Information and advice for parents and carers of children with learning difficulties
For the majority of children starting school, the process of learning to read and write is relatively straight forward. With effective instruction, appropriate support and ongoing encouragement, children not only learn foundational skills, but go on to develop those complex skills required to read, write, spell and calculate effectively and efficiently. There are, however, some students who struggle to acquire these skills despite attending school regularly, receiving adequate instruction and appropriate levels of support. There are a variety of reasons why these students may find it harder to achieve at the same level as their peers. For a small percentage of these students, an underlying learning disorder such as dyslexia or dysgraphia may explain their difficulties. When a child begins to experience delays in their learning, it is often difficult to know whether there is a need to be concerned about their progress, what steps to take in identifying what the main areas of difficulty are, where to start and how best to support the child now and throughout their schooling.