North Tyneside Dyslexia Team

Assessing and teaching children with dyslexia and persistent literacy difficulties

Who are we?

We are a team of specialist teachers with post-graduate qualifications and Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA). We have been trained to assess and teach children with dyslexia/persistent literacy difficulties.

We work in mainstream schools in North Tyneside and provide an advice and consultation service for school staff in ARPs and special schools.  This includes access to the team’s training workshops and resources to address difficulties with sound awareness, phonics, reading and spelling. Our highly skilled team maintains regular professional development to stay informed and up to date with current practice and thinking, and one of our specialist teachers has been trained to assess and teach children with dyscalculia/persistent numeracy difficulties.

What do we provide?

Assessments of children referred to us by mainstream schools.
Written reports and recommendations for schools and parents/carers.
Structured programmes of work to support children with sound awareness, phonics, reading and spelling or numeracy, including strategies for supporting children and young people in class.
Advice and resources to help schools deliver support programmes.
For a small number of children with significant, persistent needs we may provide once weekly time-limited teaching in schools. During this time, we work alongside school staff to provide informal training and develop their knowledge.
Training for whole schools, groups within schools, individual staff members and other agencies.

Current information about dyslexia and dyscalculia

Dyslexia is a term used to describe persistent problems with phonics, reading accuracy and spelling. Dyscalculia describes persistent problems with number sense and numerosity. Both are specific in nature.

The Dyslexia Team does not provide a formal diagnosis of dyslexia or dyscalculia as the team’s role is to identify pupils’ specific difficulties and devise programmes to address these.