IDL

Introduction

International Dyslexia Learning Solutions (IDLS) provides specialist multi-sensory software programs to schools around the world. Our main goal is to provide learning support to those most in need and our software is used by thousands of children across the globe. Our software was developed to support the growing number of young people who are falling through the gaps in literacy and numeracy.

IDL Literacy has been around for over 40 years and can dramatically increase reading and spelling ages for those with dyslexia or low literacy ability. In addition, research has shown it can also have a hugely positive impact on the confidence and self-esteem of those using the program.

IDL Numeracy has been designed for children with dyscalculia, those struggling with maths or who are experiencing maths anxiety. It includes a fully graded course with interactive activities and brand new Animated Maths Tutorials to support students and help them progress.

IDL Wellbeing is an exciting new product designed to integrate with a whole-school approach to mental health, toughness and behaviour management. Following 2 years of development alongside a psychologist, IDL Wellbeing has been developed using contemporary theories and mindfulness practices. Studies have proven that teaching resilience and emotional literacy can reduce incidents of poor mental health later. IDL Wellbeing adopts an integrated approach to support children, aged 7 -13, to understand and address unwelcome emotions as well as encourage positive ones.

IDLS has been part of the Ascentis family since 2013. Ascentis is an educational charity with a mission to enable learners to realise their full potential and achieve their lifelong aspirations.

Photograph of Ryan Foster a young white male with black short hair
RYAN FOSTER SAYS:

I’m thrilled that IDL have partnered with Louise.  We are looking forward to working collaboratively to ensure that all schools in the Middle East have access to technology which supports students of determination.  
To get in contact with Ryan 
Email: louise@louisedawson.com

Please scroll down for information about IDL products

British Dyslexia Assured Louise Dawson

IDL is award winning software based on five core principles:

  1. Multi Sensory Lessons

    IDL uses sight, sound, touch, and voice to improve literacy and mathematical ability. Links are made between the visual, auditory and tactile pathways.

  2. Progress Monitoring

    Teachers can easily see how pupils are achieving against expected standards for their age group along with identifying areas they are struggling with most.

  3. Simple To Use

    IDL has been simply designed to make it easy for pupils and teachers to use. Pupils are able to work independently or with minimum supervision, whilst teachers can track and monitor progress effortlessly.

  4. Independent Learning

    Pupils are able to work independently on the programme, allowing for larger intervention groups.

  5. Available Anywhere

    Pupils can use IDL from school or at home, on a computer or tablet. The cloud is used to store pupil progress so they can pick up where they left off.

 

What is IDL Software?

The IDL Literacy Intervention is a speaking-computer based multi-sensory system which supports learners with dyslexia and other learning difficulties to increase their reading and spelling ages. The programme was specifically designed for those with dyslexia and is used as an intervention but can also be used effectively as a school wide literacy solution.

Over the last 40 years numerous research studies have shown that IDL Literacy is a proven solution for increasing the reading and spelling ability of pupils with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, including dyspraxia and Meares – Irlen Syndrome, by an average of 11 months after just 26 hours of use. To read a summary of this research click here.

Case Study

After receiving an email from International Dyslexia Learning Solutions (IDL) offering free training, a member of staff attended a session which resulted in IDL delivering a training session to all the teachers with in Birmingham’s Pupil and School Support service on the 20th March 2018. The service liaised with IDL in order to offer an opportunity to Birmingham schools to pilot the IDL programme for a period of ten weeks with a focus on reading and spelling difficulties for Special Educational Needs pupils.

20 schools across Birmingham took part in the IDL pilot study during April to July 2018.

Read the Case Study Here: Birmingham Council, UK

IDL Products

IDL Literacy

The IDL Literacy Intervention is a speaking-computer based multi-sensory system which supports learners with dyslexia and other learning difficulties to increase their reading and spelling ages. The programme was specifically designed for those with dyslexia and is used as an intervention but can also be used effectively as a school wide literacy solution.

IDL Numeracy

IDL Numeracy is a maths software resource that helps to improve ability for low-attaining learners in mathematics. It includes a fully graded course to support the National Curriculum for KS1 (Key Stage 1) maths and KS2 (Key Stage 2) maths. In order to be inclusive, the lessons in IDL are designed to reduce the stress those with dyscalculia would ordinarily feel when faced with mathematical problems. After a few hours using IDL, learners will find a familiarity with the lessons and because the lesson mechanics remain the same, they gain the confidence they need to tackle problems, even those they have never encountered before.

IDL Wellbeing

Developed in response to the impact of Covid; rising demand from schools; and new Ofsted requirements, the new IDL Wellbeing programme aims to support children’s mental health and welfare and allows schools to demonstrate that pupils are helped to develop their resilience and confidence alongside learning how to keep mentally healthy.

IDL Wellbeing is designed to fit alongside your whole school approach and is targeted towards preventing poor mental health and building toughness by helping pupils with skills for life.

IDL Numeracy (Dyscalculia) Screener – Free to all

The Dyscalculia Screener has been developed to provide a simple to use online test that will highlight any dyscalculic tendencies or number SEN. The test takes around 15 minutes and is perfect for screening pupils aged up to 11 years (year 6). It can be used to screen an entire year group, or for individual pupils who are showing signs of maths anxiety or particular maths difficulties.

IDL Literacy (Dyslexia) Screener – Free to all

We are delighted to announce the launch of the IDL Literacy Screener which is available now! Our brand new screener is completely free of charge to all schools. 

The IDL Literacy Screener is a simple, effective online tool that can be used to highlight dyslexic type difficulties. The test takes around 30 minutes to complete and is perfect for screening pupils aged 8 and over. It can be used with groups and individuals where there may be a concern about their literacy progress.

Early identification of difficulties is vital for appropriate and targeted support. This test is incredibly easy to administer, with only one teacher or teaching assistant invigilating a whole class. Results can then be interpreted by class teachers and SENCOs who will find them invaluable for developing appropriate interventions.

The test focuses on the skills needed to understand written and spoken language:

  • Auditory processing
  • Visual processing
  • Short term memory
  • Speed of processing
  • Organising and sequencing

A demonstrable deficiency in one or more of these skills can be an early indicator of dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

As a thorough test, the IDL Literacy Screener contains 11 individual tasks:

  • Names of letters
  • Sounds of letters
  • Find the vowels
  • Known sequences
  • Auditory memory
  • Sound blending
  • Sound discrimination
  • Visual discrimination
  • Sound discrimination with visual memory
  • Alphabetic ordering
  • Spelling

Each task contains enough individual questions to ensure accurate assessments can be made. This level of scrutiny allows the results to be used either as a quick indicator of low ability or to identify more specific issues.

There is no time limit and questions that are not intended to ascertain short term memory will have options to repeat audio prompts for improved accessibility. The screener also uses the customisable colours in the same manner as IDL Literacy meaning that learners with previously identified issues can read more easily.  

IDL MTC – Free to all schools

Available now and free to all schools – our new revision tool to prepare learners for the mandatory Multiplication Tables Check (MTC), which is now statutory for all primary schools in England. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether Year 4 pupils can recall their times tables fluently, and to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.

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