Coloured Overlays for Dyslexia and Visual Stress

Coloured overlays are transparent tinted sheets placed over text to reduce visual stress, glare and word movement for SEND readers with dyslexia or Meares-Irlen Syndrome. Our specialist range covers single-colour overlays, duo overlays and tester sets for classrooms, SENCOs and home use.

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Our top pick

Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays - the SENCO go-to

If you want one product that covers most SEND reading needs, the Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays are our pick. Made by Crossbow Education, a brand SENCOs across the country recognise, the A4 size sits cleanly over a textbook page, exam paper or reading book, and the tint range is wide enough to find a comfortable shade for most pupils with dyslexia or visual stress. Singles or full colour packs are available, so they suit both individual children at home and whole-class screening in school.

Price: From £3.47 | View the Crossbow A4 Coloured Overlays

Visual stress, also known as Meares-Irlen Syndrome or Irlen's syndrome, is the perceptual experience of words moving, blurring or shimmering on a white page. It is not the same as dyslexia, but the two often overlap, and a coloured overlay is one of the simplest and most cost-effective interventions a SENCO or parent can try first. The Dyslexia Shop stocks ranges from Crossbow Education, the Institute of Optometry (I.O.O.), Cerium, the Irlen Institute, LDA and Simplex, so you can match the brand to the assessment route the child has been through.

Around 1 in 10 people are dyslexic according to the British Dyslexia Association, and a meaningful proportion of dyslexic readers also experience visual stress. A short, low-cost overlay trial in school or at home is the standard first step recommended in most SEND screening pathways before considering tinted exercise books, tinted paper or precision-tinted lenses.

How do coloured overlays help with visual stress and dyslexia?

Coloured overlays filter specific wavelengths of light reflecting off the page, which reduces the high-contrast glare that triggers visual stress symptoms. For readers with Meares-Irlen Syndrome, the right tint can stop letters from appearing to move, blur or double, making sustained reading far more comfortable. They are not a treatment for dyslexia itself, but for the dyslexic readers who also experience visual stress, the right overlay can lift reading speed, accuracy and stamina noticeably within minutes.

Which colour is best for dyslexia and visual stress?

There is no single best colour - the correct tint is highly individual and should be chosen by trial, ideally with a screening kit. Aqua, blue, yellow, pink, rose, magenta and grey are all common matches. In schools the standard pathway is to use a visual stress testing kit that lets a pupil try every tint over the same passage of text and report which feels easiest. Once the right colour is identified, the same shade can be carried through into reading rulers, tinted exercise books and tinted exam paper.

Do schools need coloured overlays for SEND provision?

Coloured overlays are widely used in SEND provision across primary and secondary schools because they are inexpensive, non-invasive and quick to trial. Under the SEND Code of Practice, schools are expected to make reasonable adjustments and use a graduated approach (assess, plan, do, review). Stocking a class set or a screening kit lets SENCOs identify pupils who benefit before referring on for a full assessment. They also work alongside monitor overlays for screen-based work and

Frequently asked questions

What are coloured overlays used for?

Coloured overlays are transparent tinted sheets placed over text to reduce visual stress, glare and word movement for readers with dyslexia or Meares-Irlen Syndrome. They filter specific wavelengths of light reflecting off the page, which calms the high-contrast effect that makes letters appear to shimmer or move. Schools, SENCOs and parents use them as a first-line, low-cost intervention before considering tinted lenses.

How do coloured overlays help dyslexia?

Coloured overlays do not treat dyslexia itself, but they ease the visual stress symptoms that many dyslexic readers also experience. By reducing glare and stabilising the appearance of text, the right tint can lift reading speed, accuracy and reading stamina. For dyslexic pupils who do experience visual stress, an overlay is often the cheapest and quickest adjustment to try first.

Which colour overlay is best for dyslexia and visual stress?

There is no universal best colour - the right tint is highly individual. Aqua, blue, yellow, pink, rose, magenta and grey are all common matches. The standard approach is to trial each colour over the same passage of text and let the reader report which feels most comfortable. Visual stress testing kits are designed for exactly this purpose and are widely used in school SEND screening.

Are coloured overlays a recognised SEND access arrangement in exams?

Coloured overlays are accepted in JCQ-regulated public exams when used as the candidate's normal way of working in the classroom. Schools should record their use in the pupil's SEND profile and apply standard centre-delegated arrangements where appropriate. Overlays do not require an external assessment to be allowed in the exam room, which is why many SENCOs introduce them early. Always check the latest JCQ Access Arrangements guidance for the current academic year. [UNVERIFIED - please check current JCQ AARA wording]

Are coloured overlays suitable for primary and secondary pupils?

Yes. Coloured overlays are suitable from Year 1 upwards once a child can manage a thin sheet of plastic over their reading. A4 overlays cover textbooks and exam papers, A5 overlays suit reading books and revision guides, and reading rulers suit pupils who only need to track a single line. The same tint can be carried through into tinted exercise books and tinted paper for written work.

Can adults use coloured overlays for studying or work?

Yes. Many adults with dyslexia or visual stress use coloured overlays for studying, professional reading, screen work and exam revision. An A4 or A5 overlay slips into a folder or laptop bag and works on any printed page. For screen-based work, a monitor overlay or screen-tinting software is usually a better fit, and the two can be used together so paper and screen feel consistent.

How do I choose between A4, A5 and reading ruler overlays?

Choose A4 for textbooks, exam papers and reading schemes - the overlay covers a full page in one. Choose A5 for paperbacks, novels and revision guides where an A4 sheet is awkwardly large. Choose a reading ruler when the reader only needs to track one or two lines at a time, or finds a full overlay too distracting. Many schools stock a mix of all three so pupils can pick the format that suits the task.