At a glance
Type of setting
Primary
Phase
Primary (junior school, Years 3 to 6)
Setting
Church of England junior school in Dagenham, east London
Led by
Jade Beech, SENCo, and David Huntingford, Headteacher
Assessment used
Dyslexia screener (now Cognitive & Dyslexia)
Main use case
Universal screening
Themes
Universal screening
Transition
Cohort baseline
Ease of administration
Thinking about a similar approach for your pupils?
Book a call
William Ford C of E Junior School is known for its support for pupils with dyslexia: in 2025 it was the only school featured in Jamie Oliver’s Channel 4 documentary Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution. Its SENCo, Jade Beech, wanted to screen every pupil as they joined the school in Year 3.
She had used other online screeners before and found them too complex for pupils, needing a high level of IT skill. Any new tool had to be one that children could work through themselves.
Tried it with pupils first. In summer 2025, Jade sat behind pupils as they took Talamo, including a pupil with complex needs. He completed the screener without any problems.
Screened the whole Year 3 intake. In September 2025 the school screened its new Year 3 pupils, along with other pupils on an existing support programme whom Jade wanted screened.
Shared the story. In late September 2025, Frankie Bridge visited to film Talamo’s campaign with pupils, joining a school assembly and the school’s radio station.
Set a goal for every new pupil. The headteacher, David Huntingford, set the aim of screening all new pupils for dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Pupils could do it on their own. Unlike the screeners Jade had used before, pupils worked through Talamo without needing advanced IT skills, including pupils with complex needs.
A picture of every new pupil. Screening the whole intake gives staff information on every child joining in Year 3, not only those already causing concern.
Built into the school year. The school has continued with Talamo into 2026, in line with its aim to screen every new pupil.
Book a call
More case studies
Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT)
Trust
Universal screening
Universal screening across six primary schools and one secondary, giving teachers a baseline of every pupil’s strengths and challenges.
Inclusive Mainstream Fund
Cohort baseline
Teacher confidence
Read case study
Sevenoaks Primary School
Primary
Universal screening
Screening every Year 3 pupil to build a baseline, with visual reports that open up better conversations with families.
Transition
Targeted screening
Teacher confidence
Parent engagement
Read case study
Talk to our team
Your setting
One class or a whole trust
One class
Targeted screening
Whole year group
Universal screening
Across schools
Trust-wide view
Book a call
With our team
