A PIONEERING project to support children with dyslexia has put a York primary school in the running to win a second gong.

The groundbreaking work carried out at Rufforth Primary School to make life easier for pupils with dyslexia has already won the school a Dyslexia Friendly Schools Award.

Now the school has been nominated in the Best Primary School Project category of The Press’s Community Pride Awards 2009.

Head teacher Mark McDermid said he was delighted the project had given pupils with dyslexia significantly higher self-esteem.

He said: “The Year Six children are certainly more confident and have prominent roles in our school play The Blue Crystal – a year ago they would not have taken on such roles.

“As for results, we have seen a marked improvement in their levels of attainment, achieving beyond expectations.

“This is partly due to the additional support before and during tests, which was permissible under the Qualification and Curriculum Authority’s guidelines.”

Rufforth School’s efforts are part of the larger £1.26 million project in York which encourages schools to be more dyslexia friendly. Researchers at the University of York were granted cash from the Wellcome Trust for a five-year project, that looks at the overlap between dyslexia and language impairment in young children.

At Rufforth School, teachers Emma Kite and Beatrix Allen led a parents’ evening hosted by City of York Council, which was also open to other schools in the area.

The meeting gave parents more understanding of the condition and ways to help children at home.

The school has also implemented new strategies to make life easier for pupils.

Wall displays have been made more accessible and meaningful, tape recorders are provided for children who have difficulty expressing themselves through writing and quiet rooms and listening centres are available.

Specialist equipment, such as word banks and vocabulary books, is also provided.

Mr McDermid said: “There is no cure for dyslexia, but the more we learn about dyslexia the more we can do to help.”

The deadline for entries to The Press’s Community Pride Awards is this Friday.

To nominate an unsung hero, fill in the entry form and send it along with a picture of your nominee and a supporting statement, to Community Pride Awards, Paula Homer, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.