Why Colourwipe™ Drywipe Boards Are Transforming SEN Classrooms Across the UK

by Paul Howe

Why Colourwipe™ Drywipe Boards Are Transforming SEN Classrooms Across the UK

The Problem with White Whiteboards in SEN Classrooms

Walk into almost any classroom and you'll find the same thing: bright white boards, white paper, white backgrounds. For most learners this is unremarkable. But for the estimated 1 in 10 pupils in the UK who have dyslexia - and the many more with dyscalculia, Irlen syndrome, visual stress or other special educational needs - that stark white contrast is a daily barrier to learning.

High-contrast white surfaces cause text to appear to move, blur or "swim" on the page. This is a well-documented phenomenon known as visual stress (also called Meares-Irlen syndrome) and it affects a significant proportion of children with dyslexia and other SEN. The result? Pupils who struggle not because they lack ability, but because the tools in front of them are actively working against them.

The solution is simpler than many schools realise - and it starts with the colour of the writing surface itself.

What Are Colourwipe™ Dyslexia Friendly Drywipe Boards?

Colourwipe™ is the original trademarked range of coloured drywipe boards, developed specifically to reduce visual stress and support inclusive learning. Available in five carefully chosen pastel shades - Pastel Blue, Pastel Green, Pastel Yellow, Pastel Pink, and White - Colourwipe™ boards replace the harsh white background with a softer, tinted surface that makes writing easier to read and process.

The range covers three core formats:

  • Plain A4 Rigid Lapboards - lightweight, frameless, double-sided boards for individual pupil use
  • Aluminium Frame Wall Boards - robust, wall-mounted boards for classroom display and teaching
  • Mobile Double-Sided Boards - freestanding, revolving boards on lockable castors for flexible spaces

Each board shares the same smooth, non-magnetic drywipe surface - accepting standard dry-erase markers and wiping clean without ghosting or residue.

The Science Behind Coloured Backgrounds for Dyslexia

Research consistently supports the use of coloured overlays and backgrounds for learners with dyslexia and visual stress. Studies have shown that writing and reading on pastel-tinted surfaces can significantly reduce the symptoms of visual stress, including text movement, blurring and headaches during reading tasks.

The British Dyslexia Association recognises the role of colour in supporting dyslexic learners and many educational psychologists and specialist teachers routinely recommend coloured reading overlays, coloured paper and tinted screens as part of a broader dyslexia-friendly approach to the classroom.

Colourwipe™ boards apply this same principle to one of the most-used tools in every classroom: the drywipe board. By giving pupils a pastel surface to write on - rather than the glaring white of a standard board - schools can reduce visual stress at source, before it impacts a pupil's ability to engage.

Five Colours, One Purpose: Supporting Every SEN Learner

Not every learner responds to the same colour, which is why the Colourwipe™ range offers five distinct shades. Each has its own characteristics and is suited to different learner needs:

Pastel Blue is among the most widely recommended shades for learners with dyslexia. Cool and calming, it reduces contrast effectively and is a popular default choice in SEN and mainstream classrooms alike.

Pastel Green is a long-established favourite for dyslexic learners of all ages. Many pupils find green particularly effective at reducing the appearance of text movement on the page.

Pastel Yellow offers a warm, welcoming tone that works especially well in early years settings and home learning environments. It is a popular choice for younger pupils beginning to develop their writing skills.

Pastel Pink is a gentle, calming shade often recommended in sensory-aware and therapeutic learning settings. It is widely used by occupational therapists and SEND specialists working with pupils with heightened sensory sensitivity.

White is included as a standard reverse surface on lapboards, ensuring that no pupil is excluded and that schools can transition to coloured boards at a pace that suits them.

By providing boards in all five shades - and offering mixed-colour packs - schools can allow each pupil to identify the background that works best for them, personalising their learning environment without any additional cost or stigma.

Colourwipe™ Lapboards: The Classroom Essential for SEND Support

The Plain A4 Rigid Lapboard is the most versatile product in the Colourwipe™ range and a staple resource in SEN and mainstream classrooms across the UK.

At just 5mm thick and lightweight enough for young children to hold comfortably, each lapboard is double-sided: a chosen pastel colour on one side, cream on the reverse. Smooth, rounded corners and edges make them safe for all ages and the drywipe surface accepts standard markers and wipes clean between uses - making them as practical as they are inclusive.

