Dyslexia Decoded: Strategies for Success

This Critical Agendas workshop, 'Dyslexia Decoded: Strategies for Success,' provides educators with a practical, research-informed understanding of dyslexia and specific learning difficulties, along with strategies they can implement immediately to better support affected students. Led by Emily Ballenden — a specialist teacher, education consultant, and founder of Additional Education Services — the session draws on 15 years of teaching experience across early childhood, primary, and secondary settings, combined with postgraduate qualifications in Special Education and Educational Leadership. Ballenden works directly with students from K-12 who have specific learning difficulties, and her workshop approach is interactive and participatory, with discussions, questions, and hands-on activities replacing the passive lecture format that characterises much traditional PD. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how dyslexia presents across different age groups, learn evidence-based strategies for supporting students with SLDs in mainstream classroom settings, and develop confidence in their ability to make meaningful adjustments to their teaching practice. For teachers and support staff across all school levels who want to move beyond awareness toward practical, actionable expertise in supporting students with dyslexia.