A new survey says most parents of dyslexic pupils feel they don't get enough support from state schools. But as Simon Ashberry reports, Bradford Council believe it is leading the way in the field.

THE STATE education system is failing dyslexic children, according to six out of ten parents.

A new report by the Dyslexia Institute says provision nationally is "woefully inadequate" and parents feel let down.

But although the general picture is gloomy, education bosses say Bradford is a beacon for parents of pupils with dyslexia.

Bill Turner, head of learning support services for Bradford Council, said: "For a long time it was not recognised as a special need and teachers received no extra support. There are still local education authorities where that is still the case but certainly not in Bradford. We feel we are leading the way."

Nationally, six per cent of school population have some form of dyslexia, which can be either mild, moderate or severe.

And Liz Brooks, director of the Dyslexia Institute, said: "Our poll clearly shows that the state education system is still sadly lacking when it comes to recognising and helping children with dyslexia.

"While teachers are trying to be more understanding, there seems to be a long way to go to bridge the gap which exists at present between acknowledgement and recognition of dyslexia and the progressive work the institute is doing in schools."

But Mr Turner believes that gap is being bridged in Bradford. He said those with mild dyslexia were supported in mainstream schools by extra resources such as use of the literacy hour.

Moderate and severe cases are defined as a special need and schools with children who have this level of dyslexia can call on the services of special teaching provided by Mr Turner's unit.

"We are currently doing direct teaching to 25 children with severe dyslexia. Our special teachers, who have an Advanced Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia), teach them one or two hours per week," said Mr Turner.

Teachers in the schools which are visited are also taught by the learning support services so that they can continue the work with the dyslexic pupils. And Bradford is one of the few authorities to teach the diploma to its own staff.

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