It is important to note that working with a specialist tutor is not a quick fix. However, the first and almost immediate improvement that parents notice is an increase in their child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

As previously noted, children with dyslexia typically have debilitatingly low levels of self-belief. A dyslexia tutor will pitch their lessons in such a way that approximately 75% of the content is not too demanding whilst 25% is more challenging.

What does this achieve? It makes the student feel comfortable and proves to them that they are capable. If structured correctly, it also provides a base upon which they can build on what they do know to help with what they do not. This growth in confidence and self-esteem is not to be underplayed. It is at the very root of learning. If a student feels good about themself, they will not be so self-critical when faced with something they find difficult.

A further critical benefit of working with a specialist tutor is that students will be taught to take control of their own learning – a process also known as ‘metacognition’. Whole class teachers sadly do not always have the time to delve deep into each of their student’s personal learning styles. Specialist tutors do! A specialist teacher will teach their students to become aware of how they learn; what strategies work best for them; they will be shown different learning styles so that if one approach does not work, they can try another. This is hugely enabling, especially as students move into secondary school and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. They become independent learners, able to rely on their own knowledge and experience – a skill that is crucial for life way beyond school.

Specialist tutors have diverse styles and methods of working but most parents will notice how liberating it is for their kids to see that learning is not just what they experience in the classroom. Specialist tutors do not have to limit their materials and methods to those used in school. Kids are exposed to a much broader range of materials – comics, blogs, magazines, online games, board games, card games, songs, animation films, puzzles, pictures, treasure hunts etc.

If a student has a particular hobby or passion, the tutor can provide material and activities accordingly so that lessons are instantly appealing. As far as strategies and teaching methods are concerned, a student who is musically minded can sing their spellings; a student who loves drawing can create illustrations to help them visually; a physically intelligent student may need to jump up and down on a trampoline to help them learn their multiplication tables. Whatever works, works! Lessons indeed need to be multi-sensory for dyslexic students and so specialist tutors will create activities that engage all the senses, helping their students to see, feel, touch, move and hear what they are learning. A specialist tutor has the freedom to incorporate whatever works into their lessons, ultimately benefitting their students.