Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the ability to learn to read and spell. It often runs in families and stems from a difficulty in processing the sounds in words. Some 10% of the UK population are affected.

This means in a class of 30, at least 3 pupils will have a dyslexia type difficulty. In reality, there are likely to be more pupils requiring support, due to having had other issues such as glue ear, (a common condition in young children where the middle ear fills with glue-like fluid instead of air), which can also cause dyslexic type difficulties. In addition, some pupils may have other learning difficulties such as A.D.H.D or Autism, which has made it harder for them to acquire Literacy skills.

Reading Ladders aims to support those pupils who are significantly behind in their reading and who, despite having received school-based intervention, are struggling to make progress.