The Importance of Early Recognition of Sp.L.D. - UK Dr Kate Saunders Chief Executive Officer British Dyslexia Association.

Early Identification… ‘Identifying children’s support needs early is vital if they are to thrive, and enables parents and professionals to put the right approach in place quickly…’ (SEND Green Paper: 2012) After The UK Governments’ Early Identification Review by Graham Allen – they concluded that early identification was essential for children and their families in order to meet their needs

The UK’s current Framework: Professionals from health services, such as health visitors, and those from early years settings work with parents to assess the development of all children to clarify where they need additional support or a different approach Early Years education and childcare is accessible to all children New proposals intend to ensure early identification and intervention for all children where they need it, such as the health and development review for children aged between 2 and 2½ years

In favour of Early Identification Benefits to the child, emotional and social well being; more likely to reach their ‘full potential’ Academic benefits: many of the interventions for dyslexia appear to be most effective in early childhood (Foorman & Torgeson, 2001; Lovett et al., 2000). Early identification with targeted intervention could prevent reading problems from derailing a child’s education. Early intervention may also help forestall, or at least lessen, some of the reading difficulties that result from dyslexia (Norton Lasley 2009)

Negative Impact of unidentified SpLD… Illiteracy is costing the UK economy more than £81 billion a year, new research suggests (2012) Report by the World Literacy Foundation (2012) states that six million UK adults are functionally illiterate. Experts said illiterate parents' children are also more likely to grow up unable to read and be trapped in a cycle of despair. Within UK prison population there is a disproportionally high number of SpLDs; this hidden problem means high numbers of men, women and children with learning difficulties and learning disabilities are trapped within the criminal justice system. (Prison Reform Trust 2008)

The Rose Review and ‘No to Failure’ 2009 Sir Jim Rose published a report entitled Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties: Early Identification of SpLd was one it’s key recommendations, identification process should begin as early as Year 1 (5-6 years) No to Failure Project emphasised the need for SpLD trained teachers and early identification and intervention

Changes in Legislation By 2014, children and young people who would currently have a statement of SEN or learning difficulty assessment will have a single assessment process and ‘Education, Health and Care Plan’ for their support from birth to 25. The new plan will afford parents the same statutory protection as the statement of SEN. All the services on which the child and their family rely would work together with the family to agree an ‘Education, Health and Care Plan’ which reflects the family’s needs and ambitions for the child’s future covering education, health, employment and independence. The plan will identify those responsible for which services, and will include a commitment from all parties across education, health and social care to provide their services.