Why Dyslexia Is So Often Missed in UK Schools

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences in the UK, yet it is still frequently missed in schools. At This is Dyslexia, based in Canterbury, Kent and supporting families across the UK through in-person and online assessments, we see this pattern every week.

This is not because teachers do not care. It is because dyslexia does not always look the way people expect it to look.

Many still associate dyslexia purely with poor reading and spelling. In reality, it affects far more than that. It can impact memory, processing speed, organisation, writing fluency and confidence. A child may read at an average level but struggle to retain what they read, take much longer to write than their peers, or become overwhelmed by spelling and sequencing tasks. When schools focus mainly on reading attainment, these children are often overlooked.

Dyslexia Is More Than Reading and Spelling

Dyslexia can affect:

• Working memory

• Processing speed

• Organisation and sequencing

• Writing fluency

• Spelling consistency

• Confidence and emotional wellbeing

A child does not need to be bad at reading to be dyslexic. Many children compensate well and appear to cope, even when learning feels exhausting.

Bright Children Are Experts at Masking

High-achieving children are some of the most commonly missed. In UK classrooms, they develop strategies to hide their difficulties:

• Memorising words

• Guessing using context

• Avoiding reading aloud

• Over-preparing

• Relying on peers

• Working far harder than others

Teachers see a capable pupil.

Parents see a child who is drained, anxious or losing confidence.

This is one of the most common reasons families contact This is Dyslexia for a private dyslexia assessment in Canterbury or online across the UK.

Schools Use Screenings, Not Diagnostic Assessments

Most UK schools begin with a dyslexia screening. Screenings are useful, but they only indicate risk. They cannot:

• Diagnose dyslexia

• Explain why a child is struggling

• Provide a full cognitive profile

• Be used for exam access arrangements

This leaves many children in the maybe space:

• Possibly dyslexic

• Possibly struggling

• Possibly just needing more support

Uncertainty is emotionally heavy and often more damaging than a diagnosis.

Dyslexia Often Overlaps With Other Differences

Dyslexia commonly co-exists with:

• ADHD

• Dyspraxia

• Autism

• Anxiety

Sometimes the most visible difficulty gets attention, while dyslexia sits underneath unnoticed. A holistic assessment is needed to see how everything fits together.

At This is Dyslexia, our diagnostic assessments look at the whole learner, not just one difficulty in isolation.

Girls Are Still Under-Identified

Girls are significantly more likely to be missed in UK schools. They tend to:

• Mask difficulties

• Internalise struggles

• Appear compliant

• Work harder to compensate

• Develop anxiety or low self-esteem

Many girls we assess are diagnosed only after emotional distress has already developed.

The UK Education System Is Under Pressure

Schools are stretched. SENCos manage:

• Large caseloads

• Limited budgets

• Long waiting lists

• Increasing mental health needs

Full diagnostic dyslexia assessments are rarely funded, which is why many families choose a private dyslexia assessment in Canterbury or a remote assessment across the UK to gain clarity sooner.

There Is No Single Dyslexic Profile

Dyslexia does not look the same in every child. Some children:

• Read fluently but write very slowly

• Spell phonetically but inconsistently

• Understand verbally but struggle on paper

• Appear confident while feeling inadequate

Dyslexia is a pattern of processing differences, not a checklist. It cannot always be captured through observation or screening alone.

The Emotional Cost of Being Missed

At This is Dyslexia, we see the long-term impact of dyslexia being overlooked:

• Children who believe they are lazy

• Teenagers who feel broken

• Adults who have carried self-doubt for decades

A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment changes that narrative. It provides:

• Clarity

• Language

• Understanding

• Relief

• Confidence to advocate

It shifts the story from:

What is wrong with me?

to

This is how my brain works.

Why Families Choose This Is Dyslexia

Families choose This is Dyslexia because we offer:

• Qualified diagnostic dyslexia assessments

• Support in Canterbury, Kent and online across the UK

• A whole-child approach

• Clear, compassionate reporting

• Practical recommendations for school and home

Dyslexia is not missed because it is rare.

It is missed because it is complex.

And complexity needs time, expertise and understanding.