Advocating for your child
If you think your child is struggling at school, trust your instincts. Early support makes a big difference, so don’t wait to raise concerns with your child’s teacher.
You’re not alone
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. There’s often a lot of information to take in, and conversations can focus heavily on what your child is finding difficult. Even in supportive schools, meetings can feel emotional or intimidating. But they are also an important step to getting the right support in place.
What helps
Evidence shows that structured literacy is the most effective way to teach reading and writing. Some children will learn well with whole-class teaching. Others may need:
- More time
- More practice
- Small group or one-on-one support
When to seek support
Start a conversation with your child’s school if:
- reading and writing are not improving
- your child is anxious about school
- they avoid reading or writing tasks
- they have difficulty concentrating
- their confidence is low or they seem withdraw
A reminder
You know your child better than anyone. Advocating for them may feel challenging at times but it plays a critical role in helping them succeed.
The importance of self-esteem and self-advocacy
Supporting your child at school is important but so is supporting their confidence and sense of self.
Dyslexic children need opportunities to do what they enjoy and build on their strengths. This helps develop resilience and self-belief.
Building self-esteem
Many people with dyslexia go on to achieve great things in sport, the arts, science, business and beyond.
Well-known Australians with dyslexia include sailor Jessica Watson, author Jackie French, and artist Vincent Fantauzzo, as well as Alex Edmondson, the cyclist, scientist Dr Cathy Foleys, Professor Rufus Black and even Greig Pickhaver from Roy and HG.
Internationally, successful dyslexic individuals include Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Keira Knightley, James Rallison and Magic Johnson.
These examples help show children what’s possible and remind them that dyslexia does not define their potential.
Why self-advocacy matters
While parents often advocate in the early years, it’s important for children to gradually learn how to speak up for themselves.
Self-advocacy means:
- understanding their strengths and challenges
- knowing what helps them learn
- being able to communicate their needs
These skills build confidence and reduce frustration at school.
Helping your child get started
Talk with your child about their learning:
- What do you enjoy?
- What do you find tricky?
- What helps you learn best?
Their answers can help guide support at school.
A simple tool
A learning passport is a short document that outlines your child’s strengths, challenges and helpful strategies.
It can be shared with teachers to support understanding, especially when your child finds it hard to explain their needs.
Our Parent Guide
Parent Workshops
Back to School Tips
Learning Plans
Learning Passports
Support at School
Where to start
If you have concerns about your child’s learning, start with their teacher. This is the person who knows your child best in the classroom and is usually the first step in getting support in place.
You might want to reach out if:
- your child’s reading or writing isn’t improving
- they are anxious about school
- they avoid tasks involving reading or writing
- they have difficulty concentrating
- their confidence is low or they seem withdrawn
Who else can help
If you need more support or clarity, there are other people in the school who can help.
Depending on your school, this may include:
- literacy or support teachers
- a Student Support Coordinator
- year or grade coordinators
- assistant principals or principals
If you don’t understand what you’re being told, or feel your concerns aren’t being
heard, it’s okay to speak to someone else.
Keep asking questions
It’s important to feel confident that your child is receiving the right support. Some helpful questions to ask include:
- How is my child progressing compared to their peers?
- What teaching approach is being used?
- What happens if my child needs extra support?
- How can I help at home?
If the answers aren’t clear, keep asking or ask someone else.
A team approach
Supporting your child is a shared responsibility. You, your child and the school can work together to:
- identify what your child needs
- put supports in place
- monitor progress over time
This may include developing a Learning Plan, which outlines goals, teaching approaches and adjustments.
A simple reminder
You don’t have to have all the answers, and you don’t need to do this alone. Keep asking questions, stay involved, and trust your instincts.