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Learning difficulties must be spotted early, says thinktank

Posted on 22nd October 2008

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State and independent schools have been urged to ensure that learning difficulties are spotted as early as possible, to limit their detrimental impact on a child's academic progress.

According to a new report released by government thinktank Foresight, the earlier conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia are detected, the easier it will be to protect their mental wellbeing and help them succeed at school.

The findings respond to statistics indicating that lifetime earnings and GCSE achievements are substantially reduced by learning difficulties.

In the report, experts call for these issues to be addressed in teacher training, with emerging scientific understanding of child development in areas such as neuroscience and developmental psychology taught to prospective school staff.

An estimated ten per cent of children in the UK have some kind of learning difficulty, the paper notes.

A lack of support for children with dyslexia is costing the UK £1.8 billion a year, charity Xtraordinary People suggested earlier this year.