Dyslexia Ireland survey: teacher training seen as biggest barrier for dyslexic children
A Dyslexia Ireland survey of more than 900 teachers, parents and students found strong support for mandatory dyslexia training for all teachers. The charity wants the Department of Education and Youth to fund it.
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The story, neutrally told
Dyslexia Ireland published survey findings on 1 October, the start of Dyslexia Awareness Month, saying a lack of teacher training is the single biggest barrier facing children with dyslexia. The Irish TimesLC “A lack of teacher training about dyslexia is the single biggest barrier facing dyslexic children in Ireland today” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Dyslexia Ireland have today published findings from a survey, which included responses from over 900 teachers, parents and students.” Read at Irish Independent ↗ The survey found 94 per cent of parents and 82 per cent of teachers want mandatory dyslexia training for every teacher in Ireland. The Irish TimesLC “94 per cent of parents and 82 per cent of teachers said they want mandatory dyslexia training for every teacher in Ireland” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “94pc of parents and 82pc of teachers who want mandatory dyslexia training for every teacher in Ireland” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Some 60 per cent of teachers said they do not know the best reading or spelling programme to support dyslexic children. The Irish TimesLC “Some 60 per cent of teachers said they don’t know the best reading or spelling programme” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “60pc of teachers admitting that they don’t know the best reading or spelling programme” Read at Irish Independent ↗
On parents' views of teacher preparedness, the Irish Times reports 89 per cent said teachers are not sufficiently trained, while the Irish Independent reports only 3 per cent believe teachers are appropriately trained. The Irish TimesLC “89 per cent of parents said teachers are not sufficiently trained to support them” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Only 3pc of parents who participated in the surveyed, believe that teachers are appropriately trained” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Some 68 per cent of dyslexic young people named teachers' lack of knowledge as one of their biggest challenges, ranking it above exam supports, diagnosis delays and public awareness. The Irish TimesLC “ranking it above exam supports, diagnosis delays, and public awareness” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “even ranking it above exam supports, diagnosis delays, and public awareness” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Dyslexia Ireland is calling on the Department of Education and Youth to introduce mandatory, funded training in both initial teacher education and ongoing professional development. Irish IndependentRC “calling on the Department of Education and Youth to introduce mandatory, funded dyslexia training as part of both initial teacher education and ongoing professional development” Read at Irish Independent ↗
Chief executive Rosie Bisset described current training as "hit and miss" and said Teaching Council standards for teacher training are "far too broad", leading to wide variation between colleges. The Irish TimesLC “The standards set for teacher training in Ireland by the Teaching Council are “far too broad and allow for too much scope”” Read at The Irish Times ↗ She said structured, evidence-based literacy instruction works but is not reaching enough classrooms, and that schools should not rely on teachers' goodwill to organise and fund their own training. Irish IndependentRC “We know what works - structured, evidence-based literacy instruction - and we know it isn’t reaching enough classrooms” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Teacher Ava Scarlett, who has dyslexia, said her two-year master's in education included one 30-minute lecture on the subject. The Irish TimesLC “In my two years of a master’s in education, we only had one single lecture on dyslexia, about 30 minutes.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Human-interest-led report with a teacher's personal account of minimal training and a parent's story of a child helped by structured literacy support.
- Emphasis
- Personal testimony, the Teaching Council's broad training standards, and variation between teaching colleges.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not state the call on the Department of Education and Youth for funded training.
- Charged language
- “hit and miss”
- For example
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““We would love to see mandatory training and dedicated time available for this for every teacher on a regular basis.” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Campaign-and-policy-led report centred on Dyslexia Ireland's demand for mandatory, funded training directed at the Department.
- Emphasis
- The charity's call to the Department, evidence-based instruction, and the campaign slogan.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the Teaching Council standards criticism and the 89% parent figure; gives less personal testimony and no named teacher.
- Charged language
- “near unanimous demand”
- For example
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“A near unanimous demand for professional development was outlined” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- Dyslexia Ireland surveyed more than 900 teachers, parents and students for Dyslexia Awareness Month.
- 94% of parents and 82% of teachers want mandatory dyslexia training for all teachers.
- 60% of teachers don't know the best reading or spelling programme.
- 68% of dyslexic young people cite teachers' lack of knowledge as a major challenge.
Where accounts differ
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How parents' view of teacher training is reported
- Left
- Reports 89% of parents said teachers are not sufficiently trained.
- Right
- Reports only 3% of parents believe teachers are appropriately trained.
Dyslexia support in Irish schools topic
Dyslexia Ireland presents inadequate teacher training as the main barrier and wants mandatory, funded training and clear guidance on evidence-based approaches.
“Schools and teachers should be provided with access to quality training on dyslexia and clear guidance on the evidence-informed approaches” — Irish Independent
“there’s a huge amount of choice given to teachers as to whether they do CPD” — The Irish Times
Left1 article
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‘In two years, we had one lecture on dyslexia’: Overhaul in teacher training sought
Sympathetic Leads with survey results and personal stories of under-trained teachers and a child helped by structured literacy support.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Lack of teacher training around dyslexia is ‘single biggest barrier’ facing children - survey
Neutral Presents the survey as backing a charity campaign for mandatory, funded training aimed at the Department of Education and Youth.
- 1 Oct 06:00 First The Irish TimesLC ‘In two years, we had one lecture on dyslexia’: Overhaul in teacher training sought
- 1 Oct 06:20 +20m Irish IndependentRC Lack of teacher training around dyslexia is ‘single biggest barrier’ facing children - survey
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.