Is this dyslexia, dyscalculia or a wider learning need?

The short answer

Dyslexia mainly affects reading, writing and spelling. Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty with understanding and working with numbers and quantities. A child may instead, or also, have language, attention, memory, motor, sensory, teaching-access or wider learning needs. In UK health usage, a learning disability means broader lifelong difficulty learning new information and coping independently; it is not another name for dyslexia. Parents do not need to select the diagnosis before asking for help. Record what the child can do, where the process breaks down, support already tried and the effect on confidence and daily life. Ask the school's SENCO or equivalent to assess need and put support in place. Consider specialist assessment when difficulties persist despite appropriate teaching and targeted support.

• Literacy or maths difficulty can have several interacting explanations.
• Dyslexia and dyscalculia are specific learning difficulties, not measures of intelligence.
• A UK learning disability describes broader learning and adaptive needs.
• Support should begin from observed need rather than wait for a diagnostic label.
• Assessment should produce a useful profile of strengths, barriers and support.