# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To help us to achieve our goal of a dyslexia friendly society, we work hard to raise awareness of dyslexia and to challenge common misconceptions.

This year, from 2nd to 8th October, we will be celebrating individuals with dyslexia from all backgrounds and walks of life. We will enjoy learning about individual journeys with dyslexia and discovering the diversity of experience in our community. Having dyslexia can bring its challenges but it also shapes experience and perspective and makes you Uniquely You. We want to inspire everyone to value and appreciate individuals with dyslexia.

Whether you have dyslexia, or know someone with dyslexia, you can get involved and help us to raise awareness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dyslexia Awareness Week - British Dyslexia Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get involved and help us raise awareness around dyslexia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Downloadable information and resources pack - British Dyslexia Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.
It's a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.

Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.

It's estimated up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis, but support is available to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem be successful at school and work.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Signs of dyslexia usually become apparent when a child starts school and begins to focus more on learning how to read and write.

A person with dyslexia may:

read and write very slowly

confuse the order of letters in words

be confused by letters that look similar and write letters the wrong way round (such as "b" and "d")

have poor or inconsistent spelling

understand information when told verbally, but have difficulty with information that's written down

find it hard to carry out a sequence of directions

struggle with planning and organisation

But people with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, such as creative thinking and problem solving.

Read more about the symptoms of dyslexia.

Getting help

If you think your child may have dyslexia, the first step is to speak to their teacher or their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about your concerns.

They may be able to offer additional support to help your child if necessary.

If your child continues to have problems despite extra support, you or the school may want to consider requesting an in-depth assessment from a specialist in assessing specific learning difficulties (SpLD), an educational psychologist or a speech and language therapist.

This can be arranged through the school, or you can request a private assessment by contacting:

Adults who wish to be assessed for dyslexia should contact a local or national dyslexia association for advice.

Read more about how dyslexia is diagnosed.

Support for people with dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia, they'll probably need extra educational support from their school.

With appropriate support, there's usually no reason your child can't go to a mainstream school, although a small number of children may benefit from attending a specialist school.

Techniques and support that may help your child include:

occasional 1-to-1 teaching or lessons in a small group with a specialist teacher

phonics (a way of teaching children to identify and process the smaller sounds that make up words) combined with other techniques

technology like computers and speech-recognition software that may make it easier for your child to read and write when they're a bit older

Schools and colleges must offer support to students with a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, and have access to specialist staff who are trained in helping students with special education needs.

Assistive technologies such as speech-recognition software, word processors and electronic organisers can be useful for adults, too.

Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help people with dyslexia, such as allowing extra time for certain tasks.

Read more about how dyslexia is managed.

Support groups

As well as national dyslexia charities such as the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), there are several local dyslexia associations listed on the BDA website.

These are independently registered charities that run workshops and help to provide local support and access to information.

What causes dyslexia?

People with dyslexia find it difficult to recognise the different sounds that make up words and relate these to letters.

Dyslexia isn't related to a person's general level of intelligence. Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia.

The exact cause of dyslexia is unknown, but it often appears to run in families.

It's thought certain genes inherited from your parents may act together in a way that affects how some parts of the brain develop during early life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read about dyslexia, a common type of learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This is a free, impartial and confidential service.

We provide information, advice and support to

parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities

children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities up to the age of 25 years

We specialise in education matters but can support with social care and health issues that impact on the child or young person's ability to access education.

One of our workers will have an initial conversation with anyone who calls the service and support in meetings will come either from one of the team or from one of the volunteers who work with us.

Typically, parents can have their concerns listened to, Special Educational Needs policies and procedures explained to them and be offered practical support to help them in their discussions with schools, the Local Authority and other statutory agencies.

I found the time I spent with you and the questions you advised me to ask very helpful, thank you.

Thank you so much for all that you have done to help and support us, it was invaluable.

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it. There was nothing more you could have done.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Newcastle Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a free, impartial and confidential service. We provide information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities up to the age of 25 years We specialise in education matters but can support with social care and health issues that impact on the child or young person's ability to access education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Crossbow Education | Visual Stress | Dyslexia resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dyslexia teaching resources and Visual Stress Support including coloured overlays, reading rulers and tinted exercise books.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Every child can be a reader - Barrington Stoke

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Talking Books has been one of our most loved services for more than eight decades, and we now offer more formats and titles than ever before.

