Support for your dyslexic child, with or without a diagnosis

There are lots of ways you can support your child if they’re showing signs of dyslexia.

Knowing your child’s strengths and challenges can make it easier to support them at home and to work with their school on what will help them most. Your child doesn’t need to have a diagnosis to get support.

If you’re not sure if your child is dyslexic, you can read about child dyslexia signs and diagnosis.

There are different ways dyslexic children and young people experience written text. Speak to your child about their experience, they might find that:

• text appears blurry, wobbling or swirling
• words seem bunched together making them harder to make out
• letters look reversed – like b and d
• similar-shaped letters look the same – like h and n
• they look at the word pattern, rather than reading it left to right
• they struggle to retain a word after the effort it takes to read it
• they have headaches, nausea and eye strain and tiredness from reading

If your child is struggling with learning through written text, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn. You can find different ways that your child likes to learn and connect their learning to their interests.

For younger children you might:

• sing the alphabet song while looking at and touching the letters
• write letters with your finger in sand or shaving foam
• say the letter sound and its name while tracing it with your finger

For older children you might:

• visit or take a virtual tour of a museum about a topic they’re learning
• try hands-on activities like science experiments
• Use resources that make learning fun, like ‘Horrible Histories’

Depending on how your child experiences dyslexia, there are different things you can do to help them when they’re reading. You could:

• find dyslexia-friendly books for them
• try coloured reading overlays or tinted glasses
• think about the lighting and noise levels in the room
• allow them extra time for processing
• understand that they may find the task exhausting

Your child might find it easier to read text that:

• is a dark colour on a pastel-coloured background
• is not laminated, as it can be harder to read from shiny surfaces
• has a larger font size
• has a clear, simple font (like Arial)
• has short paragraphs
• has bigger spaces between lines
• has no italics
• doesn’t have whole sentences or words in capital letters, unless they are acronyms

If your child struggles with following directions and instructions, try breaking down tasks and using simple language. It might help to use visual supports along with verbal instructions.

Some dyslexic children struggle with executive functions. These are the skills that help people to plan, prioritise and remember things. You can read our advice for executive functioning difficulties.

There are lots of digital tools and apps available to support dyslexic learners.

These can:

• read out text
• write text from speech
• make text clearer to read
• correct mistakes in writing

Dyslexic.com has a list of dyslexia apps.

Once the school has identified that your child may be dyslexic, they should support in place.

They might offer your child:

• technology like laptops, tablets or screenreaders
• work printed in a dyslexia-friendly format
• visual aids and timetables
• clear instructions and check that your child has understood
• Additional breaks as processing can be exhausting

If there are things that help your child at home, it’s a good idea to let their school know so they can support them in the same way at school.

Schools are legally required to provide Exam Support for dyslexics.

This can include:

• Someone to read the question and what the child has written aloud
• a scribe who can write the answers
• rest breaks and extra time
• technology like a computer with text to speech software or a reading pen
• exam papers with dyslexia friendly paper, colours and text

Any plans that have been put into place to support your child must be monitored and adjusted as their needs change. Your child should be included in the planning process.

If the support in place isn’t enough then a child can be referred for a needs assessment to see if they are eligible for an Education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Find out more about getting an EHCP.

Dyslexia doesn’t go away as your child grows up, and it can affect things like confidence and wellbeing. You can help by supporting your child to understand what they find difficult, what helps them, and how to speak up for what they need. Encourage them to notice and use their strengths, as this can guide them towards jobs where they can do well. It also helps to talk about simple changes or “reasonable adjustments” they might ask for when they start work, so they feel ready and supported.

f you want to know more about dyslexia or get support for your child, there are resources and organisations that can help.

British Dyslexia Association (BDA)

The BDA offers advice, resources and guidance for families. You can find information about assessments, support at school and ways to help your child at home.

BDA website

Nessy

Nessy provides online tools and learning games designed to support children with dyslexia. They offer resources to help with reading, spelling and building confidence.

Nessy website

Page last reviewed: March 2026
Next review due: March 2029