Dyslexia affects millions of children and adults in the UK — around 1 in 10 people have some form of it. Yet despite how common it is, many pupils with dyslexia still face unnecessary barriers in school. They’re often misunderstood, underestimated, or left struggling without the right support. The truth is that dyslexia isn’t a sign of low intelligence or laziness. It’s a difference in how the brain processes written and spoken language — and with the right strategies, dyslexic pupils can thrive in school and far beyond it.
This guide explores dyslexia from every angle: what it is, how it shows up, and what parents, teachers, classmates, and schools can do to make learning easier and more empowering. Along the way, you’ll find real-world examples, practical strategies, and trusted resources you can start using today.
Understanding Dyslexia: What It Really Is (and Isn’t)
At its core, dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading, spelling, and writing. According to the British Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is linked to differences in phonological awareness, verbal memory, and processing speed. These differences make tasks like decoding words, spelling accurately, or processing written information more challenging — even though intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving skills are often average or above average.
It’s also important to know what dyslexia isn’t. It’s not caused by poor teaching, lack of effort, or low intelligence. And while some children reverse letters (like b and d), that alone doesn’t mean they’re dyslexic — and many dyslexic pupils never reverse letters at all.
How Dyslexia Can Appear in School
Dyslexia looks slightly different at each stage of education:
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Primary (EYFS–KS2): Struggles with phonics, difficulty learning letter-sound correspondences, frequent spelling errors, and avoidance of reading aloud. A child might have strong oral language skills but weaker reading or writing.
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Secondary (KS3–KS4): Slow reading speed, inconsistent spelling, trouble with note-taking, difficulty organising written work, and lower performance on written assessments despite strong verbal understanding.
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Post-16: Challenges with processing large volumes of text quickly, writing structured essays, or keeping up with fast-paced note-taking.
These challenges are real — but they’re not insurmountable. In fact, many dyslexic people excel in areas like creativity, strategic thinking, empathy, problem-solving, and visual-spatial reasoning. With understanding and support, pupils can build on these strengths and find strategies that work for them.
Chapter 1: How Parents Can Support a Dyslexic Child
Parents are often the first to notice signs of dyslexia. They might see their child struggle with reading despite trying hard, or avoid homework that involves writing. This early observation is crucial, because early support makes a huge difference.
1. Work Closely With the School
The first step is to build a collaborative relationship with the school’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). They can explain how your child’s needs will be supported under the SEND Code of Practice, which ensures support is based on need rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis.
Ask about:
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What assessments or observations have been done.
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What interventions or support are being offered.
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How progress will be reviewed and communicated.
It’s important to remember that schools can and should provide support before any formal dyslexia diagnosis is made.
2. Create a Positive Home Learning Environment
Home should be a safe, encouraging space for your child to explore reading and writing — without fear of failure or embarrassment. Here are some ways to help:
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Read together daily, even after they can read independently. Listening to you read more complex books builds vocabulary and comprehension without the stress of decoding.
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Use audiobooks so they can enjoy stories and build knowledge while decoding skills develop.
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Break homework into short, manageable chunks (10–15 minutes) and use timers to make it feel more achievable.
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Celebrate effort, not just results. Praise perseverance and strategy use: “I like how you tried sounding that out in parts,” rather than just “Well done.”
A real example: One parent of an 8-year-old with dyslexia started a nightly “read and relax” routine — 10 minutes of shared reading followed by discussing the story. Over a term, reading confidence soared and resistance melted away.
3. Support Study Skills and Organisation
Dyslexia can affect working memory and processing speed, so tasks like organising homework, following instructions, or planning essays can feel overwhelming. You can help by:
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Colour-coding folders and notebooks by subject.
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Using checklists for multi-step tasks.
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Teaching planning tools like mind maps or bullet-point outlines.
And above all, keep communication open. Let your child know that dyslexia is simply a different way of learning — not a limitation.
For more detail on how parents can advocate for support in school, see The ultimate guide to SEN support and EHCPs for parents.
Chapter 2: How Teachers Can Support Dyslexic Pupils
Teachers are on the front line of dyslexia support — and the right classroom approach can transform a pupil’s experience. The most effective support combines high-quality teaching, targeted interventions, and reasonable adjustments to make learning accessible without lowering expectations.
1. Make Instruction Explicit and Structured
Dyslexic pupils benefit from clear, step-by-step teaching that removes ambiguity. That means:
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Breaking down new information into smaller steps.
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Teaching phonics explicitly, even beyond primary school if decoding is still a challenge.
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Using direct vocabulary instruction, explaining new words in context and revisiting them regularly.
For example, a Year 7 science teacher introduces new terms like “photosynthesis” by breaking the word into parts (photo = light, synthesis = putting together), linking it to prior knowledge, and displaying it with an image. Revisiting it in multiple lessons ensures it sticks.
2. Scaffold Reading and Writing Tasks
Many dyslexic pupils understand more than they can express on paper. Scaffolding helps bridge that gap:
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Provide sentence starters and writing frames to help structure responses.
