 10 for a secondary student.

Table 9: Nazeer, aged 8

Gathering information Pupil’s name: Nazeer

Age: 8

Source Your findings

The pupil in lessons Observation When you watched Nazeer in class, you noticed
that he was hesitant to ask for help from
anyone other than the teaching assistant. He
sometimes forgets tasks he has been set and
often loses concentration.

Table 10: James, aged 13

Gathering information Student’s name: James

Age: 13

Source Your findings

The student in lessons Observation When you watched James in class, you
noticed that he was slow to get started, and
then sometimes rushed his work. He was
very hesitant to ask for help when stuck with
something.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 18
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 3
A dyslexia-friendly learning environment
Approximate timing: 20 minutes
20 mins

This activity looks at ways to make your classroom more dyslexia-friendly.

You are not on your own

Given the numbers of pupils who have dyslexia, making classrooms dyslexia-friendly should be
regarded as an issue for the whole school. When you are teaching dyslexic pupils, you should look for
some support with implementing approaches in the classroom. For example:
"" The SENCO should offer support and guidance on specialised strategies on reading and writing,
or be able to tell you where to find this advice.
"" Other colleagues with specialist training in supporting dyslexia can also help, including
specialists from local support services. Ask the SENCO to help you contact them.

Check some general approaches are in place

Think about the lessons you have taught during school placements and complete table 11 on the
next page.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 19
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 11: Checklist of teaching approaches

Approaches I use I have seen I will try

already in use out

Use and encourage pupils to use alternative ways of

recording, such as drawing, diagrams, voice recording,
video and annotated still photographs.

Encourage pupils to use structured approaches such as

mind mapping.4

Multi-sensory approaches, eg making things visual and,

where appropriate, using ‘concrete’ objects.

Make sure pupils have ‘buddies’ to support them at

appropriate times, eg when they are tackling a task in an
area that they are not confident in.

Build pupils’ confidence through working from the

known – eg using or making resources based on pupils’
own experiences and that use familiar vocabulary, or
developing vocabulary and understanding through
modelling, questioning and asking for clarification.

Use frequent targeted praise as pupils achieve objectives.

This may need to be discreet.

Always give out homework or other independent study

tasks well before the end of the lesson, and make sure
they remain available to pupils. Taking rapid notes
accurately at the end of a lesson is not an easy skill to
acquire for dyslexic pupils (or many others).

As discreetly as necessary, make sure dyslexic pupils can

see prompts or displays showing ways to form letters and
numbers, to help pupils get them the right way round –
‘b’ and ‘d’, for example.

Build in plenty of opportunities to develop speaking and

listening skills. Research has clarified the role this has in
the development of reading and writing (see self-study
task 10).

There are more examples of what makes a dyslexia-friendly learning environment on the BDA
website: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk Select ‘About Dyslexia?’ followed by ‘Schools, Colleges &
Universities’, and then use the contents menu.
Keep a note of the approach or approaches you are going to try and write them in activity 7, ‘Points
for action’.

4 The software packages, Kidspiration for younger pupils and Inspiration for older pupils can be used to convert ideas
into writing. (Where this booklet refers to a specific product, no recommendation or endorsement of that product is
intended, nor should be inferred.)

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 20
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 4
Planning for individuals
Approximate timing: 25 minutes
25 mins

When planning teaching approaches and adjustments/modifications, it is important to plan for dyslexic
pupils individually as not all strategies will be appropriate or effective for every dyslexic pupil. Taken
together, however, the strategies shown in table 12 should help you select a helpful framework for
enabling any dyslexic pupil to learn.
These strategies will also help pupils with other kinds of SEN and/or disabilities, for example those
with speech, language and communication needs, who may have similar difficulties with working
memory or sequencing.
The table has been designed so that you can photocopy the statements and cut them up into
separate cards.
The cards have been written in ‘pupil-friendly’ language, so that that you can read them to a dyslexic
pupil and ask them to choose or rank strategies that would be helpful to them.

