Ryburn Dyslexia

14/09/2026

Well, the summer break has flown by!

After a lovely few weeks of slowing down, spending time with family and recharging, I’m back to it and looking forward to getting back into schools with and meeting more lovely children.

I have some space available for dyslexia assessments in November, so if you’ve been thinking about booking an assessment for your child, or have been waiting until the new school year to look into things, please feel free to get in touch for a chat.

Here’s a beautiful snap from our family holiday, which already feels like it was a lifetime ago!

30/06/2026

I had a chat with a very lovely young man today about letter reversals—why they happen and why they can be more common in dyslexic learners.

Mirror generalisation is an evolutionary adaptation that allows our brains to recognise an object whichever way round it is. This is incredibly useful in everyday life and was very important for survivial. A sabre-toothed tiger facing left or right is still a sabre-toothed tiger!

However, when we learn to read and write, our brains have to learn that orientation suddenly matters. A b is not a d, and a p is not a q. Rather than switching mirror generalisation off completely, the brain learns to override it when recognising letters and words. For some brains, this takes longer than for others.

Mirror reversals can happen because:
🔹 Letter orientation hasn't yet become fully automatic.
🔹 The child is concentrating so hard on spelling or forming letters that orientation errors slip through.
🔹 Similar-looking letters (such as b, d, p, and q) are easily confused while the brain is still developing efficient reading pathways.
🔹 Working memory and processing speed challenges can make accurate letter retrieval more difficult.

Mirror reversals happen in most children who are learning to read and write. However, they can persist for longer in children with dyslexia. Children with dyslexia often need more explicit teaching and much more practice to develop strong, automatic letter recognition and orientation

11/06/2026

Today I attended the National Neurodiversity Show North East in a very wet Wigan!

It has been a fantastic day filled with inspiring conversations and the sharing of neuroaffirming practice. It was great to connect with others who are passionate about creating more inclusive and supportive environments for neurodivergent children and adults.

One of my biggest takeaways has been the wealth of assistive technology ideas and tools that I’m excited to explore further, both for the children I work with and for myself! I’m looking forward to trying out some new approaches and seeing the difference they can make.

Despite the rain, it has been a really worthwhile and thought-provoking day!

04/06/2026

This week I've been attending the SASC Conference virtually while also managing assessment paperwork. I've joined some excellent sessions on holistic assessment practices and the Government's SEND White Paper.

It's always valuable to stay up to date with current developments and reflect on how they can enhance our practice.

29/05/2026

This is a beautiful film from Made By Dyslexia. It offers a lovely insight into how dyslexic minds work and celebrates the creativity, imagination and different ways of thinking that dyslexia can bring.

What is dyslexia?Right now, when kids and parents search “What is dyslexia?” online, they are told it is a disability or a lifelong learning disorder. 9 in 1...

27/05/2026

My latest blog explores practical ways parents can support children with dyslexia at home — while also protecting confidence, family relationships, and self-esteem.

If you’re navigating reading struggles, homework stress, processing difficulties, or simply wondering how best to help, I hope this offers reassurance and useful ideas.

How best to find the balance between supporting your child’s academic success and their self-esteem.

25/05/2026

There has been a lot going on behind the scenes here at Ryburn Dyslexia over that last few months. We are now ready to start assessments, just in time for the final push of the academic year!
✅ Assessment Practicing Certificate
✅British Dyslexia Association Membership
✅Insurance
✅DBS check
✅Forms and policies written
✅Website

14/02/2026

The only thing better than a new notebook is a branded notebook! 🗒️✏️

11/02/2026

What is dyslexia? Have you ever wondered what dyslexia really means?

If you’re a parent, educator, or just curious, this first blog in a series about dyslexia explains it in simple, clear terms.

What is dyslexia? What do we look for in an assessment to know a child is dyslexic.

09/02/2026

I'm very pleased (and relieved!) to share that my provisional Postgraduate Certificate results have been released today and I’ve passed. So grateful for the learning along the way and excited to keep building on it.

The next stop, after external moderation, is applying for my Assessment Practicing Certificate and Ryburn Dyslexia will be ready to go!

So exciting!