§ 3. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teaching of dyslexic children within the state sector.
§ Mr. DunnMost children with specific learning difficulties are given specialised remedial teaching in reading in their ordinary schools. In addition, the majority of education authorities maintain remedial education centres for the few children who need to be withdrawn from their ordinary schools for remedial sessions.
§ Mr. EggarWill my hon. Friend admit that there is a special problem with dyslexic children, and is it not disappointing that more progress has not been made by local education authorities in the training of teachers specifically to teach dyslexic children?
§ Mr. DunnThere are differing views about dyslexia, as my hon. Friend knows, but provision in individual cases is the responsibility of the local education authority for the area in which the child is reported.
§ Mr. DouglasIs the Minister satisfied, in relation to the Government's overtures on the Warnock committee report, that the teaching of deaf children in schools and elsewhere has been satisfactorily catered for?
§ Mr. DunnThis question relates to dyslexic children. However, there are a variety of opportunities for deaf children and provisions vary between authorities.
§ Mr. ProctorHas my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State responded to the representations that he will have received from Billericay magistrates concerning a parent who came before them for not sending his dyslexic child to school because he did not believe that there were suitable opportunities for teaching the child in Essex?
§ Mr. DunnThe magistrates' court in Billericay has deferred sentence in a particular case to await the outcome of an appeal to the Secretary of State. In the light of that, it would be wrong for me to comment.