Schools

Teaching and assessing dyslexic students is something I am passionate about. As well as being a fully qualified teacher, I am fully insured and a member of the British Dyslexia Association and PATOSS (Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific learning difficulties). Below are the services I can offer your school to help support your students and let their potential shine.

If you need any more information please contact me

Exam Access Arrangements

Being a secondary school teacher I have seen first-hand the difference additional support can make to some students who genuinely struggle. I am fully qualified to carry out the exam access arrangement tests and complete the relevant section of the JCQ form.

Dyslexia Screening Tests

I can offer a screening for dyslexia that will briefly assess the main indicators of dyslexia. This will give you an impression of the child’s dyslexic profile; their strengths and weaknesses, and indicate if dyslexia may be a possibility.

The test lasts for around 1 hour.
I aim to get the results to you usually within 4 weeks.
The report will show how the child performed in each area plus my initial conclusions.

Full Diagnostic Report

A full diagnostic dyslexic report tests the areas of dyslexia in greater detail than the screening test and provides a much more detailed dyslexic profile. It is a formally recognised document.

The tests take around 4 hours.
I aim to get the report to you usually within 4 weeks of completing the final tests.

Catch up Intervention

Catch-up intervention. These are offered on a one-to-one basis, usually every week, and follow a recognised programme. After an initial discussion with you about where they are up to in their learning, the child’s skills and self-esteem are built up gradually. The intervention is designed for 8 – 14 year olds and reading material is suitably appropriate so that the child doesn’t feel patronised.

I also offer help with areas such as handwriting, memory and processing skills, which can either be incorporated into the programme, or delivered alone depending on the child’s needs. Please get in touch to discuss further.

Small Group Intervention

Having been in the classroom I also know that small group intervention focused on handwriting/ memory/ processing can make all the difference to some students – even those who aren’t officially dyslexic. The groups not only offer skills and strategies to help them access the curriculum but I have found they also build the student’s self-esteem – something which is just as important. Please contact me to discuss what I could offer for your students.

Irlen Syndrome Assessment

As a fully qualified Irlen Screener, I can offer an assessment for Irlen Syndrome. The assessment typically takes around 45 – 60 minutes. If the test concludes that the student does need any coloured overlays or, in more severe cases, prescribed tinted lenses, I can provide you with details about where to order them from. I will then write up more details about my findings and recommendations in a short report.

Staff Training

I also offer a range of staff training courses covering topics such as;

What is dyslexia and how can I create a dyslexic friendly classroom?
How can I support a dyslexic pupil, both 1-1 and in the classroom?
Working memory – how does it work?! Aimed at all staff working with dyslexic students and includes tips for teaching in a more ‘mind-friendly’ way
Irlen Syndrome/ Visual Stress – an Introduction. Includes tips/ strategies for adapting the classroom to help relieve the discomfort experienced by some students.

In many cases, with advanced notice, I can discuss the specific needs of your setting and design a bespoke training course. Session lengths range from “part day” (1.5 hours) – “half day” (3 hours) and “full day” (6 hours).