All Party Parliamentary Group for Dyslexia
Contents
- July 2026 - APPG for Dyslexia, Autism and ADHD 鈥� Joint Meeting
- April 2026 - AGM
- April 2026 - SEND white paper
- March 2026 - Alan Milburn鈥檚 NEET review听
- January 2026 - National strategy for dyslexia
- September 2025 - Early identification and screening of dyslexia听
- June 2025 APPG - Teacher Training: Getting it Right
- APPG Newsletter Sign-Up
- APPG Meeting Archive
- APPG officers and members
September 2025 - Early identification and screening of dyslexia听
Overview:
9 September 2025
There was standing-room-only at the APPG for Dyslexia 鈥� Early identification and screening of dyslexia听
The strong attendance reflects the growing support within Parliament for better identification and support for dyslexic children and adults. We were fortunate to have a brilliant line-up of speakers including Jamie Wace Joel Talcott and Lynn Lovell and colleagues from Department for Education and Skills and excellent turnout from Parliamentarians, contributing to an important and constructive discussion around screeners, assessments and early identification.
We look forward to continuing this vital work to make sure all dyslexic children and young people have what they need to thrive.
Summary and full details to be published shortly
Speakers
- Lynn Lovell, Head of Professional Standards, 草莓传媒听
- Joel Talcott, Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Aston University
- Jamie Wace, CEO, Talamo听
- Alison Ismail, Director, Special Educational Needs & Disability and Alternative听Provision, Department for Education
Theme 鈥� Early identification and screening in schools
This meeting will look at what early identification and screening for dyslexia means in practice, and how they are currently being approached in schools and by parent/carers and educators.
It will explore the potential benefits, such as reducing inequalities and narrowing the attainment gap, but also some of the challenges 鈥� from resourcing and training to the risk of over-reliance on screening tools.
The speakers and discussion will reflect on government policy and existing practice, asking what is working well, where the gaps are, and what more could be done to make sure every child has the best chance to succeed.
Speaker Information
听
- Joel B. Talcott is Professor of developmental cognitive neuroscience at Aston University, where he leads research into the early identification and support of children with learning difficulties. His current work focuses on universal classroom approaches to screening and intervention, aiming to embed inclusive practice within mainstream education from the earliest ages possible.听
Joel鈥檚 interdisciplinary research bridges neuroscience, psychology, and education, and has contributed to policy and practice both nationally and internationally. He is also actively engaged in public outreach, working with educators, families, and community organisations to promote understanding and support for neurodiverse learners.
听 - Lynn Lovell is Head of Professional Standards at the 草莓传媒, advising and guiding professionals on best practice in supporting those with specific difficulties. She is an experienced dyslexia and dyscalculia assessor and has an Assessment Practising Certificate and AMBDA/AMBDA Dyscalculia.听
She started her educational career as a teaching assistant and then progressed to become a specialist teacher in secondary and FE/HE settings and an Acting SENCo. She has completed an MA in Specific Learning Difficulties with a focus on developing self-esteem for those with dyslexia.
听 Alison Ismail, Director, Special Educational Needs & Disability and Alternative Provision, Department for Education听
An outstanding, highly committed Senior Civil Servant, with a strong track record in developing and delivering evidenced-based policy.听
Jamie Wace is the Co-Founder and CEO of Talamo, a company transforming how schools and families identify and support special educational needs. Inspired by his own late diagnosis of dyslexia at 13. Talamo has set out to make early screening accurate, affordable, and accessible to every child.
Talamo鈥檚 dyslexia screener and cognitive profiler is fully digital and needs no specialist. Built on the Woodcock-Johnson IV and re-standardised with UK cohorts, it includes extra tests aligned to the new dyslexia definition. Pupils complete short subtests, and results are analysed against 200,000+ data points, giving a risk score and cognitive profile with tailored recommendations. Whole classes can be screened in under an hour, with instant results.
Since launching in schools in 2024, Talamo has expanded from 10 schools to 400 within a year, with plans to double again by year-end. The company has secured a government grant to develop an ADHD screener and is collaborating with leading experts to create a dyscalculia test.
Talamo featured on BBC News over the summer and is backed by a diverse group of investors, including dyslexic entrepreneurs and public figures.听