Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department provides training for teachers to identify dyslexia in primary school children.

In relation to identification of children with dyslexia and training for teachers to identify children with dyslexia, I refer the hon. Member for South Shields to the answer I gave on 3 May 2018 to Question 138480.

The framework of core content for Initial Teacher Training sets out that providers should ensure that trainees are equipped to identify the needs of all pupils, and make provision for them, including seeking the advice of colleagues with specialist knowledge and experience. Trainees should be able to recognise signs that may indicate special educational needs and disability (SEND), and support common educational needs through review of their teaching, making adjustments to overcome any barriers to progress and ensuring that pupils with SEND are able to access the curriculum.

Since 2010, the department has funded the development of resources and training to ensure that the schools workforce is equipped to support pupils with specific types of SEND, including dyslexia. They have produced a wealth of resources and training which are hosted on the SEND Gateway.

From April 2016 to March 2018, we funded the British Dyslexia Association with £1.25 million to deliver training to teachers, ‎to support early identification of learning difficulties, including dyslexia. Our new contract, which will be delivered by the Whole School Send Consortium over two years, brings together schools, SEND sector organisations and experts to ensure schools are equipped to deliver high-quality teaching that supports children with all kinds of SEND. The value for year one is £1.9 million and the value for year two is £1.5 million inclusive of VAT.