Academic Support

Homeschooling for Students with Dyslexia: Tailored Learning Pathways

Marketing Team · 25th September, 2025

Around 10% of the UK population is believed to be dyslexic, with many students facing barriers in traditional school environments that were never designed to support the way they learn. Mainstream settings often move too quickly, rely heavily on reading and writing, and provide limited opportunities for one-to-one intervention. As a result, students with dyslexia can lose confidence, fall behind academically, or disengage from learning altogether.

For families navigating these challenges, homeschooling for dyslexia can offer a different path – one grounded in flexibility, understanding and the opportunity to build a curriculum that works with, rather than against, a child’s learning profile.

Understanding Dyslexia Beyond the Stereotypes

Dyslexia is widely associated with difficulties in reading, spelling and writing – but these observable difficulties are often underpinned by deeper differences in working memory, processing speed and phonological awareness. It’s also important to recognise that dyslexia rarely exists in isolation; many students experience co-occurring differences such as dyscalculia, dyspraxia or ADHD.

What’s frequently overlooked is how these difficulties affect a child’s self-esteem. Years of struggling to keep up, being misunderstood or labelled ‘lazy’, and seeing peers progress more easily can create a persistent sense of failure.

That’s why personalised, strengths-based approaches are so crucial. Dyslexia support in homeschooling allows children to move away from a deficit narrative and instead discover how they learn best.

Why Homeschooling Works for Dyslexic Learners

A Curriculum That Moves at the Right Pace

One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is flexibility. Students aren’t pushed to meet arbitrary deadlines or expected to follow a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Instead, they can revisit key concepts as often as needed, focus intensively on areas of difficulty, and explore subjects they love in more depth. This kind of responsive education is often transformational.

Multi-Sensory Learning for Lasting Progress

Many mainstream classrooms still lean heavily on reading, worksheets and rote memorisation. But dyslexic learners often thrive with multi-sensory learning for dyslexia – a structured, evidence-based approach that integrates sight, sound, movement and touch. This could include using coloured letter tiles to build words, singing spelling patterns aloud, or tracing letters in sand while saying the sounds.

By involving multiple senses, students can form stronger mental connections and retain information more effectively.

Download our useful Dyslexia Resource Guide.

Emotional Safety and Self-Belief

For children who have internalised the idea that they are “bad at school”, building trust is essential. Homeschooling creates a low-pressure environment where children feel safe to take risks, make mistakes and ask for help. The positive impact this has on self-belief and willingness to engage in learning cannot be overstated.

What Does a Dyslexia-Friendly Homeschooling Programme Look Like?

Every child’s needs are unique, but the most effective homeschooling programmes are built around personalised support, specialist teaching, and long-term planning. At Enjoy Education, we work closely with families to create tailored homeschooling pathways that typically include:

One-to-one tutoring with dyslexia specialists, who adapt lessons to suit the child’s learning style and pace
Back-to-foundations learning, where needed, particularly in reading and spelling. This may involve revisiting phonics, improving reading fluency, or working to close the gap between reading age and chronological age. All support is delivered in an age-appropriate, respectful way – ensuring that older students never feel like they’re being taught at a level designed for much younger children.
Collaboration with other SEN professionals, such as educational psychologists or speech and language therapists, to ensure all support is aligned and working towards shared goals
Structured repetition and review, designed to support working memory and help information stick over time
Assistive technology, such as audiobooks, reading pens, and speech-to-text software, to remove barriers and build independence
Flexible timetables, allowing students to spend more time on challenging subjects – for instance, allocating additional hours to English if needed
Guidance on academic pathways, including recommendations on exam boards, coursework options, and alternative qualifications such as Functional Skills
Support with access arrangements, helping families secure exam accommodations like extra time, readers or scribes
Extended timelines for exams, giving students the option to work towards qualifications at a pace that suits them, rather than following the standard school calendar
Total alignment with EHCPs and Educational Psychologist report recommendations.

This personalised approach gives students the space and support they need to thrive academically, emotionally, and beyond.

Supporting the Family as a Whole

When a child is dyslexic and struggling in school, the entire family often feels the effects – from emotional stress to endless battles over homework. Homeschooling doesn’t just support the child’s learning; it often improves family wellbeing too.

Enjoy Education provides wraparound support for parents, including:

Tutor matching and programme design
Ongoing progress updates, end of term meetings and termly reports
Advice on incorporating dyslexia-friendly resources and routines
Access to an unrivalled networks of experts in the SEN and mental health space
Transition planning for students who may return to school, university or sit exams

Whether you’re looking for short-term help or a long-term solution, our team can guide you every step of the way.

Ready to Reimagine Learning?

Homeschooling isn’t right for every child but for many dyslexic learners, it’s the turning point they’ve been waiting for.

With the right tutors, structure and mindset, homeschooling for dyslexia can unlock independence, resilience and a renewed sense of curiosity. Whether your child has recently been diagnosed, is struggling in school, or simply needs a different approach, we’re here to help you build a programme that works.

Get in touch today to discuss your child’s personalised education journey further.