Schools put a great deal of work into making classroom learning accessible and inclusive. Teachers adapt resources, SENCOs and support staff help pupils overcome barriers, while assistive technology gives SEND learners different ways to engage with their work. But we all know that learning does not end when a student leaves the classroom.
Homework and revision matter, particularly when students are preparing for exams. Much of this work happens independently at home, away from the support network available during the school day.
For students who find reading difficult, this change of setting can create a real barrier. A pupil who contributes confidently in lessons may struggle when faced with a long revision guide or an online resource to work through alone. Truly inclusive learning needs to empower students to access their education wherever they are studying.
If you're looking to create a more inclusive learning environment, the right support and technology can make all the difference. Get in touch with our team to discuss your student's requirements and explore the best tools to support them at school and at home.
Access shouldn’t stop at the school gate
As students move through secondary school, they are expected to take more responsibility for their learning. For some, the challenge is not interest or ability. The information simply isn’t presented in a way they can easily access.
For some dyslexic or other SEND students, reading a chapter may take much longer than expected, and by the time a learner has worked through it, they may have little energy left to consider what it means. During mock exam preparation, when students need to revisit months of learning, that can make knowing where to begin feel overwhelming.
Young people with dyslexia or other print impairments are eligible to use the free RNIB Bookshare Education Collection. This library of curriculum-aligned learning material for all ages includes accessible books and other learning materials, including revision guides.
Students can download these resources and read them in using EasyReader app. They can listen while following the words on screen, or change the text size, colours and layout to suit how they read.
When a school introduces EasyReader Education, they provide students with the logins needed to access learning material in accessible formats. From books and learning material via RNIB Bookshare, to handouts and learning material provided by their teachers through Google Classroom or Microsoft Education.
The young person can then use EasyReader on whichever device they are signed in to - at school or at home. Their access to books and learning materials is not tied to one classroom or computer.
“Students became less reliant on adults for reading support when using Dolphin EasyReader. Customisable features such as adjustable font sizes, colour contrast and text spacing supported young people to read more comfortably on their own.”
Action Research Project, 2025
Starting revision can be one of the hardest parts. A student may be looking at an entire textbook or a long list of topics, unsure how to turn that information into a manageable session. For a learner who finds reading tiring, the size of the task can make it even harder to begin.
EasyReader Education offers a more accessible starting point. It does not remove the effort involved in learning. Instead, it reduces the effort needed to reach the information, leaving more time to understand it and recognise what needs further work.
Effective revision involves more than reading the same chapter again. Students need to identify key information, check what they remember and return to topics they don’t yet understand.
Explore tools can be used on any device, as long as the student is signed in to EasyReader Education. They might begin revising at school, continue at home or even use travel time while they’re on the school bus. Their work is available on whichever device they are using, synchronized to the same point, so they can return to the same material without starting from scratch.
For example, a student revising science could download an accessible revision guide from RNIB Bookshare and open it in EasyReader. They might listen to a chapter while following the text, then create a summary. Later, they could use flashcards on the bus or complete a quiz at home to see which areas need more attention. All of these will be marked as bookmarks in the text, so they can revisit them quickly and easily to cement their learning.
Podcasts offer another way to revisit a topic when reading for a long period feels tiring, it’s fun to use and offers a range of podcast styles to suit every learner. The range of Explore tools available to EasyReader Education users allows each learner to find an approach that works for them.
“The audible settings allowed him to follow the text and consequently when assessed by the teacher he could accurately recall the main themes and events in the book”
Action Research Project, 2025
Not every learning resource is digital, especially in the classroom.
Reading Pens help dyslexic learners access printed text, while EasyReader Education further supports reading and revision on screen.
This combination of printed materials with digital support empowers students to capture text from a printed resource with a compatible Reading Pen and continue reading or working with it in EasyReader.
It gives students a joined-up approach and allows familiar support to travel with them between school and home. Whether a particular tool can be used during a mock or formal exam will depend on the student's approved access arrangements and the rules for that assessment. Reading Pens and EasyReader Education meet JCQ criteria, as part of the students’ usual way of working.
Revision can also place pressure on families. Parents want to help, but may find themselves reading questions aloud or trying to make an inaccessible resource easier to use.
Accessible learning tools change the support a parent needs to provide. Rather than making the material accessible on the student's behalf, they can help plan a revision session or offer encouragement. The student can use EasyReader Education to support their revision, so they have more opportunity to begin the task and work through it independently.
Access at home requires some preparation in school. Before exam revision begins, students need their EasyReader Education login and a clear understanding of how to use it on their own devices.
SENCOs and learning support teams can make sure eligible students know about the free resources available through RNIB Bookshare, and set up their membership to this accessible library. Teachers can help learners find suitable revision guides and give them time to practice using Explore tools.
Regular use matters. When EasyReader Education is already part of a student's usual way of working, they do not have to learn a new system just as the pressure of exams begins.
“I walked into my exams feeling well prepared and confident. My GCSE results were a reflection of the hard work I put in, and I know that dolphin EasyReader played a significant role in that success.”
Eva, student
Inclusion should give students meaningful access to learning wherever it takes place. That includes completing homework at home, revising on the bus and preparing for exams independently.
With EasyReader Education, print impaired students can access reading and learning material on any device they choose, and use the revision tools that help them work with the content. They can spend less time decoding the text, and more time learning from it.
Extending accessible support beyond the classroom enables schools to empower print impaired students. They take a more active role in revision, reducing exam anxiety and building confidence in their own abilities. Helping every young person develop their own way of working – wherever they choose to study - supports them throughout their education and beyond.
Empower all students with print disabilities at your university, college or school with EasyReader Education. Deploy across your whole setting to make reading and study accessible to all students with dyslexia, vision impairments and special educational needs - so they can reach their full potential. You'll see profound improvements across educational achievements and student wellbeing.
Book an appointment now with our Education Account Manager to talk about your requirements, and to learn more about how EasyReader Education impacts learning.
You are also welcome to try EasyReader Education at your setting, free for 30 days.