Our Talking Books service is absolutely free. Giving you access to over 40,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children in accessible formats that suits you.

Formats available

You can choose to receive your Talking Books by digital download, and we also have a range of titles available to buy from our online shop.

Or you can now get your books through an Alexa enabled device such as your smart speaker, tablet or phone.

You can also get your books on DAISY CD (one book per disc) or USB stick (three books per stick) depending on your personal taste.

Get started

For more information or to sign up to the RNIB Library get in touch:

Product information

All our Talking Books are unabridged and high quality, giving you the best possible reading and listening experience.

Borrow up to six books at a time, with no limit on how many you borrow over the year.

Our speedy on-demand service means your books are delivered to your door free of charge.

Enjoy access to the rest of our library collection, with access to braille books, as well as music and learning resources.

Return your books free of charge once you've enjoyed them.

Use our online library catalogue to browse, discover and choose your books.

Get help choosing books from our experienced library team, or get technology or reading advice in your own home from our national team of volunteers.

RNIB Talking Books on CD - change to service

From Monday 9th January 2023, RNIB is making a change to how its Talking Book on CD service operates. Readers of our Talking Books on CD will no longer need to return their current book to get the next book sent out. Readers can either keep the CD to make a small library for themselves or they can return it to RNIB in the CD sleeve provided for recycling. The return address on the cardboard sleeve is being updated to RNIB Gateshead.

We will continue to send out Talking Books on CD at the reading rate of each reader. An avid reader will continue to receive frequent books and an occasional reader will receive fewer books at the same speed they currently do now.

If a reader wants to change the rate at which they receive CDs, our colleagues on the RNIB Helpline ([email protected] or 0303 123 9999) will be able to increase, decrease or put on hold the flow of books to a level that suits the reader.

Our Talking Book on USB service is unchanged. For a customer to receive the next collection of Talking Books on USB, they need to return the USB in the pouch provided.

Why are we doing this?

We are aware that getting items returned in the post to RNIB can be difficult for some of our readers. Where we can make a change like this we are doing so. We are still happy to receive the CDs back for recycling at a time that is convenient for the reader to post them.

We will closely monitor this change to our service over the coming months and, where necessary, will make adjustments.

We're here for you

If you have a question about living with sight loss we're here to offer support.

Call 0303 123 9999

"Alexa, call RNIB Helpline" on Alexa-enabled devices

Living with sight loss

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Talking Books service is absolutely free. Giving you access to over 34,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learning to read with phonics? Click the '+' for advice.

Learning to read with phonics

If you live in England, your child will learn to read using phonics. Their school is very likely to use either the Letters and Sounds phonics framework or the Read Write Inc. programme. Check with your school if you're not sure which one they use.

Using Letters and Sounds?

If your child is using Letters and Sounds, you can find this list of eBooks by Letters and Sounds Phases useful. Bear in mind the following:

If you don't know your child's Phase, you can check with your school. As a guide, most Reception children will be on Phases 1-4 and most Year 1 children will be on Phases 4-5. Beyond Phase 5, your child will be able to decode most books.

In Letters and Sounds, there are 'sets' within the Phases - so your child might not know all the sounds in every book within their Phase.

Some series contain occasional 'tricky words' that your child can't decode using phonics. Use the inside front cover notes to teach your child these words before they start the book.

Find out more about Letters and Sounds >

Using Read Write Inc. Phonics?
If your child is being taught to read using the Read Write Inc. programme, you can find books suitable for them by clicking on the 'Levels' menu below and using the 'Read Write Inc.' filter to select the right level.

Find more support and resources for Read Write Inc. in our parents' guide to Read Write Inc. >

Looking for printed books for phonics practice at home?

Not reading to practise phonics?

Sharing books and independent reading

If your child is reading simply for enjoyment, comprehension, or practice, just browse the library or use any of the other filters. You can check which level is right for your child with this simple test from Read with Oxford.

Reading for pleasure

Are you a teacher? Find out about the Oxford Owl for School eBook library.

More available on Oxford Owl for School

Schools who are registered with Oxford Owl can provide pupils with access to an additional 30 Oxford Primary eBooks, plus a separate library of 50 Read Write Inc. titles all for free using a class login associated with their Oxford Owl for School.
How to set up a class login >

If you need more eBooks, Oxford Owl for School has introduced a new annual subscription of up to 550 titles. For more information, please visit the OUP website.

