Dyslexia

Lord Walton of Detchant Excerpts

Wednesday 10th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

I am afraid that I do not have those figures to hand. If I can find details for the noble Baroness I will write to her.

[Lord Walton of Detchant]

Does the Minister accept that whereas developmental dyslexia is the commonest and best known of the specific learning difficulties, there are a number of other less common specific learning difficulties such as developmental dyspraxia—serious clumsiness—and developmental dyscalculia, which means difficulty in calculating and the use of numbers? Is it not the case that people with these difficulties also have special education and training needs and require just as much attention as those with dyslexia?

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

Yes, indeed, my Lords. There is a range of disabilities which can provide hurdles to young people embarking on apprenticeships. The National Apprenticeship Service looks at different ways of supporting diversity within apprenticeships and we recently commissioned a study from Peter Little to look at accessibility. We are implementing an action plan as a result of his report and he himself will help us to implement that.