Jamie Oliver is dyslexic and has always been a passionate advocate for better teaching of dyslexic children. Watch the programme he made for Channel 4 about the current state of provision in schools.

Dyslexia is not a lack of ability. It is better thought of as a different way of thinking and learning.

As many as 1 in 10 of people are dyslexic to some extent and there is around a 60% inherited component to dyslexia. So far nine genes have been associated with the condition, many involved in brain development in utero. As it happens, males are more likely to be affected than females. According to the Dyslexia Research Trust (2020), boys have a 75% chance of being dyslexic, and girls a 25% chance, if one or other parent is dyslexic.

However, people with dyslexia are often creative thinkers with strong visualisation skills who generate exciting ideas and imaginative solutions to problems. Dyslexic people have become renowned writers, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs and politicians. Famous dyslexics include Tom Cruise, Albert Einstein, Richard Branson and Leonardo da Vinci. You may well know people who didn’t do well at school yet went on to become very successful in their careers ... perhaps they are dyslexic!

Mainstream schools often don’t have the finances or resources to teach the way that best suits children with dyslexia. As a result, many dyslexic children struggle with their studies and lose confidence and ambition.

Led by Lorraine Walsh, an award winning dyslexia tutor (see here) Target Dyslexia focuses on reversing that spiral. We teach proven techniques that restore confidence, bring success and enable our students to reach their full potentials.