Are you looking for your class login?

Accessing your class eBook library from home

The class log in link has moved. If your teacher has given you login details to use your class library at home, please use the log in link at the very top of this page and select 'Students'.

sign up log in

Songbirds

Levelled phonics books from the fabulous Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.

Read Write Inc. Phonics

A step-by-step phonics programme to support reading. Learn at home with Read Write Inc. Phonics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free eBook library | Oxford Owl from Oxford University Press

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Browse our library of free children's eBooks to read with your child including Oxford Reading Tree adventures with Biff, Chip and Kipper.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Now Featuring Anne Of Green Gables!

With these uncertain times, we are introducing Lesson Plans that include educational tools to help you learn while you're at home. Each lesson plan will consist of critical thinking questions, chapter recap quizzes, puzzles and more. Our goal is to help you continue to learn during these tough times.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dyslexics are more likely to succeed at school, in jobs and life, if they have had the right kind of teaching and support when they are younger.

5. Dyslexia is genetic
Dyslexia is passed on through families. Where a birth parent has dyslexia then there is a 50% chance that their child has dyslexia. Where both parents have dyslexia it is almost certain that children will also have dyslexia (3).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is Dyslexia? Check out these 5 essential facts about Dyslexia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get free educational materials from Nessy to help you teach your children. These can be used to support learning from home or at school.

# data[].attributes.headline
Supporting Pupils with SpLd (Dyslexia) in a Secondary School

# data[].attributes.subject
Supporting Pupils with SpLd (Dyslexia) in a Secondary School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Please click here to navigate the Support Directory and find what is available on Newcastle's Local Offer

Newcastle's Local Offer is all of the information, advice and support that children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) and their families might need to use.

We've brought it all together and published it in one place, here on this website. It's got places to go and fun things to do. You can find school holiday activities, short breaks, and clubs and groups to join in with. There's advice and guidance on education, health and care and a range of young people's issues.

Local Offers - BSL (National Deaf Children's Society)

Use the 'Have your say' button or email localoffer@newcastle.gov.uk to tell us what you think. Tell us what you like about the site, what you don't like and what is missing from our Local Offer and we'll try and improve it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Newcastle's Local Offer is all of the information, advice and support that children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) and their families might need to use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This is a myth. Dyslexia is a wide term. There are many different words that are used to mean dyslexia. You may see words like 'Specific Language Disability' or 'a Specific learning difficulty'. Dyslexia might also be called 'auditory discrimination problems', 'orthographic deficit', 'dysphonetic deficit', 'dyseidetic' or 'word retrieval deficit' and there are many more. The term used may depend upon the specialist doing the assessment as these are the vocabulary they have been trained to use.

Myth 5. Dyslexia is caused by bad teaching.

Myth 6. There is no evidence that dyslexia exists.

There is an overwhelming weight of research that proves dyslexia is a real physiological condition, yet because it is a hidden disability, some people still insist it does not exist.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are many harmful myths about dyslexia. Make sure you view the facts here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drive for Literacy: How does it feel to be dyslexic?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many teachers will have come across pupils with dyslexia and will understand the characteristics and impact this can have on education. However there are few examples of dyslexics talking about their own experiences of going through school; this short film tells exactly that story.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The British Dyslexia Association, leading online parenting forum Mumsnet and expert in parenting dyslexia John Hicks have worked together to produce What Is Dyslexia And What Are The Symptoms? - a quick video guide to what is dyslexia, how to support it, and what help is available and how to access it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guidance for parents - British Dyslexia Association

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The British Dyslexia Association, leading online parenting forum Mumsnet and expert in parenting dyslexia John Hicks have worked together to produce What...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This animation seeks to preempt misconceptions among young audiences by shedding light on the real challenges dyslexic children face whilst also acknowledging their strengths and potential. A supporting teaching resource can be found here: http://bit.ly/2ovAKnw It was created by the British Dyslexia Association with funding from the DfE alongside the dyslex.io mobile first website to support dyslexic people and to encourage people to 'See dyslexia differently'.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Three Ways to Use an Alphabet Arc for Sequencing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When we hear about letter knowledge, the first thing that may come to mind is the ability to say the alphabet letters, sing the ABCs, and recognize letters in print. However, there is so much more that we can do to promote letter knowledge in connection to reading and spelling using an alphabet arc.