§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps she is taking to advise local education authorities of the methods used by such centres as the Word Blind Centre to help children suffering from those specific reading difficulties commonly known as dyslexia;
(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that teacher training colleges are made aware of the teaching methods used by such centres as the Word Blind Centre to help children suffering from those specific reading difficulties commonly known as dyslexia.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI understand that the Director of the former Word Blind Centre has recently published a description of the approach which that centre adopted to the teaching of children with specific reading difficulties. I am sure that this will be widely studied by the staffs of local education authorities and colleges of education and I do not consider that any action on my part is required.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many remedial teachers of reading have been specially trained to help children with the particular problem of specific reading backwardness commonly known as dyslexia.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will 502W request all education authorities to provide her with information on the provision they make for children with reading problems, and in particular for children with those specific reading difficulties commonly known as dyslexia;
(2) what steps she is taking to implement the recommendation of her Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children that authorities should review their provision for those who leave school without adequate reading skills and that such provision should include arrangements for a fuller investigation of those who present unusual problems;
(3) what steps she is taking to implement the recommendation of her Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children that for children with specific reading backwardness full use should be made of oral learning methods and there should, where necessary, be arrangements for oral assessments in internal, and if possible also in external, examinations;
(4) if she will request local education authorities to provide specialists in the remedial education centres who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of those specific reading difficulties commonly known as dyslexia;
(5) what steps she is taking to implement the recommendation of her Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children that all local education authorities should set up remedial education centres;
(6) if she will request local education authorities when they screen children for reading backwardness to identify those children suffering from specific reading difficulties commonly known as dyslexia;
(7) what steps she has taken to implement the recommendation of her Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children that all children should be screened for reading backwardness, preferably at the end of the infant stage, and that a continued check on their progress should be subsequently maintained.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe report, which was published in February, has been widely circulated and I have requested comments from local authority and teacher associations. These comments, together with others from associations and individuals, are in the main highly favourable to the recommendations in the report and are now being analysed by my Department.
503WIn the light of this analysis I shall consider what further action by me may be appropriate but the hon. Member will appreciate that local education authorities need no authorisation from me to proceed along many of the lines advocated in the report if they wish to do so.