§ 30. Dr. Goodson-WickesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what special provision she has made with respect to teaching pupils with dyslexia. [7081]
§ Mrs. GillanThe code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs emphasises the need for early identification of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and sets out guidance to local education authorities and schools on the assessment of a dyslexic child. In 1995–96 almost £1 million of expenditure under the grants for education support and training programme supported training for teachers of dyslexic pupils. The Department is supporting research into assessment and teaching strategies for dyslexia with grants of more than £200,000 over the period 1992 to 1998. The Government propose that there should be a particular focus on literacy in the new national curriculum for initial teacher training; the Teacher Training Agency will be consulting on this in the new year, when comments from organisations representing dyslexia will be welcome.