As the countdown to the first day of term begins, many parents notice a shift in their child’s behaviour. Clinginess, irritability, tummy aches and sudden avoidance are all common signs of back‑to‑school anxiety.
New routines, new teachers and memories of last year’s challenges can make the return to school feel overwhelming – especially for children who found reading or writing difficult. For many dyslexic children, anxiety and dyslexia overlap, and if a child is undiagnosed, it can be hard to tell whether their worries are simply nerves or something deeper.
This blog will help you spot the early signs of dyslexia that often become more visible at the start of a new school year.
Why dyslexia and anxiety overlap
Dyslexia isn’t just about reading or spelling – it affects confidence, emotional wellbeing and how safe a child feels in the classroom. Anxiety and dyslexia often appear together for several reasons
Repeated struggles create emotional stress
Children with dyslexia work twice as hard to achieve the same result as their peers. Daily challenges can leave them feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, while they’re simply doing their best.
Fear of classroom embarrassment
Reading aloud, spelling tests, timed tasks and being asked to write quickly can all trigger anxiety. Many dyslexic children worry about making mistakes in front of others – this fear can quietly grow overtime.
Expected tasks = pre-anxiety
If a child already knows that they struggle on e.g. reading aloud, they will begin to worry about the struggle before it even begins. This can often show up as tummy aches, irritability and emotional outbursts – especially around homework.
Memory processing challenges
Remembering instructions, copying from a board and keeping track of multi-step tasks are often difficult for dyslexics.
Early signs of dyslexia at the start of a new school year
A start of a new year can make learning challenges more noticeable. As a child goes up into a new year, there are higher dependencies on harder reading books and writing assignments which may highlight difficulties that were missed before.
Here are the most common early signs of dyslexia that become more visible at the start of a new school year:
- Reading feels slow or frustrating – guessing words, losing their place or avoiding reading
- Inconsistent spelling, including letters swapped or reversed
- Difficulty recognising or remembering letter sounds
- Struggling with phonics lessons
- Difficulty following multi‑step instructions
- Complaints of headaches or tiredness during reading
- Homework taking much longer than expected
- Confidence dropping – “I’m bad at reading” or anxiety around literacy tasks
Why early identification helps
If your child is finding things tougher than expected, speak to their teacher or SENCo about your concerns.
Understanding dyslexia early gives children:
- A reason why things may feel difficult
- Strategies to make learning tasks manageable
- Teachers can adapt tasks and expectations to fit your child’s abilities
- Confidence that they can do this!
- Reassurance that their brain simply works differently – not wrong.
Clarity reduces anxiety and gives children the safety and reassurance that they seek most.
What you can do before term starts
- Rebuild routines with a designated time slot for reading, word games or listening to an audiobook. These calm routines will help your child get back into the learning world, ready without stress.
- Talk about the positives of the year ahead. Friendships, new experiences, school trips, and strengths – your understanding and support will help boost your child’s confidence.
- Get organised with visual timetables and simple checklists, perfect for children who struggle with processing or memory.
- Create a calm reading environment – make it fun and get your children involved with soft lighting and cushioning – sharing reading in a no pressure zone
- Practice school routines – organise the school bag, pencil case and books in advance
Continue your support after day 1
Make time to ask your child about their day, how they felt and anything they’re worrying about. Look for signs of overwhelm or fatigue.
Teachers will be watching for reading avoidance, inconsistent spelling, slow processing and signs of overwhelm – all indications of dyslexia.
Read our other blogs
We provide accredited, nationally recognised dyslexia assessments for children, teens and adults across the North West. If you’d like to understand your child’s learning profile before challenges grow, we’re here to help.
Getting assessed by a qualified practitioner is crucial to receiving the correct diagnosis and accessing the right support. Always check an assessor’s qualifications via the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee website.
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