Embracing Learning Differences

Emma Hartnell-Baker holds a Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs and is currently undertaking doctoral research into teacher decision-making around word mapping, particularly when grapheme–phoneme correspondences fall outside the scope of phonics programmes. She is passionate about embracing learning differences and challenging the deficit mindset, including the notion that children require something “special”. Instead, she argues that we simply need to understand each child as an individual and identify their educational needs. Recently, she opened the Free Early Dyslexia Screening Centre in Dorset to build a community of people interested in early attunement and to share groundbreaking work that makes the code visible for the one in four children who would otherwise struggle to read by the age of 11.

Ask about monthly NeuroReadies Learning Pathway tutoring through The Early Dyslexia Screening Centre, Dorset.

A note about terms!
SEN (Special Educational Needs) → broad umbrella term used in the UK and Australia for children who need additional support, including SLCN, dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and more. 
SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulties/Disorders) → narrower term. Usually covers dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia, but not ADHD, autism, or SLCN.