Identifying learning difficulties early can make a world of difference in a child’s educational journey. Dyslexia and dyspraxia are two of the most common neurodivergent profiles that affect how children and young people process information and navigate the physical world. While they are separate conditions, they often overlap, and understanding the specific signs for both young children and older children is the first step toward securing the right support.

At Northants SEND Family Guidance, we want to empower parents to recognise these signs so they can work effectively with their school senco and the local authority to ensure no child is left behind.

Understanding Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It is important to remember that people with dyslexia are often extremely creative and high achievers; their brains simply process language differently.

Signs in Young Children (Pre-school and Early Primary)

In young children, dyslexia may not immediately look like a reading problem. Instead, you might notice:

• Speech Delays: Taking longer to start talking or persistently mispronouncing common words.
• Rhyming Struggles: They may find it difficult to join in with nursery rhymes or identify words that sound the same.
• Directional Confusion: Getting “left” and “right” mixed up or struggling with “up” and “down.”
• Sequence Issues: Difficulty remembering the order of the days of the week or the alphabet.

Signs in Older Children (Key Stage 2 and Above)

As the academic pressure increases, older children with dyslexia may experience:

• Slow Reading: They may read very slowly or lose their place on the page frequently.
• Visual Stress: Reporting that the letters seem to “jump” or “blur” on the white paper.
• Spelling Inconsistency: Spelling the same word three different ways in a single paragraph.
• Avoidance: Developing a “class clown” persona or becoming very withdrawn to avoid reading aloud.

Understanding Dyspraxia (DCD)

Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), affects physical coordination. It makes the brain take longer to process the “instructions” needed to move the body. This can impact everything from fine motor skills (writing) to gross motor skills (running).

Signs in Young Children

For young children, dyspraxia often manifests as what people traditionally call “clumsiness”:

• Milestone Delays: Being late to crawl, walk, or feed themselves.
• Fine Motor Struggles: Finding it difficult to use safety scissors, crayons, or build with small blocks.
• Dressing Difficulties: Struggling with buttons, zips, or putting shoes on the correct feet.
• Spatial Awareness: Frequently bumping into furniture or falling over “nothing.”

Signs in Older Children

In older children, the challenges move into the classroom and social settings:

• Handwriting Issues: Writing may be very messy, or they may find the physical act of writing extremely tiring (known as dysgraphia).
• PE Struggles: They may find it difficult to catch a ball, ride a bike, or keep up with team sports, which can impact their self-esteem.
• Organisation: Struggling to keep their bag tidy, losing equipment, or forgetting their homework despite having done it.
• Social Interaction: Sometimes children with dyspraxia struggle with the “timing” of conversations or games, which can lead to social isolation.

The Overlap: When a Child Has Both

It is very common for people with dyslexia to also show traits of dyspraxia. This is sometimes called “comorbidity.” When a child faces both learning difficulties, they might be highly intelligent but feel “locked” behind a wall of physical and literacy-based hurdles.

In these cases, the extra support provided at school needs to be holistic. It isn’t just about reading help; it’s about providing laptop access for writing, extra time for movement, and sensory breaks to prevent burnout.

How to Support Your Child at Home

If you suspect your child is showing signs of these learning difficulties, there are many “low-pressure” ways to help at home:

1. Use Multi-Sensory Techniques: For dyslexia, try “writing” letters in sand or using magnetic letters on the fridge.
2. Break Tasks Down: For dyspraxia, give one instruction at a time. Instead of “Get your bag, shoes, and coat,” start with “Please find your shoes.”
3. Assistive Technology: Explore audiobooks or “speech-to-text” software. This allows children and young people to express their ideas without being held back by their spelling or handwriting.
4. Celebrate Strengths: Focus on what they can do. Whether it is building complex LEGO sets, being great at art, or being a kind friend, building confidence is the best way to combat the frustration of SEN.

Taking the Next Steps in Northamptonshire

If you are worried about your child’s progress, your first port of call should always be the school senco. They can carry out initial screenings to see if your child’s needs fall under the special educational needs sen framework.

If the school’s additional support is not enough, you may need to look into a formal assessment through the local authority. This can lead to an education health and care plan (EHCP), which provides legal protection and funding for the specific help your child needs.

Conclusion: Empowerment Through Understanding

Dyslexia and dyspraxia are not barriers to a successful life; they are simply different ways of being. Many world-class architects, engineers, and authors are people with dyslexia or dyspraxia. By identifying these signs early in young children and providing consistent help through to their time as older children, we can ensure they reach their full potential.

At Northants SEND Family Guidance, we are here to help you navigate these terms and the systems that support them. You don’t have to figure it out alone.