I heard dyslexia compared to living through the Blitz on a London street. It’s an image that’s stayed with me.
On that street, some houses take a direct hit — lives are shattered. Others suffer collateral damage, windows blown out, walls cracked, but still standing. Some make it through almost untouched, feeling lucky to have survived when others didn’t.
Dyslexia can be a bit like that.
From personal experience, I count myself as one of the lucky ones. Thanks to great teachers — and perhaps a milder form — my struggles showed mostly in horrendous spelling and spidery handwriting. But for others, the impact can be devastating.
Research suggests that around 50% of people in UK prisons show signs of dyslexia or other literacy difficulties, compared to roughly 10% of the general population. That doesn’t mean dyslexic people are more likely to commit crimes — of course, that is ridiculous. It means the system failed them. When reading and writing feel impossible, when every day at school chips away at confidence, self-esteem becomes the real casualty.
Of course, we also hear the success stories — the entrepreneurs, inventors, and creators who credit their dyslexic thinking for their achievements. Those stories matter deeply; they challenge stigma and show what’s possible when strengths are nurtured. Dyslexia thinking is a great movement – highlighting so many positive traits/behaviours. But as educators, we must also remember the quiet battles, that many children fight on a daily basis.
Our job is to act as early air raid wardens — to spot the danger early, to shelter, to protect, and to guide. To ensure every child feels safe, seen, and supported before damage is done.
At Monster Phonics a large number of our team are dyslexics. This mission runs through everything we do: every child can learn to read — and will learn to read — with the right teaching, tools, and encouragement. More than that, every child should feel good about themselves on that journey.
So, this Dyslexia Month, here’s to the teachers, parents, and schools who stand guard every day — protecting confidence, nurturing potential, and reminding every child that they are capable, valued, and brilliant.
This year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week theme, Raise the Volume, feels deeply personal to me. In my first ever blog, The Reading Revolution, written 8 years ago, I shared how Monster Phonics was born out of a need to create an inclusive approach to teaching the key skill of reading.
Dyslexia runs in my family and as a teacher, I specialised in supporting dyslexic learners. I understood how challenging the traditional ways of teaching could be. In classrooms everywhere, I saw the same frustration. Children were being held back not by what they could do, but by how they were being taught. I wanted to change that, not just for some children, but for all.
That desire became Monster Phonics. Each sound became a character, each colour a friend, and soon a whole world of monsters came to life. It was built for every learner to make reading accessible, joyful, and full of meaning. It gives every child, especially those with dyslexia, the confidence to see themselves as successful readers. It shows that learning can be both fun and inclusive.
Over the years, I have been lucky to work with others who share that same vision. It is probably no surprise that many of the team at Monster Phonics have been personally affected by dyslexia. Perhaps that is why they are such a passionate, creative, and committed group, driven by a shared belief in inclusive learning for all children.
This Dyslexia Awareness Month, I want to celebrate every teacher who works to create an inclusive classroom and every person who helps dyslexia awareness. The revolution I wrote about in my first article continues.
My childhood story is one of a talker struggling in a writer’s world. Back in the late ’70s and 80s, my reports were full of notes telling me to ‘if only you could write like you can talk’ or asking why I couldn’t ‘put more effort into writing.’ I was told I had too much to say. And don’t get me started on the compulsory languges!!! ARGGHHH – how was I supposed to get my head around French and German when I was failing in English!!!! In maths, I always knew the answer, but the inability to ‘show my workings out’ on paper led to massive frustration. I could explain my thought process perfectly, but writing that journey down was not happening!
I was pushing water up hill and it led to a real resentment of the system – I HATED SCHOOL!!!
My luck changed in college. An opportunity turned up at an IT company where someone saw my potential and moved me straight into marketing. Suddenly, my visual learning and talking skills were valued. With the encouragement of that team and the flexibility of the Open University, I began to thrive.
Years later, I moved into the education system myself (NEVER would I thought I would step into school again but that is a whole other story!). Then, as a parent, I could see my own children struggling with phonics, reading, writing and the spellings!!!! Oh the spellings!!! Knowing exactly what that frustration felt like, I pushed back. Even though the school were happy that they fitted nicely into their box, I knew they deserved more. We got them the necessary education psychological reports, and that support ultimately allowed them to fulfill their real potential.
And now, fast-forward to today: I’m the Head of Marketing for an education company. What?! The very area I once loathed is now what I embrace.
Before my interview at Monster Phonics, I did my research and instantly fell in love with the program. I got it! I immediately saw how the colour-coded system and the incredible Monster characters worked, and why it delivers such quick results. It brings reading to life with genuine passion.
Just this past weekend, I was talking to someone whose child was sent home with a photocopied, black-and-white phonics book for reading! Seriously, what are we doing?! It’s time to sit up, see in colour, and embrace characters who make learning accessible and fun! This is exactly why I’m here at Monster Phonics – it’s for everyone!!!