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Allow oral rehearsal before writing, so pupils can “think out loud” first.
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Offer summaries, diagrams, or key word sheets to reduce reading load.
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Use dual coding — combining text with visuals — to reinforce meaning.
For example, instead of asking pupils to “write about the causes of World War I,” a history teacher might offer a partially completed paragraph structure with key terms provided. Pupils still have to think, but the barrier of organisation is lowered.
3. Rethink Marking and Feedback
Traditional marking can demotivate dyslexic pupils if every spelling mistake is circled in red. Instead:
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Focus feedback on content and ideas first, then give targeted spelling tips separately.
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Use whole-class feedback to highlight common strengths and areas for improvement.
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Provide verbal feedback during lessons — often far more effective than written notes.
A real-world example: At a secondary school in Leeds, English teachers introduced whole-class feedback sheets instead of individual essay annotations. Marking time dropped by 40%, and dyslexic pupils reported that feedback felt more useful and less overwhelming.
4. Use Assistive Technology
Technology can level the playing field. Text-to-speech tools like Microsoft Immersive Reader help with reading comprehension, while dictation software enables pupils to express ideas without the barrier of spelling. Audiobooks, mind-mapping tools, and grammar-checking extensions are all simple yet powerful supports.
5. Build Confidence Every Day
Perhaps the most powerful thing a teacher can do is believe in a pupil’s potential. Small, consistent encouragement — celebrating effort, highlighting strengths, and showing genuine belief in their ability — can have a lasting impact.
Chapter 3: How Classmates Can Make a Difference
Support doesn’t just come from adults. Classmates have enormous power to shape the experience of a dyslexic pupil — for better or worse. A supportive peer environment can build confidence and reduce anxiety, while teasing or exclusion can deepen self-doubt.
Here’s how pupils can help:
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Be patient when someone reads aloud. Let them finish in their own time.
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Offer practical help — like sharing notes or explaining instructions — without making a big deal of it.
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Include, don’t exclude. In group work, assign roles that play to everyone’s strengths. A dyslexic pupil might be an excellent speaker or creative thinker even if writing is harder.
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Stand up against unkind behaviour. “It’s just a joke” is never a valid excuse for teasing someone about how they read or spell.
A powerful example comes from a Year 6 class in Manchester, where pupils learned about dyslexia through a short PSHE project. After the lesson, classmates became more supportive during reading tasks, and the confidence of two pupils with dyslexia noticeably improved.
Building empathy and understanding across the school community is one of the most underrated forms of support. You can explore more about creating safe, inclusive environments in our guide on dealing with bullying.
Chapter 4: What Schools and Leaders Can Do
Supporting dyslexic pupils is most effective when it’s a whole-school effort, not just the responsibility of individual teachers. Leadership teams play a key role in shaping policy, culture, and provision.
1. Create a Dyslexia-Friendly Environment
Simple environmental changes can make a big difference:
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Use clear, readable fonts (like Arial or Verdana) and avoid long blocks of dense text.
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Ensure resources are available on off-white paper if pupils prefer it.
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Display key vocabulary, routines, and visual timetables consistently.
These changes benefit all pupils, not just those with dyslexia.
2. Train Staff and Share Best Practice
Every teacher is a teacher of literacy. Ongoing training on dyslexia and inclusive teaching ensures consistent support across departments. Regular CPD sessions, peer observations, and shared resource banks can all help.
Schools like St. Anne’s Secondary in Kent run short “5-minute CPD” sessions during staff briefings, each focusing on one practical dyslexia support strategy. Over a year, these small tweaks transformed classroom practice across the school.
3. Use a Graduated Response
Following the assess–plan–do–review cycle from the SEND Code of Practice ensures support evolves as pupils’ needs change. Start with universal classroom strategies, add targeted interventions where needed, and consider specialist assessments if progress is still limited.
4. Make Reasonable Adjustments for Assessments
Schools must consider access arrangements for exams where dyslexia significantly impacts performance. This might include extra time, a reader, a scribe, or the use of a word processor. These adjustments should reflect the pupil’s normal way of working and be supported by evidence gathered over time.
For a deeper understanding of how SEN frameworks work in practice, see The ultimate UK education terms & frameworks guide for teachers and school staff.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility, A Shared Opportunity
Dyslexia is not a barrier to success — but the way schools, families, and peers respond to it can make all the difference. When we understand dyslexia as a difference rather than a deficit, we open doors for pupils to learn in ways that work for them.
Support doesn’t have to mean expensive programmes or one-to-one tuition. It’s often about small, thoughtful changes: a teacher who gives instructions in smaller chunks, a classmate who shares their notes, a parent who celebrates effort, or a school that embeds literacy support into everything it does.
Every one of these actions adds up. Together, they create an environment where dyslexic pupils don’t just “get by” — they thrive. They discover their strengths, build confidence, and go on to achieve remarkable things, both in school and beyond.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into teaching strategies, the BDA’s Teaching Dyslexic Students: Theory and Practice is one of the most practical and respected books available today.
Further Resources
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