§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) Which education and library boards in Northern Ireland allow free assessment to school children who may be suffering from an education learning disorder such as dyslexia; (b) which boards offer assessment on a fixed or quota basis; and (c) for those boards offering assessment on a restricted or quota basis, what is the reason and the basis for such restrictions. [HL2587]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonNo education and library board offers assessment by an educational psychologist solely on a restricted or fixed quota basis, though all boards, except the southern and southeastern education and library boards, operate priority systems. The arrangements vary from board to board but, in general, pupils who are being assessed with an eye to a statement of special educational needs, at stage 4 of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, are given priority over pupils who require a diagnostic assessment at stage 3 of the code. The southern and south-eastern boards operate on a first come, first served referral system. In every board area emergency referrals are seen on anad hoc basis.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps are being taken by Belfast Education and Library Board to improve assessment, understanding and support offered to those suffering from education learning disorders such as dyslexia. [HL2588]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Belfast Education and Library Board operates a peripatetic support service for children with dyslexia; in the current year 142 pupils are receiving individual tuition in their schools from the service, which is also providing advice and support to the teachers of a further 42 pupils. In addition, the service operates a weekly open clinic in Ulidia Teachers' Centre where teachers can receive advice on teaching dyslexic pupils. A further 60 children with more extreme dyslexia problems are provided with a one-year part-time intensive reading course at one of the board's three reading units. In addition to the peripatetic support service, outreach teachers from the reading units support some 500 pupils with serious reading difficulties, including dyslexia, with twice-weekly individual tuition in their own schools. The children who receive the above supports have all been assessed by an educational psychologist.
Over the past 10 years the numbers of such pupils for whom the Belfast board has provided this type of support have risen approximately fivefold.