Committee to hear experiences of dyslexia

Deadline for submissions is 24 January

Parents, teachers or other people with dyslexia in schools on the Isle of Man are being encouraged to share their experiences.

A Tynwald select committee exploring the education provisions for those with dyslexia, disphraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia, was created last month.

It followed a petition presented on Tynwald Day by Julia Bell, who argued educational practices did "not meet the needs of students with learning differences".

Rob Callister, chairman of the committee, said people's experiences would be considered before recommendations were made to "improve the system".

'Reach potential'

Callister is joined in the committee by MHK Ann Corlett and MLC Dawn Kinnish.

A report that would be submitted to Tynwald in April would explore how to improve dyslexia services in schools, the assessment of a child and training available for teachers to undertake those assessments, as well as support available for parents, Callister said.

The committee wanted to hear from teachers "struggling to assess a child", ideas for what training teachers would like to see and information from parents "who have really struggled with the system," he added.

He was also hoping to hear from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

"We need to help as many children as possible get through the system" and the "only way" to help children reach their potential was by "improving overall services", he added.

Individuals can submit written evidence online or on paper, and can request to be called for oral evidence, with the deadline for submissions being 12:00 GMT on 24 January.