A NEW learning tool designed to help children with dyslexia has been distributed to every school in the county.

North Yorkshire County Council's Education Service has launched a Dyslexia Handbook to raise awareness of the condition which affects about five per cent of children.

The handbook took a year to produce and was put together by North Yorkshire education experts and members of national bodies such as the Dyslexic Institute and the British Dyslexia Association (BDA).

Coun Chris Metcalfe, the county council's executive member for education, said: "Nationally this will put North Yorkshire Councty Council's Education Service ahead of the game as we recognise dyslexia as a major barrier to effective learning.

"For too long, dyslexia has been a label for failure when in reality it doesn't have to be.

"It is something that can be tackled and the handbook is a way of portraying it in a positive light. This is a really big step forward for families who live with dyslexia."

The handbook contains information and advice and describes how to identify the condition, tackle it and make schools dyslexia-friendly places.

The handbook also feature the experiences of children who live with dyslexia and how they cope with the condition which makes words, characters and numbers appear jumbled.

The handbook was launched at a meeting of the Scarborough and Ryedale branch of the National Association for Special Educational Needs. Nearly 400 primary and secondary schools across North Yorkshire will receive two copies of the handbook.

The handbook has been praised by Angela Lee, whose son, Tom Kirby, 15, attends Scalby Technology College in Scarborough, and suffers from dyslexia.

She said: "In the past, many teachers have found it difficult to get to grips with dyslexia. They just didn't know where to begin. Many still think that the children just can't be bothered.

"But it's a condition and a very frustrating one for Tom and I as it takes so long to get things across. I think the handbook is fantastic and will be great for teachers, children and their families."

The handbook has been well received by the BDA and will help schools achieve their Dyslexia Quality Mark, establishing good practice across the county.