DCSF: Government spending billions on dyslexia training
Friday, 14 Mar 2008 13:14
The government has rejected claims it is failing to train teachers to teach children with dyslexia or specific learning difficulties (SpLD).
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) says it is putting "significant sums of taxpayers' money" towards initiatives and charities to test the impact of specialist tutoring.
It would be an irresponsible use of taxpayers' money to jump ahead to rolling out policies nationwide without evidence that they work," a spokesperson explained.
The department was responding to a study from charity Xtraordinary People that claimed 55 per cent of children who fail their standard assessment tests (Sats) are either dyslexic or have SpLD.
The DCSF spokesperson added: "It is wrong to say that the needs of dyslexic children or those with undiagnosed learning difficulties are being hidden or neglected in the schools system.
"We are absolutely committed to making sure that children with all kinds of learning difficulties get the support that they need."