What is a Specific Learning Difference (SpLD)?

A Specific Learning Difference is an umbrella term used to refer to a range of difficulties that affect how information is processed and learnt, it is a difficulty with one or more aspects of learning.

For example, someone may be diagnosed with an SpLD if they have difficulties with their working memory or the speed at which they process information. Sometimes there can be a combination of specific areas that affect someone, and they may be diagnosed with Dyslexia or Dyspraxia.

Students with an SpLD may experience some or most of the following:

• Needing to re-read an academic text several times and still feeling they have struggled to absorb any of the key information.
• Finding it difficult to retain information.
• Knowing exactly what they want to say in their head but struggling to write it down.
• Finding concentration difficult to keep and getting tired very easily.
• Feeling that their peers can complete work much quicker.
• Finding certain study skills such as note-taking or proofreading difficult, to the point they may give up or not try at all.
• Find that friends or family will comment on their quick forgetfulness.
• Find that spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure are inconsistent or receive feedback on these areas in assignments.

If you think this applies to you, you can undergo an initial screening via Quickscan.

You can access QuickScan using this link: https://quickscan.me.uk/QS22/SUND/QSStart.htm once you click on this link you will be required to enter either your User ID or Student Number.

We will then use the answers provided by you to identify if you require a full diagnostic assessment with an Educational Psychologist – this is only available to students who are currently enrolled with the university, and are not within six months of the end of their course.

Once we receive the assessment report we will then invite you to book an appointment with a Disability Support Adviser. We will discuss the content of the report and consider what support requirements you have. 

You must make an appointment with an adviser before any support, or recommendations from the report, can be put in place.