Why spelling is often a major stumbling block for dyslexic children and what to do about it

English spelling remained non-standardised for hundreds of years. Books were handwritten by monks who wrote in Latin about ecclesiastical matters. This influenced their spelling, as did the use of French in court and government documents from the time of the Norman Conquest. Spelling was often determined by regional pronunciation and reflected local accents. Caxton’s printing press established at Westminster in 1476 resulted in about 100 books being published, some of which were in English. From 1550 to 1650 a stable spelling system developed among printing houses but there was a lack of consistency in spelling in personal writing.