What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties with mathematics. It will be unexpected in relation to their age, level of education and experience and occurs across all ages and abilities.
Children with dyscalculia tend to have poor working memory, speed of processing and rapid retrieval of information from long-term memory. Children may develop gaps in their learning because of the hierarchical nature of maths; the lack of firm foundation skills can affect the learning of new skills.
They may have specific difficulties with certain areas of maths such as:
- Learning number sequences (such as counting backwards or step counting)
- Difficulties hearing the similar sounding words (such as thirteen and thirty, ten and tenth)
- Learning number bonds and multiplication facts (times tables)
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Understanding and remembering the long multiplication and division procedures
- Understanding and using money
- Reading clocks and calculations with time but not with number skills.
- Misunderstand some of the mathematical symbols, vocabulary and language.
- Unpicking word problems in maths.
- Difficulties with sequencing and following procedures.
They may forget previously mastered procedures very quickly.
One of the best ways to understand a child’s needs is to see how they respond to high-quality teaching and support. If difficulties continue even with help, it may suggest more persistent signs of dyscalculia. With the right support, children with dyscalculia can thrive at school and beyond.
Please note that referrals for diagnosis are not processed by the school through the NHS Community Paediatric route. Any referrals for formal assessment for dyscalculia must be done privately.
Support for your child with Dyscalculia
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