A Kirk Michael nurse has launched a petition to get better support for dyslexic students in school.

Julia Furner, whose daughter is dyslexic, has gained more than 500 signatures since she published her online petition on Friday.

It urges the Manx government to copy Gibraltar’s example by signing the ’Made By Dyslexia’ pledge to help children be identified with the condition at an earlier age so they can get the right support to thrive in school.

The pledge by the charity includes: screening all children for dyslexia at age five or six and having repeat screening tests on all students; making the role of special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) a full-time position and making training for teachers a priority.

Julia will appear before politicians on Tynwald Day in July to formally present her petition.

She said: ’Nationally and globally, the education system is letting dyslexic children down.

’I had my suspicions that my daughter, Lily-Faye, was dyslexic since she was in year 1 (ages five to six).

’I do a lot of education at home and I thought: "something’s not right".

’I asked her teacher if they thought she had dyslexia, but I was told that she was "absolutely fine" or it was "too early to say".’

When her daughter was tested last year in year 3 (aged eight), the results showed that she was at ’high risk’ of having dyslexia.

’That’s when I thought "this isn’t good enough". It could have been picked up a while ago,’ she said.

Knowing little about the condition, aside from it affecting the ability to read and write, she researched into it and came across the Made by Dyslexia initiative.

She discovered that celebrities and high profile figures who have dyslexia, like actor Orlando Bloom and British business magnate Richard Branson, call the condition ’a superpower’ as they are able to process information differently.

This prompted her to look at how the stigma surrounding dyslexia could be removed in the island.

’It’s about a lack of knowledge. I didn’t know about the strengths of dyslexia. Dyslexia has very negative connotations,’ Julia said.

Implications

She added that dyslexic people are ’significantly’ more likely to leave education without qualifications and have high expulsion rates.

It is also said to have adverse implications on mental health and can lead to the person being bullied.

In the Isle of Man, children and young people are continually assessed by teachers through each year group.

The Department of Education, Sports and Culture (DESC) confirmed that those who are not making expected progress are normally flagged by the class teacher to the school’s SENCO, who can complete a more comprehensive assessment.

Schools are also encouraged to offer literacy support and monitor the child’s response to intervention.

Ann Corlett, MHK and member of the DESC, said: ’The support and guidance provided for children and young people is constantly under review and the aim is to ensure that the right strategies, intervention and support is in place for all children and young people with additional or complex needs.

’A decision has already been taken by the department to review the department dyslexia policy 2012.

’The Minister for DESC has formed a working party which includes myself, Tim Baker MHK and Jane Poole-Wilson MLC to work with DESC and stakeholders to help formulate a revised dyslexia policy.

Petition

’I am very pleased to see that Julia Furner has initiated an online petition and I congratulate her on the work she has done so far in highlighting this issue.

’I look forward to working with her and others to ensure the right policy and support is in place.’

She added: ’Julia’s petition would not be presented until July and not picked up in Tynwald until October.

’I am keen to get to work on this now because I believe all children should have the best education possible and each and every child should be given the opportunity and support they need to reach their true potential.’

Julia is running coffee mornings at the Family Library in Douglas, with one for education professionals on May 4 from 6pm to 8.30pm and one for parents at the same time on the following day. The aim is to get public opinion through a questionnaire and focus groups, which will be presented to Tynwald. Individuals can ask to remain anonymous.

See Julia’s petition here: www.change.org/DyslexiaPetition