Cognition and Learning

Cognition and learning needs can affect most of the curriculum, such as for pupils with MLD or SLD.  However, cognition and learning needs may only affect specific areas such as reading, writing, spelling and mental calculations. Cognition and learning needs generally account for difficulties in areas such as:

• reading, writing and spelling
• numerosity 
• comprehension
• processing difficulties such as sequencing, inference, coherence and elaboration
• working memory
• short term verbal memory 
• other types of executive function difficulties

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed. Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities.

If you think your child may have a dyslexic profile, try this to see if they show some signs of it. Remember, the tool is only a guidance and does not decide on your child’s diagnosis. 

Dyslexia Checklist

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties with mathematics.  It will be unexpected in relation to age, level of education and experience and occurs across all ages and abilities.

Mathematics difficulties are best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and they have many causal factors.  Dyscalculia falls at one end of the spectrum and will be distinguishable from other maths issues due to the severity of difficulties with number sense, including subitising, symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison, and ordering.  It can occur singly but often co-occurs with other specific learning difficulties, mathematics anxiety and medical conditions.