Consult your focus pupil

As discussed in activity 2, the first step in removing barriers to participation and learning is to find
out the pupil’s views. This activity builds on the initial discussions you had with your focus pupil in
activity 2.
Photocopy and cut up table 12 to create a set of cards. Use the cards to inform a discussion with
your focus pupil about the approaches that help them to learn best. Record the strategies and
approaches that work for them. You could use the ideas in ‘Find out the pupil’s strengths, interests
and needs’ on page 14.
If you are unable to discuss the approaches with a focus pupil, don’t worry. Simply read the table,
and note any strategies you may wish to try during your next placement or when you begin teaching
(see activity 7 ‘Points for action’).
A number of these strategies also relate to working memory. You may wish to read self-study task 8
‘Working memory’, which deals with this topic in detail.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 21
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 12: Teaching approaches and adjustments/modifications

Multi-sensory approaches, including information and communication technology (ICT)

Teachers use ways you like to learn. For some Teachers use pictures, symbols, sound and
people this might be learning from pictures, other approaches to help you learn.
diagrams or ‘mind maps’. For others it might be
using practical equipment, handling objects or
moving about. Which ways do you think you
learn best?

The teachers make sure you have time to use If you have difficulty with handwriting, spelling
the computer and software that is helpful for and punctuation, the teacher will sometimes
people who are dyslexic. suggest a different way of getting your
thoughts down, such as pictures, mind maps
or a small voice recorder.

If you find it hard to remember basic number The teachers realise that learning sequences
facts, the teacher helps you by giving you like counting forwards or backwards, or the
useful things like a small tables square or alphabet, might be hard for you – so they
pocket number line. give you helpful equipment such as a pocket
alphabet, calendar and number squares.

The teachers give you words on bookmarks, Your teacher makes sure you can change
word mats, alphabet strips or special text, background and other features on your
dictionaries. computer.

If the teacher gives you a worksheet, it is easy The teacher makes sure that you can use a
for you to read and is printed on cream or buff calculator to help you with solving problems.
paper so that the bright paper does not hurt
your eyes.

The teachers ask other pupils in the class to The teacher gives you a pack to help you,
make tapes of stories and of mathematical which could include sticky notes, highlighter
tasks, to make sure there is plenty of material pens, tables, a line tracker, and other useful
to listen to. items. (What else can you think of?)

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 22
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 12: Teaching approaches and adjustments/modifications continued

Working with additional adults

Your teacher makes sure to ask you about the When you are going to take a test, the teachers
kind and amount of support that you like to work out what help you will need – like having
have in class. someone to read questions to you, for example.

If there is any writing that will be hard for you

to read, such as written instructions, word
problems or any other sort of text, someone
will read it to you.

Managing peer relationships

Teachers don’t ask you to copy from the board, You have a ‘study buddy’ who can help you.
as it can be hard for you to find your place This would be someone who can help you with
when you look up from your paper to the parts of the work you find very hard – but you
board and back again. Instead, they ask a ‘study will be able to help them in other ways.
buddy’ to work with you, or write things down
If you have good ideas for writing but find
for you.
writing and spelling hard, then your buddy
could be someone who is good at writing and
spelling, but not good at thinking of ideas.
If you find numbers hard, your buddy could be
someone who is good at this, but you could
help them with work on shape and space.

Teachers make sure you are able to work with There may be things that really interest you
different pupils – so that no one feels that you but are a bit hard for you to read on your own
are just part of the ‘bottom group’. at the moment (books, comics, newspapers,
magazines, information on the internet… can
you think of anything in particular?). Your
teachers try to make sure that someone reads
these with you – someone at home, maybe, or
someone else at school who is older than you.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 23
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 12: Teaching approaches and adjustments/modifications continued

Adult-pupil communication

You might find it hard to keep questions The teachers make sure you have time to look
or instructions in your head. If you do, the at books or texts before you work with them
teachers will: in class. Or they might arrange for someone to
work with you on the book before the lesson so
"" say them again
you can join in.
"" break them into smaller chunks for you
"" write them down for you
"" give you time to think, or to talk to a study
buddy, before answering.

The teacher takes time to discuss new

words and ideas with you before you use
them in class.

Formative assessment/assessment for learning

The teachers link anything you are going to The teachers make sure you know what you are
read or study to what you know already. supposed to be learning and how you will know
when you have learnt it.

The teachers make sure they listen to what The adults in the class help you use mind maps
your [mother/father/parents/other carers] think and other drawings and pictures to talk about
about the best ways to help you. what you want to learn and what you have
learnt.

If the teacher marks work when you are The teacher helps you find your own way
not with them to listen to their comments, of working out calculations, using what you
they look carefully at any spelling or number already know to work out the bits you don’t
mistakes. They will help you by showing how know. For instance, you might work out 40 +
the words you spell wrong are similar to words 29 by remembering 40 + 30, then taking
you do know – or how the number facts that away one.
you get wrong are near to number facts that
you are sure of.

