Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution: What It Means for the Future of Reading Aloud

This week’s Channel 4 documentary, Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, shone a bright—and deeply moving—spotlight on a challenge millions of families, children and educators face every day: how we support neurodiverse learners in a world that too often misunderstands them.

If you haven’t already watched the documentary, you can view it here: Watch Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution | Stream free on Channel 4

At Fonetti, we watched with hope, recognition and determination. Much of what Jamie Oliver raised—about undiagnosed learning differences, the emotional toll of struggling to read, and the need for early intervention—resonates with our mission. We exist to help every child build reading confidence through reading aloud, supported by speech recognition technology.

Here’s why Jamie’s documentary matters—and how we believe Fonetti can be part of the solution.

Reading Aloud Shouldn’t Hurt

At one point in the documentary, Jamie describes feeling like “a stupid dunce.” He talks about the shame and frustration of trying to read aloud as a child, and how it shaped his view of himself. He wasn’t alone: children in the film echoed the same pain.

This is precisely why Fonetti exists.

We believe that reading aloud should be a moment of growth, not shame. That practice should build confidence, not anxiety. Fonetti gives children a private, positive space to read aloud and see their progress in real time—free from judgement. Our technology listens as children read, highlights the words they get right, and gently flags those they miss, helping them to improve at their own pace.

Early Support Is Everything

Jamie calls for mandatory early screening for dyslexia—a call we strongly support. Too many children slip through the cracks because they don’t receive the help they need early enough.

Fonetti isn’t a diagnostic tool, but it can offer invaluable insight into a child’s reading journey. By capturing how a child reads aloud over time, our app helps parents and educators spot when extra support might be needed—often before more formal challenges arise.

Tech Should Include Everyone

The documentary rightly points out that traditional classroom teaching doesn’t work for every learner—and that multisensory, personalised approaches help everyone, not just neurodiverse children.

Fonetti is built with accessibility in mind. Its simple interface, clear feedback, and ability to adapt to the reader’s pace make it suitable for a wide range of children, including those with dyslexia or attention challenges. It’s fun, it’s motivating, and it’s designed to support the way real children learn.

Confidence is the Foundation

Jamie’s story reminds us that reading is about far more than literacy—it’s about identity, confidence and self-worth. When a child believes they can’t read, it doesn’t just affect their test scores. It affects how they see themselves.

We want every child who uses Fonetti to feel proud of the reader they are becoming. Whether they’re reading their first sentence or their fiftieth story, they can see their progress. That’s powerful.

Let’s Work Together

Jamie’s campaign is a rallying cry to educators, policymakers, parents—and to innovators like us. Improving literacy outcomes for neurodiverse children takes all of us. It takes technology that empowers, classrooms that adapt, and a system that listens.

We stand with Jamie in believing that every child deserves the right support, at the right time. And we’re committed to making reading aloud a joyful, accessible experience for all.

If you were moved by Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution and want to learn more about how Fonetti can support your school, your child or your learning strategy—we’d love to talk.

Reading aloud builds confidence. Confidence builds readers. And every child deserves to feel like a reader.

Find out more about how Fonetti supports reading at home and in schools: Fonetti