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How to support a child with dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects someone’s ability to carry out mathematics, due to difficulty in reading numbers.

While it occurs as a single issue in people of all ages and abilities, it may also appear with other challenges such as dyslexia – which revolves around reading, writing and spelling.

While you may know about dyslexia, dyscalculia is less common, affecting only 6% of the population.

Here’s what you need to know about spotting the signs.

Indications of dyscalculia

If your child has dyscalculia, or you suspect they have it, you can often tell if they have difficulty remembering basic maths facts. This can include which numbers add/subtract/multiply/divide to get other numbers, or they struggle to count beyond a certain number.

They also often have problems with understanding fractions and percentages, and problems with processing and retrieving mathematical information. You may find it helpful to visit your GP, who will refer you and your foster child to a specialist for assessment.

Supporting your foster child

Your foster child’s school will offer support and help in their educational journey, through accommodations in lessons and exams.

Visualisation is an extremely useful tool for helping dyscalculic children in understanding mathematical concepts. You can achieve this through using dominoes, counters and Lego bricks, for instance.

Your child may be more willing to learn by rote, where they memorise the facts; while this is good for basic facts, you should also encourage them to work on their logic and understanding of concepts as well.

At Beacon Fostering, we support children and their foster parents through every step of their journey. Reach out today to become part of our inclusive network when fostering in Cheshire.