The teachers also make sure you help to set the If you are learning a new way of doing a
targets that you, the teachers and your parents calculation or solving a problem, the teacher
are going to use to help you make progress. makes sure you work with numbers that
you can use well already, so that you can
concentrate on the method.

Your teachers make it clear to you that they

are looking at what you write as well as how
you write it. Ideas and good choices of words
are important as well as handwriting, spelling
and punctuation.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 24
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 12: Teaching approaches and adjustments/modifications continued

Motivation

Your teachers know what you are good at and Teachers make sure that if you reach your
make sure you get a chance to show it. For targets, they praise you and help you to
example, if you are finding written work or feel confident, even if you sometimes make
spelling difficult, you can show your ability in mistakes.
spoken work, and by giving your ideas when we
are doing some writing all together as a class or
in a group. Or, if you are not good at numbers,
you might be good at working with problems.

The teachers in school make sure everyone The teacher will never ask you to read aloud in
understands and feels positive about reducing front of anyone, unless you volunteer to.
barriers for pupils who are dyslexic. They talk
about talented adults and celebrities who are
or were dyslexic.

The books the teacher gives you are interesting Your teachers make it clear to you that they
for pupils your age – not ones written for are looking at what you understand about
younger children. mathematics as well as how many tables and
number facts you can remember. Everyone’s
strong points are important.

Memory/consolidation

Teachers realise that you will know things one The teachers always write down instructions
day but forget them the next. They also know for homework, so that you can listen and
you might sometimes forget things that you concentrate on what you have to do.
need for the lesson, or forget what you are
supposed to be doing halfway through a lesson.
They do not get cross with you when this
happens. Instead, they talk to you about ways
you can use to help you to remember things.

If you find it difficult to remember things off The teacher understands that you might find
by heart, the teachers help you by showing you it hard to remember steps in a mathematical
patterns – like spelling rules, word patterns, or problem. You can use a notepad to keep track
patterns in multiplication tables. of your work.

The teachers know that learning tables may be You use memory jogger pads or sticky notes to
hard for you. They show you different ways of help you organise your work.
remembering multiplication facts.

Your teachers show you how to make mind maps Your teachers help you think up your own ways
to sort out your ideas and record your thoughts. of remembering how to spell difficult words.

To finish your discussion with your focus pupil, ask them to complete these sentences:
"" “One thing that really helps me is…”
"" “One thing I really hate is…”

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 25
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 5
Supporting reading
Approximate timing: 15 minutes
15 mins

What does reading feel like if you are dyslexic?

Many, but not all, dyslexic adults report things like:
"" seeing ‘rivers’ of white on the page rather than lines of text
"" words moving around on the page
"" words going out of focus after a few minutes of reading
"" letters, numbers and shapes blurring
"" not seeing words clearly when print is black on white paper
"" reaching the end of a line and rereading the same line, or going up or down one by mistake –
this causes major difficulties in comprehension and calculation.
Younger pupils often do not report these kind of problems, as they are not aware that they see any
differently to anyone else.

Plan to support reading

This activity will help you plan support for reading for dyslexic pupils.
Check the reading demands of the text
Select a text that you plan to use with a class you teach on your next school placement that
includes a dyslexic pupil. This could be a reading book, a subject textbook or a resource you have
made yourself. If there are no dyslexic pupils in your class(es), ask a colleague who teaches a dyslexic
pupil to identify a text they typically use. Check the text for the demands it places on readers (check
for length of sentences and complexity of language) and the support it provides (pictures, diagrams,
etc). Consider how the text might be made more accessible for dyslexic learners.
The following guidelines will help you select or prepare dyslexia-friendly materials.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 26
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Guidelines for producing dyslexia-friendly materials
Research has not produced a template for text that meets the needs of each and every
individual. However, the following guidelines will help many. These ideas come from discussion
with dyslexic adults and behavioural optometrists working in this field.
"" Use off-white for paper and screen backgrounds on computers and interactive whiteboards.
Some people prefer pastel colours, while others prefer cream. Where possible, offer white or
colour as a matter of course, so pupils have a choice.
"" Use a minimum of 12 pt or ideally 14 pt type in written text.
"" Use fonts like Arial that are rounded and reflect a cursive script.
"" Keep lines left justified with a ragged right edge.
"" Use a line space between paragraphs to break up text.
"" Use wide margins and headings to break up text.
"" Use bold to highlight, as italics or underlining can make words appear to run together.
"" Where possible, use bulleted or numbered lists rather than continuous prose.
"" Write clear, concise sentences and instructions.
"" Keep sentence length to a minimum.
"" The active rather than the passive voice increases readability.
"" Use flow charts to represent information visually wherever possible.
"" Keep paragraphs short, with headings and sub-headings.
"" Use images (pictures and/or symbols) to support text.

