4 minute read · By Collette, SEN mum, teacher, and dyslexic herself
Wondering if it’s dyslexia? Start here.
- Tick the checklist below. It takes about 2 minutes.
- Check if it could be something else, or as well. Lots of children have more than one need.
- Talk to school. You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for help. There’s a free guide to make it easier.
Trust your instincts. You know your child best, and spotting dyslexia early means help can start sooner.
Dyslexia is a common learning difference that mainly affects reading and spelling. It runs in families, and it has nothing to do with how clever your child is. With the right support, dyslexic children do really well.
Step 1: The dyslexia checklist
Tick the things you notice often, not just once. This is not a diagnosis. It helps you spot a pattern and explain it to school.
What your ticks mean: if you’ve ticked several, especially in the first two boxes, and it’s been going on for a while, it’s worth talking to school. Only a specialist assessment can confirm dyslexia, but your child can get help in school now, without one.
Want more detail? See signs of dyslexia age by age and dyslexia in your child’s writing.
Step 2: Could it be something else, or as well?
Some signs overlap, and many children have more than one need. If you also notice these, tap to see the checklist:
- Can’t sit still, loses focus, acts before thinking? It could also be ADHD.
- Numbers, times tables or telling the time are hard too? It could also be dyscalculia.
- Very messy handwriting, or seems clumsy? Read about dyspraxia and dysgraphia.
- Finds it hard to understand words or explain things? It could be speech and language needs.
- Lots of worries or tummy aches before school? It could be anxiety, which often goes along with dyslexia.
Check eyes and ears first. Book an eye test (free on the NHS for children) and ask your GP about a hearing check, so you can rule them out.
Step 3: Small ways to help at home today
- Keep reading fun. Read to them, and let audiobooks count as reading too.
- Praise the effort, not just the right answer.
- Don’t make them read aloud in front of others, unless they want to.
- Let tech help. Speak-to-type and read-aloud tools are built into most phones and tablets.
- Show them role models. See our list of famous people with dyslexia.
Words that help
Step 4: Talk to school
Ask for a meeting with your child’s teacher and the SENCo (the special educational needs co-ordinator). You don’t need a diagnosis: any child who is struggling should get extra help in school.
Not sure what to say? Try this simple four-part script:
What I’ve seen: “I’ve noticed [this] at home and in [their] schoolwork.”
How I feel: “I’m worried [they’re] falling behind.”
What I need: “I’d like to know how school can support [them].”
What I’m asking: “Could we set up a meeting with you and the SENCo?”
At the meeting, ask for a support plan with clear targets: what your child is working on, who will help, and when it will be checked. Read more about learning plans and reasonable adjustments for dyslexia.
Free download
Getting help from school: a simple guide for parents
- A ready-to-send email to the SENCo
- What to bring, ask and agree at the meeting
- The support you can ask school for
- What to do if it doesn’t go well
Step 5: Getting a dyslexia assessment
- Who does it: a specialist dyslexia teacher or an educational psychologist.
- When: usually from around age 7, though support can start much earlier.
- Cost: ask school first. Private assessments often cost £500 or more.
- What you get: a report with the adjustments school can make to help.
Read our full guide to dyslexia assessments for children aged 5 to 10.
You don’t have to do this alone
Talk to other parents who really get it in our free Facebook group, Stressed SEN Mums: Find Your Calm. It’s a kind, friendly space to share the hard days and the small wins.
More help with dyslexia
- Free dyslexia screeners for kids
- Signs of dyslexia in a 6 year old
- At what age should a child spell their name?
- How to get dyslexia help from teachers
- My dyslexic child is being bullied at school
- Not sure which need? Start with Is it SEN?
Questions parents often ask
Is dyslexia genetic?
It often runs in families. If a parent or sibling is dyslexic, a child is more likely to be too. Read more in is dyslexia genetic?
Will my child grow out of it?
Dyslexia is lifelong, but the right teaching and support make a big difference. Many dyslexic people find their own strengths and ways of working.
Does dyslexia mean my child isn’t clever?
No. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. It’s a difference in how the brain handles words and sounds.
Can school help without a diagnosis?
Yes. In England, schools should support any child with special educational needs through SEN support, with or without a diagnosis.
This checklist is for general information and is not a diagnosis. If you’re worried about your child, talk to their school SENCo or your GP.