For phonics and early literacy teaching, the Colourwipe™ Phonic 6-Box Lapboard takes things further: pre-printed with a six-box phonics segmenting grid and ruled writing lines, it is an ideal hands-on resource for structured phonics sessions. Supplied with dry-erase pens, it supports the segmenting and blending of sounds on a dyslexia-friendly pastel background.

Lapboards are available in packs of 5 (ideal for small group or intervention work) or packs of 30 (for whole-class use), making them a cost-effective way to introduce dyslexia-friendly practice across the school.

Wall Boards and Mobile Boards: Inclusive Teaching at Scale

Inclusive practice doesn't stop at the pupil's desk. The Colourwipe™ Aluminium Frame Wall Board brings the same dyslexia-friendly pastel surface to whole-class teaching, replacing the standard white wall board with a colour that benefits every learner in the room - not just those with identified SEN.

Available in all five pastel shades and in a range of sizes, the aluminium-framed wall board is built for durability and daily classroom use. Its smooth drywipe surface offers the same smear-free performance as the lapboard range, ensuring that the board is as functional as it is inclusive.

For schools that need flexibility, the Colourwipe™ Mobile Double-Sided Board offers the same pastel drywipe surface on a freestanding frame with four lockable castors. The board rotates a full 360 degrees and locks into position, making it easy to use in group work, presentations, breakout sessions and flexible learning spaces. With a pastel surface on both sides, it doubles the usable writing space without doubling the cost.

Why Schools Are Choosing Colourwipe™

Colourwipe™ is not a new idea - it is the original coloured drywipe board and its reputation in UK schools has been built over years of use by teachers, SENCOs and SEND specialists. Here is why schools continue to choose it:

It is evidence-informed. The use of coloured backgrounds to reduce visual stress is backed by research and recommended by educational psychologists and dyslexia specialists. Colourwipe™ puts that evidence into practice in a simple, affordable format.

It supports the whole class, not just those with SEN. While Colourwipe™ boards are particularly beneficial for pupils with dyslexia and visual stress, every learner benefits from reduced visual fatigue. Introducing coloured boards is an inclusive move that improves the classroom environment for all.

It removes stigma. When an entire class uses pastel-coloured lapboards - each child choosing the shade that works best for them - no pupil is singled out. Inclusion is built into the resource itself.

It is practical and low-maintenance. Colourwipe™ boards wipe clean without ghosting, accept standard dry-erase markers and are built to withstand daily classroom use. They are as robust and practical as any standard drywipe board.

It is cost-effective. With class packs of 30 lapboards available and a 2-year manufacturer's surface guarantee, Colourwipe™ represents excellent value for schools investing in SEN resources.

How to Introduce Colourwipe™ Boards in Your School

Getting started with Colourwipe™ does not require a whole-school overhaul. Many schools begin with a class pack of A4 lapboards in a range of colours, allowing pupils to experiment with different shades and identify what works best for them. From there, schools often extend to wall-mounted or mobile boards for shared teaching spaces and intervention rooms.

For SENCOs and specialist teachers, the phonics lapboard range is an ideal starting point for targeted literacy intervention - providing a structured, dyslexia-friendly resource that supports both phonics delivery and individual writing practice.

Mixed-colour packs are available for schools wanting to offer maximum choice without managing multiple product lines.

The Colourwipe™ Guarantee

Every Colourwipe™ board comes with a 2-year manufacturer's surface guarantee, so schools can invest with confidence. The range is manufactured to high standards with safety as a priority - smooth, rounded edges throughout, robust construction and a drywipe surface that performs consistently over time.

Colourwipe™ is a registered trademark and the original coloured drywipe board. When you choose Colourwipe™, you are choosing the product that set the standard for dyslexia-friendly drywipe boards in UK schools.

Explore the Full Colourwipe™ Range

Whether you are a SENCO looking for targeted intervention resources, a class teacher wanting to make your room more dyslexia-friendly, or a school leader reviewing your SEND provision, Colourwipe™ has a product to suit your needs.

  • Plain A4 Rigid Lapboards - packs of 5 or 30, five pastel colours
  • Phonic 6-Box Lapboards - with segmenting grid and writing lines, supplied with pens
  • Aluminium Frame Wall Boards - multiple sizes, five pastel colours
  • Mobile Double-Sided Boards - 360-degree rotation, lockable castors, pastel both sides

Browse the full Colourwipe™ range at Colourwipe – School Notice Boards and take the first step towards a more inclusive classroom today.

Colourwipe™ is a registered trademark. The original coloured drywipe board.

Back to Posts
}