Note: You should also be aware of the demands of websites that pupils are likely to use when
searching for information. Plan so that pupils use sites that you have checked for accessibility,
including the capacity to change the font type and size and the background. It may sometimes be
appropriate to encourage pupils to use browsers which allow the searcher to simplify and clarify
images and text layout,5 but this will be a matter for discussion with the SENCO. Similarly, some
dyslexic pupils may prefer to use speech support for writing with a computer.6 Again, you should
discuss this with the SENCO.
Look for alternatives
When you are next on a school placement, visit the school library/information centre to check
whether it has high interest, age-appropriate reading material for those who find reading hard. For
example, they may have (for secondary students) Rainbow Readers,7 Rapid Readers from Heinemann
(includes audio versions), or Dandelion Readers.8 Explore what audio versions of texts are available.
Prepare pupils
Think about how you might plan to include ‘quality’ time to discuss in depth topics dyslexic
pupils are to read or write about. With older pupils, the demand for confident comprehension
of increasingly substantial texts and longer pieces of writing often become the issue. You might
consider asking a teaching assistant to ‘pre-tutor’ a group of pupils who might have difficulty with
a particular text to introduce the key vocabulary and concepts. Check that you are clear about the
way the pupil likes to prepare and that you take account of their preferred approach.

5 For example, Widgit Software’s Communicate: Webwide: www.widgit.com

6 Microsoft Word and other word processors have a speech option for selected text – try it out.
7 www.rainbowreaders.co.uk
8 www.phonicbooks.co.uk

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 27
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Support pupils while they are reading
When you are next on a school placement, try some of the following approaches. They are helpful
for all pupils, not just those with dyslexia:
"" Help pupils to extract meaning from texts by using the layout, the contents table, chapter
headings, the paragraphing, etc.
"" Show them how to scan text for main and subordinate ideas.
"" Encourage pupils to practise predicting for meaning – when they are stuck, reading on to the
end of the sentence or rereading a sentence to get the meaning.
"" Encourage pupils to read with a buddy.
"" Support pupils in varying their approach to reading depending on the purpose.
"" Depending on the pupils’ age, use an appropriate range of role-play, symbols, pictures, puppets
and play scripts9 to support their understanding of character, setting and story events.
"" Make sure dyslexic pupils have specific support in using libraries/web-based searching,
particularly in the early stages of a search, when the mass of text can be overwhelming. This
can include directing pupils to sites where you know there are effective ‘internal’ search engines
to help them with their search.
"" Teach pupils how to use a dictionary/spell-checker effectively.
"" Teach pupils to use or create a writing frame to scaffold written answers based on text.

9 Play scripts are a powerful approach to developing empathy and understanding of vocabulary and narrative.
An adult and a small group of pupils act out (ideally more than once) a brief version of a story using model people
as the characters.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 28
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 6
Including pupils with dyslexia
Approximate timing: 15 minutes
15 mins

There are two ways to complete this activity:

"" using the information about your focus pupil gathered earlier in this self-study task, or
"" using the example case studies provided.

Option A: Using your own information

Select the plan for a lesson you will teach for a class that includes your focus pupil. If you do
not teach your focus pupil, ask a colleague who teaches them to give you a copy of one of their
lesson plans.
Collect together the information you have gathered in all the activities so far about your focus pupil,
including the information you recorded in table 2 and any objectives set out in plans for them. Then
fill in the planning chart in table 13.
Think of ways to check how successful the lesson has been after you or your colleague have taught
the lesson.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 29
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 13: Planning to include your focus pupil

Pupil’s name:

The stages of the The sort of questions What you would do to support your
planned lesson (these you need to ask focus pupil
are only suggestions)

Present intended learning How, if at all, would

outcomes you differentiate the
lesson’s intended learning
outcomes for your
focus pupil?

Resources How, if at all, would you

differentiate the lesson
resources for this pupil?

Discuss task(s) How would you make sure

the pupil can contribute
to the discussion?

Group work How would you group

pupils to include your
focus pupil?
What would be the role of
any teaching assistants?
What strategies might
you use to support your
focus pupil?

Whole-class discussion How would you support

your focus pupil in joining
in and remembering key
points from the lesson?

Evaluation against How would you make sure

learning outcomes your focus pupil could
evaluate their success or
progress in the lesson?

