25-year-old on a mission to screen one million children for dyslexia, after own experience left him feeling stupid
-
Jamie was diagnosed with dyslexia after a SENCO teacher spotted the signs
-
Following his diagnosis, Jamie’s grades went from D’s to A’s by understanding how to adjust his learning to work with his brain
Jamie Wace is on a mission to screen one million children across the UK for dyslexia.
After his own experience of the learning difficulty made him feel stupid and like the black sheep of the family.
Sadly, 1.2 million children are predicted to suffer from dyslexia, equating to, on average, two to three children per classroom. According to The Public Policy Exchange, schools fail to identify at least 80% of pupils with the condition.
Until 13 years old, Jamie from Devon was one of these children, and it left him hating his school life. Compared to his siblings, he was the black sheep of the family, in the bottom sets in classes at school, with predicted grades of D’s and C’s.
“I hated school. I thought I was just thick,” Jamie says. “I had siblings who were academic, but for me, reading, spelling, and working memory – I struggled with all of it. I don’t want other children to feel this way also, and it can be really hard, and I had constant mental fatigue and self-doubt.”
Fortunately for Jamie, a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) teacher flagged that something was a little off in his school learning.
“I was super thankful to my teacher for noticing something wasn’t quite right, but not always easy to spot the signs of dyslexia right away. They say that the average age for dyslexia testing is 7 years old, but it’s different for everyone, and it can start earlier or later.
“There isn’t one simple checklist to notice the signs, and it can be subtle or less obvious in younger children, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
After his diagnosis, Jamie adjusted his learning at school and how his brain really works.
“My working memory is terrible, and I used to think that was just because I was stupid. Now I know that it’s a proper issue, and as a result, I was an avid notetaker at school after I knew this and I think that changed massively for me. I also just like was a bit less harsh on myself when I didn’t get something the first time.
“I was given extra time in exams, which was really helpful, but the main thing was discovering the things I could do well myself, as it is different for everyone.”
Currently, the waiting time for an NHS dyslexia assessment, done face-to-face, can be up to two years, depending on the area in the UK. Remote assessments can be shorter; however, with up to 80% of children leaving school undisagosed, changes need to be made.
“I was super lucky that my parents were able to take me for a private assessment. I have no idea how long I could have been waiting to be tested via the local authority, and because I was 13, the waits could have meant some big impacts for my GCSEs,” Jamie continued.
Following Jamie’s diagnosis, his grades skyrocketed, going from bottom sets to top sets in all his classes within a year and achieving A’s and A*’s in his exams.
“Understanding how my brain worked gave me the confidence to study in a way that suited me, and that changed everything. I knew I wasn’t stupid, I just learn things differently,” Jamie shared. “It set me on a path to earning two degrees and even learning Mandarin.”
After leaving school, Jamie was able to attend Plymouth College, followed by Newcastle University and the London School of Economics, studying politics and Chinese studies.
“Dyslexia doesn’t mean you’re less intelligent, it just means your brain works differently.
But too many kids are told they’re lazy or slow, when really they just need the right support,” Jamie says.
In 2022, Jamie created Talamo, described as “an educational psychologist on a laptop” alongside Leo Thornton and Sophie Dick. The tech platform, which Sam Thompson has invested in, offers schools a way to screen entire classes quickly and affordably, bridging the gap the government has left wide open.
Demand for dyslexia diagnosis is rising fast. Over the past five years, the Department for Education reports a 33% increase in students receiving exam access arrangements. More families are seeking answers as awareness and understanding grow — yet most local authorities still won’t fund formal assessments, and many schools don’t offer screening.
“All current dyslexia screening tools are outdated, inaccurate, or unaffordable. I wanted to change that. Talamo is fast, evidence-based, and built with the realities of a busy classroom in mind.”
Talamo’s 95%-accurate screen for Dyslexia
Designed for schools and parents, Talamo’s 95%-accurate screener has grown from being used by 10 schools last September to 300 today in the UK, and it aims to screen one million children by 2028. The screen can analyse and provide recommendations for schools on how they can adjust learning to assist with dyslexia.
Jamie and his team recently secured a partnership with the British Dyslexia Association, with whom they co-host the Talking Dyslexia podcast with CEO Ellen Broome. The show will feature famous guests, including Penny Lancaster, Ami Charlize, and Juliet Campbell, Head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dyslexia.
Image: Jamie Wace with Sam Thompson
The recent documentary, Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, created by Jamie Oliver and shown on Channel 4, helped to bring light to the lack of dyslexia screening. But at the screening of Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, the Secretary of Education, Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, revealed plans to only improve teacher training, not implement widespread screening due to budget constraints.
Talamo fills that gap. As an online assessment tool, it allows schools to screen whole classes of 30 to 40 children at once. It’s fast, cost-effective, and 95% accurate, making it a scalable alternative to costly one-to-one assessments. Currently, a private and formal dyslexia assessment can cost between £600- £800 per child, a 5,000% increase from Talamo at only £12 per child.
If the government won’t act, Jamie Wace believes technology can.”Every child deserves to understand how their brain works. Talamo is here to make sure they get that chance.”
Learn more about the future of dyslexia screening and Talamo at: https://www.talamo.co.uk/.