Dyslexia in Salford - a Dyslexia Aware Authority
Salford is the third local authority to be recognised as a Dyslexia Aware Authority through the Dyslexia Aware Consortium (DAC), the others being York and Trafford. The Dyslexia Aware Consortium consists of lead members from local authorities in the north west.
A measure of the consistency of approach across the three local authorities is that, although each local authority has created a process which reflects local needs and circumstances, dyslexic pupils moving between "Quality Mark" schools in these three authorities are guaranteed a high quality of dyslexia aware education.
The award followed a visit and verification exercise to establish the extent to which the Salford Inclusion local authority had supported schools to develop dyslexia aware best practice and to assess the validity of judgements made when awarding the quality mark.
The local authority was assessed as operating with "great professionalism and vision in supporting schools to become more effective in meeting the needs of dyslexic learners". Staff from the Inclusion local authority worked extremely hard to ensure that recognition was granted and their efforts will ensure that dyslexic learners within the city will receive high quality support.
Definition of dyslexia
There are many definitions of dyslexia, but the one that is used in Salford for the Dyslexia Friendly Schools initiative written by Neil MacKay, states that dyslexia is ‘a specific learning difference for any given level of ability, which may cause unexpected difficulties, in the acquisition of certain skills'.
Dyslexia is usually considered as a continuum of difficulties and affects different people in various ways. It is recognised as one of the most common specific learning difficulties within a group that may include: dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or dyscalculia. There is often some degree of overlap within these difficulties.
The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Disability Act (2001) defines a disabled person as 'someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has an affect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities'. ‘A mental impairment' is defined as including ‘hidden impairments' e.g. dyslexia.
Promoting inclusion
The Dyslexia Friendly Schools initiative in Salford is to ensure that pupil and families get appropriate interventions when needed. It is envisaged that the multi-sensory approach to teaching is an important part of the strategy to shift the focus from dealing with the consequences of the difficulties dyslexic pupils have in learning to enabling pupils to achieve their full potential and therefore this supports the five priority outcomes of Every Child Matters:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
Schools with the Dyslexia Friendly Schools award level 1:
- Bridgewater Primary
- Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary
- Irlam Endowed Primary
- Irlam Primary
- St Andrew's CE Boothstown Primary
- St Gilbert's RC Primary
- St Mary's CE Primary, Cadishead
- St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary
- The Deans Primary
For more information about the Salford Dyslexia Policy please contact the Inclusive Learning Services Consultancy Team.
The Consultancy Team are based at Inclusive Learning Services, Burrows House and provide advice and guidance to all primary, secondary, pupil referral units and special schools in Salford. There are two dyslexia specialists and as part of their role they assess pupils, as well as give advice and strategies for teachers and teaching assistants to implement within the classroom and on a one to one basis.
Find out more about dyslexia:
Support for parents
Salford Dyslexia Association meets the second Monday of each month at Roe Green Methodist Church Hall off Roe Green, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2RN. A small fee is requested doors open at 7.00pm.
Who to contact
- Name
- Inclusive Learning Services
- Address
- First Floor
Burrows House
10 Priestley Road
Wardley Industrial Estate
Worsley
M28 2LY
Map to this location
This page was last updated on 13 March 2012
