February 2026 · News
Lost in the system: Councils' blind spot on dyslexia
A new report from the British Dyslexia Association makes for sobering reading. Lost in the system: Councils' blind spot on dyslexia found that although around 900,000 schoolchildren in England have dyslexia — roughly three in every classroom — fewer than 2% of local authorities could say how many dyslexic children live in their area. Only three councils could provide any figures at all.
The gaps don't stop at counting. Fewer than half of local authorities employ specialists to assess and support dyslexic learners, and around a third provide no guidance at all on identifying or supporting dyslexia. Support depends far too much on where you happen to live.
The impact shows up clearly in attainment. In 2024, 26% of 11-year-olds left primary school without meeting the expected reading standard. For pupils with specific learning difficulties, only 21% met expected standards at Key Stage 2, and just one in five achieved a Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths.
As the BDA's chief executive Ellen Broomé put it: "Dyslexia cannot remain invisible in our schools." The BDA is calling on government and local authorities to record dyslexia consistently in education data, so support can be planned and targeted properly.
What this means for families
If the system isn't set up to spot dyslexic children, it falls to the adults around them — parents, carers and teachers — to notice the signs early and push for support. If something doesn't feel right about your child's reading, spelling or confidence, you don't have to wait: talk to your school's SENDCo, and consider an assessment to identify exactly where the barriers are.