Leicester Dyscalculia Hub

🔢 Not all maths difficulties are caused by dyscalculia.
While dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects mathematical understanding and number processing, some students with dyslexia may also experience challenges in maths.
For students with dyslexia, difficulties with maths can be linked to:
• Remembering number facts and times tables
• Following multi-step instructions
• Processing mathematical language and vocabulary
• Organising work on the page
• Holding information in working memory while solving problems
These challenges can impact mathematical performance, but they do not necessarily mean a student has dyscalculia.
If you think dyslexia may be contributing to your child's maths difficulties, seeking specialist advice can be incredibly helpful. I can highly recommend the team at Dyslexia Leicester, who provide assessment, support and guidance for individuals with dyslexia and related learning differences.
Understanding the root cause of a learner's difficulties is the first step towards providing the right support and helping them build confidence in maths. 💙

Not every struggle in school is visible.

For pupils with dyscalculia, maths can feel exhausting, confusing, and overwhelming — even when they’re trying incredibly hard. Small acts of understanding, patience, and support can make a huge difference.

Behind the silence, there may be anxiety, frustration, and fear of getting things wrong.

Many schools receive very little training on dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties, which means the signs can often go unrecognised. This is not the fault of schools or teachers — the training and awareness simply isn’t always there.

However, when a child struggles with maths without the right understanding or support, it can have a lasting impact on their confidence, self-esteem, and relationship with learning.

Early recognition and the right strategies can make a huge difference. That’s why I offer FREE training sessions for schools on dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties — helping staff feel more confident in recognising and supporting pupils who may be struggling.

Together, we can create more positive maths experiences for every learner.

It’s encouraging to see dyscalculia getting the attention it deserves in the national conversation. 🧠➕

A recent BBC News feature highlights how many children with dyscalculia are still being overlooked and struggling without the right support in place. Greater awareness is a vital step toward change—because when difficulties with maths are properly identified, the right strategies can make a real difference.

As specialist assessors, we see first-hand how transformative accurate identification and tailored support can be—for confidence, education, and long-term outcomes.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v091j80zwo

Let’s keep the conversation going and ensure every learner gets the understanding and support they need.

Children with dyscalculia are set up to fail, says Yorkshire mum Often referred to as the "dyslexia of numbers", dyscalculia is thought to affect one in 20 people.

🔢 5 Ways Teachers Can Support Pupils with Dyscalculia in the Classroom

Dyscalculia can make maths feel overwhelming, but small changes in the classroom can make a big difference. Here are five simple ways teachers can help pupils feel more confident with numbers:

1️⃣ Use manipulatives and visual supports
Concrete resources like counters, cubes, number lines, and bead strings help pupils see and feel the maths, making abstract ideas easier to understand.

2️⃣ Reduce maths anxiety
Create a calm, supportive environment where mistakes are part of learning. Avoid putting pupils on the spot and allow thinking time.

3️⃣ Break learning into small steps
Teach one concept at a time and revisit it regularly. Clear, structured explanations help pupils build secure foundations.

4️⃣ Use consistent language and routines
Keeping instructions, methods, and vocabulary consistent helps reduce confusion and cognitive overload.

5️⃣ Encourage multi-sensory learning
Incorporate movement, speaking, drawing, and hands-on activities to help pupils engage with numbers in different ways.

✨ With the right support, pupils with dyscalculia can build confidence and develop strong mathematical understanding.

It's 2026! Let's work together to raise the profile of dyscalculia so that children and adults are given the right support and tools they need to succeed.

Assessment Day 🧠✏️

What really happens on assessment day?

Before we even meet you, we’re busy behind the scenes — carefully selecting the right tests, preparing materials, and reading through background questionnaires so we fully understand your journey. Then we make our way to you, ready to support and guide you through the process.

What should you expect?

We always begin with an informal chat. This is your space to talk about why you’ve reached the point of wanting an assessment and the challenges you’ve been experiencing.

From there, we work through a range of short, structured activities designed to assess different skills. There are lots of “little” tasks rather than one big overwhelming test. We go at your pace, take breaks whenever needed, and make sure you feel comfortable and supported throughout.

The full process takes approximately 4 hours.

If you’re:
➖ Struggling with maths
➖ Noticing a significant gap between your maths and English ability
➖ Feeling that numbers just don’t make sense in the way they should

It may be time to explore answers.

If this sounds like you (or your child), please get in touch to find out how an assessment could help.

If you are looking for a dyslexia assessment, I can highly recommend Dyslexia Leicester!

Dyslexia Leicester Specialist dyslexia guidance for all learners

Join us on Friday 20th February at 5.30 pm (five thirty in the evening) GMT for Instagram live with and . What questions do you have about Dyscalculia?

Looking for fun ways to boost your child’s early maths skills? 🧠✨ Try games and toys that build **spatial reasoning**!

**Spatial reasoning** is the ability to understand how objects fit together, move, rotate, and relate to each other in space. It’s a key early maths skill because it supports:

* Understanding shapes and geometry
* Problem-solving and logical thinking
* Visualising patterns and symmetry
* Later success in STEM subjects

Here are some brilliant toys and games that make learning feel like play:

🧱 **LEGO**
Building with LEGO helps children visualise structures, rotate pieces mentally, and understand how parts form a whole. Following instructions strengthens sequencing skills, while free building encourages creativity and 3D thinking.

🧩 **Jigsaw puzzles**
Puzzles teach children to recognise patterns, analyse shapes, and see how pieces fit together. They develop patience, attention to detail, and the ability to mentally manipulate shapes — all essential for geometry later on.

🧊 **Building blocks & magnetic tiles**
Stacking, balancing, and constructing 3D shapes helps children explore symmetry, size, and spatial relationships.

🚂 **Construction sets & model kits**
These encourage planning, predicting outcomes, and understanding spatial layouts.

♟️ **Strategy board games (like chess or tangrams)**
These develop forward-thinking and visualising moves before making them.

The best part? These activities don’t feel like “maths practice” — but they quietly build the foundation for strong mathematical thinking.

Play today, strengthen tomorrow’s problem-solvers! 🚀