The new, drug-free treatment relies on exercises similar to those used by astronauts and has produced promising results in early trials.

Severely affected children showed improvements that were up to 32% better than non-dyslexic children in writing, up to 42% better in spelling and 67% better in reading, it was claimed.

The improvements were measured over a six-month period during an independent research study carried out by Exeter University Professor David Reynolds, the former chairman of the Government’s National Numeracy Taskforce.

He examined the treatment devised by the Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Attention Disorder (DDAT) centre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire and said its potential was “absolutely phenomenal”.

He said: “With 15% of all school children estimated to have some form of dyslexia, treatment of this issue has worldwide implications.

“The great thing about this treatment is that it has been researched and evaluated scientifically – no treatment has been evaluated as scientifically as this one.

“There’s individual variation in how effective it is, but overall children benefit from it.”