Scope for including ideas What might you include

relating to the pupil’s that relates to your pupil’s
strengths and interests strengths and interests?

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 30
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Option B: Using the case studies
Primary case study: Nazeer
Read the case study materials below, including the completed table 14.

Year 4 lesson: Resisting pressure to do wrong or risky things10

Lesson outcomes
Pupils will learn:
"" that pressure to behave in an unacceptable or risky way can come from a variety of sources,
including people they know
"" how to ask for help and use basic techniques for resisting pressure to do wrong (PSHE 3f)
"" how to make simple notes to guide others in discussion.
Introduction
Reminder of the definitions of ‘risk’ and ‘hazard’ and a discussion of peer pressure: “Peer pressure
is not usually overt force or pressure, but is more likely taking a lead from someone else/going
along with the group/doing what others do. Although we may have good ideas about how to
keep ourselves safe at home, it is sometimes difficult to do the right thing if others want to do
something else.” (ROSPA)
Whole-class discussion (1) of a scenario
The scenario: a group of friends is playing at one family’s house. Some of them suggest lighting a
fire in the garden using matches they have seen in the kitchen. Discuss: What is wrong with this?
What are the risks? What could happen?
Whole-class discussion (2)
Why might people go along with the pressure? Explore possible ways for someone to avoid
being caught up in something they do not want to do. For instance, they might say: “That’s
dangerous – I don’t want to take a risk. Let’s check with an adult – just to be safe”, and stand up
for themselves but be polite, rather than bossy, aggressive or rude.
Work in small groups (groups of five)
Worksheet contains five home safety scenarios such as:
A group of friends are playing computer games in the bedroom of one person. One of them uses
an asthma inhaler and some of the others ask if they can try it.
For each scenario, one of the group leads the rest, first noting their own answers to the
questions: What is wrong with this? What are the risks? What could happen? Why might people
go along with it? What could they do or say?
Whole-class discussion (3) of group conclusions to compare ideas.
Evaluation of learning against intended outcomes.

Pupil – Nazeer
Nazeer is in year 4 of his mainstream primary school. His reading age is three years below his
chronological age.

10 This sketch of a primary lesson plan is based on a lesson from the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
website: www.rospa.com/safetyeducation

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 31
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 14: Putting the information together – Nazeer

Gathering information Pupil’s name: Nazeer

Age: 8

Source Your findings

The basics of successful Rose, J, 2009, Nazeer’s language comprehension is within

reading and writing Identifying and the typical range for his age, but he finds word
Teaching Children recognition difficult.
Where does the pupil
and Young People
fall on the dyslexic He is likely to be in the top left quadrant of the
with Dyslexia and
continuum? simple view of reading model.
Literacy Difficulties

The pupil’s strengths, The pupil Nazeer likes watching and playing cricket. He
interests and needs themselves gets on well with the teaching assistant and
his study buddy, Tom. He learns best when he
does not feel hurried and when teachers take
the trouble to make sure he understands what
is being asked of him. He does not like being
picked out for special help in class.

The success of Other staff, eg the Nazeer’s teaching assistant has told you that he
strategies used so far SENCO, teaching finds it difficult to read aloud or explain what he
assistants has read.
Nazeer’s working memory can fail him badly,
perhaps due to anxiety, and this makes it hard
for him to take part in formal oral work in class.

School records Nazeer has no hearing or visual impairments.

Others, eg parents You have not been able to speak to Nazeer’s

or carers parents.

The pupil in lessons Observation When you watched Nazeer in class, you noticed
that he was hesitant to ask for help from
anyone other than the teaching assistant. He
sometimes forgets tasks he has been set and
often loses concentration.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 32
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Now fill in the blank column of table 15 with your ideas for making sure Nazeer is included in the
lesson. Use any of the ideas from the activities in this self-study task. Once you have done this,
compare your ideas with what actually happened in the lesson – in the appendix.

Table 15: How would you support Nazeer?

Primary What would you do?

Present intended How, if at all, would you

learning outcomes differentiate the lesson’s
intended learning outcomes
for Nazeer?

Whole-class reminder: How would you make sure

‘risk’ and ‘hazard’ Nazeer can contribute to
the discussion?

Class work in small How would you group the

groups to discuss the pupils for this activity?
scenarios
What would be the role of
the teaching assistant?
What strategies might you
use to support Nazeer?

Whole-class discussion How would you support

of their notes Nazeer in joining in and
remembering key points
from the lesson?

Evaluation against How would you make sure

learning outcomes Nazeer could evaluate his
success effectively in the
lesson?

