Dyscalculia in the classroom

Persistent difficulty with number, out of line with everything else, and what school should do about it.

What it is

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty affecting the understanding of number — quantity, magnitude, number relationships and arithmetic — that is unexpected given the person's other abilities.

Where it applies

Any age. It is far less recognised and far less assessed than dyslexia, despite similar prevalence estimates.

How it works

It is not the same as maths anxiety, though the two often occur together and one can produce the other.

Support focuses on concrete and visual representation of number, over-learning, and reducing working memory load — not on more of the same practice.

What you can ask for

Ask for assessment if difficulty with number is severe, persistent and out of line with the rest of a child's work.

Ask for practical adaptations now: a number line, a times table square, extra processing time, reduced copying from the board.

Ask about access arrangements for exams, which can include extra time and a calculator where the specification permits.

Where to get help

The British Dyslexia Association covers dyscalculia and holds an assessor list. SENDIASS for free local advice, and IPSEA or Contact nationally.