Dyslexia

Summary

The requester asked for data on dyslexia training for teachers, diagnosis rates, funding, and literacy outcomes in Isle of Man primary schools between November 2019 and May 2024. The Department of Education disclosed limited statistics on teacher training but refused to provide diagnosis numbers citing a practical refusal under the Freedom of Information Act.

Key Facts

• Only 6 teachers across 3 schools received formal dyslexia training between November 2019 and April 2024.
• 18 schools reported no formal dyslexia training for teachers within the past 5 years.
• 9 schools provided no information or did not respond regarding teacher training.
• The Department does not hold data on the number of children formally diagnosed with dyslexia.
• Schools do not diagnose dyslexia; teachers are tasked with assessing literacy needs instead.

Data Disclosed

• 6
• 3
• 18
• 9
• 25/11/2019
• 20/04/2024
• 23 April 2024
• 22nd May 2024
• 25th April 2024
• 5 years

Exemptions Cited

• Freedom of Information Act 2015 section 11(2)(b)
• Freedom of Information Act 2015 section 11(3)(a)

Original Request

I submitted this exact FOI on 25/11/2019. I am requesting an update between the date of my previous FOI and now. The below questions apply to from 25/11/2019 - to date: 1) How many qualified teachers currently teaching in the Isle of Man at publicly-funded mainstream primary school level have undergone recognised formal training in dyslexia? To count, such training should be fairly recent and up to date (for example between 25/11/2019-to date) and should be relevant in having application to children of primary school age in mainstream classes? 2) How many children at publicly-funded primary school level in the Isle of Man have been formally diagnosed (by someone with appropriate expertise) as having dyslexia? Over what time period have such diagnoses been made? The intention here is to estimate the average annual inception of such diagnoses. 3) For how many of these diagnoses were the costs of carrying out the diagnosis publicly funded? 4) What incentives are in place for qualified teachers at publicly-funded mainstream primary school level in the Isle of Man to render support to children with dyslexia or at risk of dyslexia? 5) Typically, what proportion of children educated in the publicly-funded mainstream primary schools in the Isle of Man leave primary school at the end of year 6 having skills in literacy or mathematics rated as below satisfactory?

Data Tables (5)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 3814753 22nd May 2024 Dear ###, We write further to your request, received 23 April 2024, which states: "The below questions apply to from 25/11/2019 - to date: 1) How many qualified teachers currently teaching in the Isle of Man at publicly-funded mainstream primary school level have undergone recognised formal training in dyslexia? To count, such training should be fairly recent and up to date (for example between 25/11/2019-to date) and should be relevant in having application to children of primary school age in mainstream classes?
2) How many children at publicly-funded primary school level in the Isle of Man have been formally diagnosed (by someone with appropriate expertise) as having dyslexia? Over what time period have such diagnoses been made? The intention here is to estimate the average annual inception of such diagnoses.
3) For how many of these diagnoses were the costs of carrying out the diagnosis publicly funded?
4) What incentives are in place for qualified teachers at publicly-funded mainstream primary school level in the Isle of Man to render support to children with dyslexia or at risk of dyslexia?
5) Typically, what proportion of children educated in the publicly-funded mainstream primary schools in the Isle of Man leave primary school at the end of year 6 having skills in literacy or mathematics rated as below satisfactory?" Clarification On 25th April 2024, in respect of question one, we sought clarification from you as to your definition of formal training.
On 25th April 2024 you responded to advise “ “Formal training” would not include anything that counts as universal teaching methods that benefit all students. This means that monster phonics does not count. The reason for this is because by definition children with dyslexia struggle even with good quality phonics teaching methods such as monster phonics. More over, teachers would not learn about dyslexia. Rather the training needs to be specific to dyslexia” Please find our response below: 1) How many qualified teachers currently teaching in the Isle of Man at publicly-funded mainstream primary school level have undergone recognised formal training in dyslexia? To count, such training should be fairly recent and up to date (for example between 25/11/2019-to date) and should be relevant in having application to children of primary school age in mainstream classes? Information Based on School Responses No. of Teachers No. of Schools Formal training in dyslexia received between 25/11/2019 – 20/04/2024 6 3 No formal training within the past 5 years - 18 No information on training held/no response received - 9 By way of advice and assistance in addition to the above a number of teachers have undertaken self-directed study and independent research on dyslexia as part of their professional development, Continuous Professional development about supporting literacy challenges and some teachers have worked with the Manx Dyslexia Association.
A number of teachers undertook formal training prior to 2019 which remains to be utilised.
2) How many children at publicly-funded primary school level in the Isle of Man have been formally diagnosed (by someone with appropriate expertise) as having dyslexia? Over what time period have such diagnoses been made? The intention here is to estimate the average annual inception of such diagnoses. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Therefore a practical refusal reason applies under sections 11(2)(b) and 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the Act) and we are unable to remove the practical refusal reason.
By way of advice and assistance schools do not diagnose dyslexia. Teachers are asked to assess literacy needs and gain support from Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) when required.
3) For how many of these diagnoses were the costs of carrying out the diagnosis publicly funded?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Therefore a practical refusal reason applies under sections 11(2)(b) and 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the Act) and we are unable to remove the practical refusal reason.

4) What incentives are in place for qualified teachers at publicly- funded mainstream primary school level in the Isle of Man to render support to children with dyslexia or at risk of dyslexia?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Therefore a practical refusal reason applies under sections 11(2)(b) and 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the Act) and we are unable to remove the practical refusal reason.

5) Typically, what proportion of children educated in the publicly- funded mainstream primary schools in the Isle of Man leave primary school at the end of year 6 having skills in literacy or mathematics rated as below satisfactory?

Please see below the information held in respect of Maths and English at the end of Key Stage two:

Maths End of KS2 2022
29.8% did not reach expected attainment 2023 27.5% did not reach expected attainment

English (End of KS2 2022 25.7% did not reach expected attainment 2023 23.4% did not reach expected attainment

Please quote the reference number 3814753 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper

version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.