About Me

I'm Sarah Read, founder of Ryburn Dyslexia and a dyslexia specialist supporting children and families across Calderdale and surrounding areas.

After many years working in primary education, including ten years as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), I followed my passion for supporting children with literacy difficulties and dyslexia into specialist assessment work.

My experience in schools has given me a first-hand understanding of the challenges children can face when they find reading, spelling or writing difficult. It has also shown me how important it is for parents and teachers to understand a child's strengths as well as their areas of difficulty.

My Experience

I have worked with hundreds of children as a class teacher and SENCo, supporting children with a wide range of additional needs.

I have also supported trainee and recently qualified teachers through teacher education, helping adults develop their understanding of children's learning needs and how teaching can be adapted to support them.

This combination of experience means I understand dyslexia not only from the perspective of assessment, but also from the perspective of the classroom.

Qualifications

• BA Education and Science with Qualified Teacher Status - University of Leeds

• Post Graduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs Co-Ordination - Leeds Beckett University

• Post Graduate Certificate in Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia (AMBDA) - University of Birmingham

• Assessment Practicing Certificate

• Member of the British Dyslexia Association

Why I specialise in dyslexia

My work is rooted in the belief that every child learns differently. When a child is struggling with literacy, it can affect far more than their reading or spelling. It can influence confidence, motivation and how they feel about themselves as a learner.

My aim is to provide a supportive assessment that helps children, parents and schools understand individual learning profiles and identify practical ways forward.

A personal perspective

I'm also a parent of dyslexic children, so I understand that dyslexia can affect family life as well as school life. I know that seeking an assessment can bring a mixture of questions, worries and hopes. I want families to feel listened to, informed and supported throughout the process.

I believe that assessment is only the beginning. Understanding the findings and knowing how to support a child afterwards is just as important. That's why I offer follow-up support to help parents and schools understand the recommendations and consider how they can be put into practice.