Schools can't tackle
Nicola's dyslexia

A disability rights campaigner says he was forced to pull his 12-year-old daughter out of school because of the "pathetic" levels of care provided for dyslexic children in Gloucester, UK.

Derek Vizor, chairman of the national group Voice of Disabled People, has elected to pay hundreds of pounds to secure daughter Nicola private education at home.

Mr Vizor, of Penhill Road, Matson, said Nicola was currently three years behind other children of her age in math and English.

But when Nicola left Harewood Junior School at Tuffley last year, he claimed the Local Education Authority (LEA), Gloucestershire County Council, could not cater for her dyslexia when finding her a secondary school.

"They offered her a place at Oxstalls Community School along with other ordinary pupils and made no provision whatsoever for her extra needs," he said.

Put my foot down

"That's when I put my foot down and said 'No, I will not accept this'. I decided I'd take her out of school and ensure she was educated correctly at home."

The county council strenuously denies it provides inadequate education for dyslexic pupils and says the county has 254 "dyslexic-friendly" schools.

It says Nicola would have been properly provided for at any of those schools, which have "statements of special needs", if her father had let her try them out.

But Mr Vizor said: "I've been contacted by hundreds of people throughout Britain with problems just like this. "And this is a particularly massive problem in Gloucestershire, which has just one school - Bredon in Tewkesbury - certified by the National Dyslexic Association in London.

"I know for a fact, judging from the vast number of complaints I've received on this issue, that the majority of schools do not deal with dyslexic children in an appropriate manner.

" Nicola, a talented violinist, said: "I'm not too good at English and maths and I'm quite behind at them both. That's why I learn at home."

Adequate care

But Sam Roffe, a spokeswoman for the county council, said Nicola would be provided with adequate care at many ordinary county schools.

"Gloucestershire County Council is committed to working with parents, schools and voluntary organisations to raise awareness of dyslexia," she said.

"The county council's special education needs support service works very closely with school staff to promote 'dyslexic-friendly' schools throughout Gloucestershire.

"Many children with dyslexia are successfully taught within mainstream schools with the help of extra support that schools provide.

'Statements' of special need

"But there are also currently 254 pupils within the county's mainstream schools that have 'statements' of special need.

"The statements make sure the children are allocated significant additional help so that they can overcome learning difficulties associated with dyslexia.

"For example, multi-sensory teaching is used to tackle the particular problems associated with dyslexia and is used as part of the teaching of all children through the literacy hour.

"Special education needs co-ordinators in our secondary schools have additional training and qualifications in dyslexia, as have many co-ordinators in the primary sector.

"We also have eight specialist centres across the county for pupils with dyslexia that teach and support up to 39 pupils each.

"In addition, the county council works closely with voluntary organisations, such as the Gloucestershire Dyslexia Association, to provide training to parents and school staff."

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