Scope for including What might you include

ideas relating to the that relates to Nazeer’s
pupil’s strengths and strengths and interests?
interests

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 33
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Secondary case study: James
Read the case study materials below, including the completed table 16.

Year 8 lesson: Why should we preserve the rainforests?

Location
School library/information centre
Support
A department-based teaching assistant supports the lesson
Lesson outcome
To be able to make the case for preserving Earth’s rainforest

Presentation of intended learning outcome

Reminder of messages of a film about the rainforest shown in the previous week
Whole-class discussion
Key terminology
Introduction to task
Searching web pages
Small group work
Searching websites and recording findings
Report back
Groups stand up to tell other groups their conclusions
Whole-class discussion
Conclusions
Evaluation against intended learning outcomes

Student – James
James is in year 8 at his mainstream secondary school. He has been identified as being dyslexic
and is working at level 3 of the National Curriculum for English (reading). He has a regular buddy,
Christos, and will chat readily to the small group of friends and adults he knows.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 34
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 16: Putting the information together

Gathering information Student’s name: James

Age: 13

Source Your findings

The basics of successful Rose, J, 2009, James’ language comprehension is within the
reading and writing Identifying and typical range for his age, but he finds word
Teaching Children recognition difficult.
Where does the student
and Young People
fall on the dyslexic He is likely to be in the top left quadrant of the
with Dyslexia and
continuum? simple view of reading model.
Literacy Difficulties

The student’s strengths, The student James likes watching cartoons on television,
interests and needs themselves particularly ‘The Simpsons’. He enjoys art and
design and design and technology lessons. He
likes to use his laptop for any written work.
He learns best when he does not feel hurried
and when teachers take the trouble to make
sure he understands what is being asked of him.
He does not like being picked out for special
help in class.

The success of Other staff, eg the James does not have his own teaching assistant
strategies used so far SENCO, teaching and is getting used to working with his laptop.
assistants This has helped him greatly with writing.
He takes trouble to set the laptop up in the
colours he likes.
He has used a coloured overlay for reading
in the past, but finds that this is no longer as
effective as it was at first.
His working memory can fail him badly, and
he finds it hard to take part in formal oral work
in class.

School records James has no hearing or visual impairments.

Others, eg parents You have not been able to speak to James’

or carers parents.

The student in lessons Observation When you watched James in class, you
noticed that he was slow to get started, and
then sometimes rushed his work. He was
very hesitant to ask for help when stuck with
something.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 35
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Now fill in the blank column of table 17 with your ideas for making sure James is included in the
lesson. Use any of the ideas from the activities in this self-study task. Once you have done this,
compare your ideas with what actually happened in the lesson – in the appendix.

Table 17: How would you support James?

Secondary What would you do?

Present learning How, if at all, would you

outcomes differentiate the lesson’s
intended learning outcomes
for James?

Whole-class discussion How would you make

– key terminology: sure James understood
‘biodiversity’, these terms?
‘conservation’,
‘deforestation’,
‘carbon sink’

Introduce task How would you make

sure James can contribute
Whole-class discussion:
to the discussion?
points to look for in a
web page

Small group work How would you group the

investigating rainforest students for this activity?
websites
What would be the role of
Groups move to tell the teaching assistant?
other groups their
What strategies might you
conclusions
use to support James?

Whole-class discussion How would you encourage

of results James to join in and
remember key points from
the lesson?

Evaluation against How would you make

learning outcomes sure James could evaluate
his success effectively in
the lesson?

Scope for including What might you include

ideas relating to the that relates to James’
student’s strengths strengths and interests?
and interests

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 36
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Reflecting on the activity
How did you get on?
The following points, which come up in both the primary and secondary lesson records, are
worth noting:
"" The intended learning outcomes often need to be narrower in scope, rather than ‘tracked back’
to earlier material such as taking learning objectives from an earlier key stage.
"" Questions to dyslexic pupils, as for any pupil with SEN, should not be too easy, though they
should be carefully planned so the pupil will understand.
"" Pupil groupings should make use of the full range of possibilities over a sequence of lessons.
Ability grouping for long periods is likely to be counter-productive for the pupils who are always
in the low-attaining group.
"" The role of teaching assistant should be planned to allow the pupils opportunity for
independence and support.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 37
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Activity 7
Points for action
Approximate timing: 15 minutes
15 mins

Spend a few minutes reflecting on this self-study task and record key points for action below.
What do I want to do next to develop my practice?

How will I do this?

What is my timescale for this to happen?

How will I know if I have been successful?

