Overview

• Jamie Oliver accused Essex County Council of refusing to formally recognise dyslexia as a special educational need and of avoiding its legal duty to deploy resources for diagnosed pupils.
• Essex council defended its policy by stating it provides individual support for literacy difficulties, including dyslexia, under broader special educational needs classifications.
• Bridget Phillipson announced that all new teachers will receive compulsory neurodiversity training from this September and that existing staff will be upskilled as part of upcoming SEN reforms.
• Oliver’s documentary revealed that standard teacher training allocates only half a day to dyslexia over three years and highlighted that undiagnosed pupils face 3.5 times higher expulsion rates and greater risk of criminal involvement.
• The campaign is calling for mandatory neurodiversity screening within the first two years of primary school to identify and support up to 25% of pupils who may be dyslexic.