Noremarsh Junior School awarded dyslexia friendly school status

Noremarsh Junior School has announced that it has been officially recognised as a Dyslexia Friendly School by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), receiving the prestigious Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark.

This award is a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to inclusion, excellence in teaching, and support for all learners. The BDA’s Quality Mark is only awarded to educational settings that demonstrate high-quality learning experiences for dyslexic individuals. It is a widely recognised symbol of best practice both in the UK and internationally.

The BDA commended Noremarsh for its “strong sense of inclusion throughout the school,” noting that “this is truly our ethos.” The school’s values—the ABCs—were described as “lived,” with inspectors observing that they “came through in everyone’s responses today.”

Headteacher Hilary MacMeekin said: “We are thrilled to receive the Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark. This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our children, and the support of our families. At Noremarsh, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start, and this award affirms our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education.”

Visitors from the BDA and SSENS were full of praise for the school community, describing the visit as “such a lovely, positive day” and highlighting the “fantastic children and staff.” They noted a “real passion for ensuring that the children get nothing but the best,” and were impressed by the “clear whole school approach” and “consistency of messages and ethos from TAs and teachers.”

The school’s focus on oracy was recognised as having “a real positive impact,” and teaching assistants were praised for their skilled use of scaffolding and questioning, ensuring children are supported without being over-supported.

Innovative strategies such as the use of ‘Domain Dogs’ for reading were celebrated, and feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive, with one visitor noting that those spoken to were “100% positive about the support and the school.”

The BDA’s Quality Mark provides a framework for educators to improve their understanding of dyslexia and develop the support they offer to dyslexic learners. It is a positive statement to learners, parents, staff and stakeholders that Noremarsh Junior School is a place where dyslexic individuals can thrive.