Do I need to involve anyone else in enabling this to happen?

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 38
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Resources and references
Websites
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA): www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Dyslexia Action: www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

References
Adams, M J,1990, Beginning to Read: Thinking and learning about print, MIT Press, Cambridge MA
DfES, 2001, Special Educational Needs Code of Practice
Hatcher, P J, Hulme, C and Ellis, A W, Ameliorating Early Reading Failure by Integrating the Teaching
of Reading and Phonological Skills: The phonological linkage hypothesis, Child Development, 65,
1994, pages 41–57
Hoover, W A and Gough, P B, The Simple View of Reading, Reading and Writing, 2, 1990, pages
127–160
Johnston, R S and Watson, J, Developing Reading, Spelling and Phonemic Awareness Skills in Primary
School Children, Reading, July 1997, pages 38–41
Jorm, A F and Share, D L, Phonological Recoding and Reading Acquisition, Applied Psycholinguistics,
4, 1983, pages 103–147
Nation, K and Snowling, M J, Individual Differences in Contextual Facilitation: Evidence from dyslexia
and poor reading comprehension, Child Development, 69, 1998, pages 996–1011
Oakhill, J, Cain, K and Bryant, P E, 1997, Factors that Contribute to Individual Differences in Children’s
Comprehension Skill, Paper presented at Integrating Research and Practice in Literacy Conference,
Institute of Education, University of London, December 1997 (unpublished)
Ofsted, 1999, Pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties in Mainstream Schools: A survey of the
provision in mainstream primary and secondary schools for pupils with a statement of special
educational needs relating to specific learning difficulties, Ofsted
Rose, J, 2006, Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading, DfES
Rose, J, 2009, Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy
Difficulties, DCSF
Stuart, M, Getting Ready for Reading: Early phoneme awareness and phonics teaching improves
reading and spelling in inner-city second language learners, British Journal of Educational Psychology,
69, 1999, pages 587–605
Stuart, M, Masterson, J, Dixon, M and Quinlan, P, Inferring Sublexical Correspondences from Sight
Vocabulary: Evidence from 6- and 7-year-olds, The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology,
52A, 1999, pages 353–366
Stuart, M, Learning to Read: Developing processes for recognising, understanding and pronouncing
written words, London Review of Education, 4(1), 2006, pages 19–29
Torgesen, Joseph K, The Prevention of Reading Difficulties, Journal of School Psychology, 40(1), 2002,
pages 7–26
West, R F and Stanovich, K E, Automatic Contextual Facilitation in Readers of Three Ages, Child
Development, 49, 1978, pages 717–727

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 39
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
Appendix
Suggested answers and solutions
The simple view of reading – answers
In the top right-hand quadrant there are children who are good readers: children who lift the words
off the page relatively effortlessly and understand the texts they read with relative ease.
In the other three quadrants, there are three predicted patterns of poor reading:
"" At bottom right, there are children who read the words in the text with relatively little
difficulty but whose poor language comprehension abilities prevent them understanding
the written texts.
"" At top left, there are children who have difficulty reading the words in the text but have good
language comprehension: that is, children for whom poor word recognition skills are the major
barrier to understanding written texts.
"" At bottom left, there are children who experience difficulty on both dimensions, with problems
both in reading words and in language comprehension.
“…children whose reading performance falls within either the upper or the lower left quadrants…
most likely include those children who are experiencing dyslexic difficulties because their
performance indicates varying degrees of poor word recognition… The two-dimensional nature
of the ‘Simple View of Reading’ accords with the definition in that dyslexia is best thought of as a
continuum, not a distinct category, and there are no clear cut-off points.”
Rose, 2009
Back to activity 2, page 13
Pupils who fall into the bottom right quadrant, those who are good at word recognition and less
good at language comprehension, are likely to be placed in the ‘communication and interaction’ type
of need in the SEN Code of Practice.
The needs of pupils who fall into the bottom right quadrant, who are good at word recognition and
less good at language comprehension, are likely to be discussed with reference to speech, language
and communication needs. This may include autistic spectrum disorders.
If you want to find out more about how to remove barriers to learning and participation for
pupils with these special educational needs, look at self-study task 10 ‘Speech, language and
communication needs’ or 11 ‘Autistic spectrum disorders’.
Back to activity 2, page 13

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 40
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 15: What happened in the lesson?

Primary What would you do?

Present intended How, if at all, would you The teacher and teaching assistant
learning outcomes differentiate the lesson’s agreed that Nazeer could mostly work
intended learning outcomes towards the same learning outcomes
for Nazeer? as everyone else, but they reduced the
demand for note-taking in the group
activity.

