The Old Rectory school was founded in 1981 as a school for children with specific Learning Difficulties, commonly known as dyslexia. Many children joining the school do so having been misunderstood in earlier educational establishments and labelled as 'lazy' or 'lacking in concentration'. In many cases children who are generally articulate and apparently intelligent find coping with reading and writing extremely difficult. In some cases maths and spoken language are also affected. Their struggles often lead to a lack of confidence and poor self-esteem and to frustration with the learning process.The Old Rectory aims to help these children realise their true potential within a family environment. Dyslexia often brings organisational difficulties which can further hamper their academic learning. The Old Rectory provides a secure and comfortable learning environment where specialised care is available within and beyond the classroom. Children enter from age 7 to 12 and stay for one or two years before returning to a mainstream environment. During this time they receive high levels of tuition with staff who, in addition to being fully qualified subject teachers, all have or are undertaking a recognised Diploma course in the teaching of dyslexic children.