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?

An informal advice and guidance consultation system, enabling schools to access the team’s expertise at an early stage.
Assessments for appropriate children referred by mainstream schools following completion of the consultation process.
Written reports for schools and parents/carers, including tailored recommendations.
Structured programmes of work to support children with sound awareness, phonics, reading, spelling, or numeracy, alongside classroom strategies to aid learning.
Advice and resources to help schools deliver effective support programmes.
For a small number of pupils with significant, persistent needs, we may provide time-limited weekly teaching within schools. During this period, we work alongside school staff to model strategies and provide informal training.
Training opportunities for whole schools, staff groups, individual teachers, and external 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.