Whole-class reminder: How would you make sure The teacher asked the teaching
‘risk’ and ‘hazard’ Nazeer can contribute to assistant to remind Nazeer of the terms
the discussion? before the lesson.
In all discussions, the teacher made
sure that she framed her questions to
Nazeer carefully. She used words that
were appropriate for his understanding
and made sure questions challenged
him a little. She had noted the
questions to use on her planning sheet.

Class work in small How would you group the The pupils were in mixed-ability groups,
groups to discuss the pupils for this activity? with Nazeer’s buddy sitting working
scenarios with him.
What would be the role of
the teaching assistant? The teaching assistant sat between
Nazeer’s group and another one,
What strategies might you
helping both groups and making sure
use to support Nazeer?
Nazeer was able to take part.
Nazeer had a card with symbols and
text on it, taking him through the
stages of the task. He always has a
symbols and text prompt card on how
to ask for help.
The teaching assistant had checked
that Nazeer understood the terms in
‘his’ scenario and that he used his card
with symbols and text on it, taking him
through the stages of the task.

Whole-class discussion How would you support The teacher and teaching assistant
of their notes Nazeer in joining in and encouraged Nazeer to use his symbols
remembering key points and text card record to prepare
from the lesson? comments for the plenary discussion,
and the teaching assistant reinforced
Nazeer’s learning of key learning points
by reflecting them back to him.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 41
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 15: What happened in the lesson? continued

Primary What the teacher did

Evaluation against How would you make sure The school uses a traffic light system
learning outcomes Nazeer could evaluate his for pupils to evaluate their own
success effectively in the progress. Nazeer’s use of this system
lesson? is not very secure so the teaching
assistant checked with him on how he
felt things had gone.

Scope for including What might you include The teacher made sure that one of the
ideas relating to the that relates to Nazeer’s scenarios on the worksheet involved the
pupil’s strengths and strengths and interests? possible risks associated with not using
interests cricket equipment safely.

Back to activity 6, page 33

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 42
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 17: What happened in the lesson?

Secondary What the teacher did

Present learning How, if at all, would you The teacher and teaching assistant
outcomes differentiate the lesson’s narrowed the range of concepts to be
intended learning outcomes learnt to a group they felt would fit with
for James? James’ targets for the half-term.

Whole-class discussion How would you make The teacher used one or two questions
– key terminology: sure James understood to check that James understood. The
‘biodiversity’, these terms? questions were not overloaded with
‘conservation’, content, but challenged James a little.
‘deforestation’, The teacher had noted the questions
‘carbon sink’ she was going to use on her planning
sheet. She made sure to give him a
chance to discuss his answers with
his buddy.

Introduce task How would you make The teacher gave James a plan of the
sure James can contribute lesson beforehand, making sure that he
Whole-class discussion:
to the discussion? understood the key concepts he was to
points to look for in a
search for.
web page

Small group work How would you group the The students were in mixed-ability
investigating rainforest students for this activity? groups, with Christos, James’ buddy,
websites working with him.
What would be the role of
Groups move to tell the teaching assistant? The teacher had given the groups
other groups their details of websites that were relatively
What strategies might you
conclusions easy to search (good search engines
use to support James?
and layout). The teaching assistant sat
between James’ group and another one,
helping both groups and making sure
James was able to take part at each
stage. This included, where appropriate,
that he could use the accessibility
resources (font size, etc) for each site.
James had access to a laptop to record
his conclusions, but was encouraged to
make notes using sketches and pictures.

Whole-class discussion How would you encourage James used his ‘log’ of the lesson on
of results James to join in and his laptop to help him remember the
remember key points from key points. His buddy supported him in
the lesson? preparing his comments on the lesson.

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 43
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity
 Table 17: What happened in the lesson? continued

Secondary What the teacher did

Evaluation against How would you make James gave his view of his
learning outcomes sure James could evaluate understanding using the ‘traffic light’
his success effectively in system that is used throughout the
the lesson? school. He also discussed his feelings
about the lesson with the teaching
assistant afterwards.

Scope for including What might you include The teacher made sure that one of the
ideas relating to the that relates to James’ websites visited showed part of the
student’s strengths strengths and interests? animated film ‘Fern Gully’.
and interests

Back to activity 6, page 36

Self-study
Session 3 task 7 44
Overviewand
Dyslexia of the
specific
inclusion
learning
statement
difficulties
Development
Cognition andand
learning
diversity