Noticeboard


The information contained within the articles on this site does not imply any specific recommendation by the SDA.



THE OFFICE

The office at the Roy Fletcher Centre in Shrewsbury is currently manned some mornings. During these times we aim to provide information via our helpline which offers both general and specific advice to individuals.

We run a library during office opening times. It provides a range of interesting and useful information for teachers, students of SpLD training courses, parents and children. We also have some information videos available for hire.
*It is advisable to ring before coming to the office to avoid finding us closed.

Church Stretton Workshop
The CS workshop is suspended for the time being as 2 of the 3 teachers have other commitments.
We are still looking for more specalist teacher's for the workshop. This is run at the Mayfair Centre in Church Stretton.on a Monday from 4.30 to 6.30. You can take on from one to three pupils depending on demand and to suit yourself. For further details contact Joy via tel number 01694 724966.


Shrewsbury Workshop
TOUCH-TYPING AND TIMES TABLE LESSONS
20th March 2011
We are pleased to now offer lessons on touch-typing and times tables, delivered by classroom assistant, Graham Barre, using laptops and programmes specifically developed for these two areas. We use Nessy Fingers for the touch-typing, and a variety of times tables learning programmes for the times tables.
The lessons last half an hour and are usually just before or just after the hour’s session with the tutor. They cost £2.50, payable in advance each half-term to the child’s tutor, who will issue a receipt. It would be helpful if you add this to the fees for tuition and pay for both.
We hope that some of the children who have been doing these lessons for a year will have mastered their tables and touch-typing by now. In this case, we would like to offer computer based reinforcement of activities the tutors are doing with the children and general help with writing, spelling and maths. We now have a variety of programmes which cover these subjects, including Nessy Learning Programme.

TOUCH-TYPING AND TIMES TABLES LESSONS

NB.(5th Jan 2012) There are now places available as several of our pupils have now finished the course. Children do not have to be dyslexic for these sessions.
See Workshops for more details.


Alison Harris (Workshop Administrator)

Adult Dyslexics: Driving Test
For anyone planning to take their driving test, the BDA offers helpful information.
Find full details on their website
Type 'driving test' into the search box

Helpliners and Befrienders Wanted!
Are you interested and knowledgeable in SEN and Dyslexia. Could you give a few hours a week to help dyslexic people of all ages, but particularly parents (often at their wits end!).
Training available, please contact Roy Fletcher Centre.

Calling all SpLD tutors!
Would you relish the prospect of giving 1:1 tuition to dyslexic children in a non-school situation?
Would you like to receive pay for this rewarding work?
Would you enjoy regular informal sharing of teaching ideas and techniques with other tutors?
Would you appreciate the availability on site of SpLD specific resources?
Would you spend, when necessary, half an hour with a family to consider the request of parents who wish their child to receive dyslexia tuition?
Could you spare about 30 Saturday mornings a year?
Would you be prepared to liaise with a parent who has offered to deal with the Workshop finances?
If so, you may be just the person to enable the Shrewsbury Dyslexia Workshop to continue.
Please contact Roy Fletcher Centre a.s.a.p.via 01743 231205

Feedback

The SDA would be interested to hear from our members as to what type of talks, events and training you would like us to arrange for both parents, teachers and teaching assistants.


Parent Partnership Service
www.parentpartnership-shropshireandtelford.org.uk


Who we are:
The Parent Partnership Service provides independent information and support for parents and carers of children with special educational needs living in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
What we do:
We can help you with information and support regarding your child’s education. You can contact us by telephone and if necessary, we can arrange to meet with you to discuss issues regarding your child’s education.
Parent Partnership Officers can also accompany you to meetings about your child’s education with school and the Education Authority. We can help you to prepare for meetings, write letters and complete reports. We can also provide you with information on other voluntary agencies which may be able to help you.

PACCS - Parent & Carers Council (Shropshire)(May2008)
Your Voice on Dyslexia
This group was formed by Shropshire mothers and fathers who care for children with disabilities and/or special educational needs. The SDA (Shropshire Dyslexia Association), along with other support groups, was invited to be part of the group in order to have the opportunity to voice concerns relating to the quality of dyslexic support provided by Shropshire County Council.
The group is completely independent and offers free and confidential membership and allows you to take part (from home) in questionnaires, surveys and consultations via E-mail and post, which directly relates to your child's special educational needs. It aims to enable your views and ideas to be shared with the decision makers. You will be advised of meetings where you can share your views about a particular topic or be invited to join a committee or panel to express your concerns. This is not intended in any way to dilute what we do in the SDA on your behalf, quite the opposite. By coordinating the experiences of all parents/carers, a clearer picture is defined where inconsistencies in the system can be highlighted and acted upon.
The last edition of the SDA Newsletter advertised the Open Forum organised by PACCS and offered you the opportunity to have your say. The panel comprised of senior representatives from Shropshire County Council and Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust. It proved to be an extremely successful event with many important points being raised and discussed. From this, PACCS has been able to have further discussions with the joint Commissioning Group for Children with Disabilities (which, under the Disability Discrimination Act, includes dyslexia) to highlight the areas where serious concerns still exist. (The PACCS report on the Open Forum can be requested via Email when you become a member - see below)
At the JCG (Joint Commissioning Group) I raised many points but highlighted the despair and anger many parents have concerning the inordinate amount of time it takes to have their child/children statemented and subsequently offered the support needed. I also stated that whilst some parents can afford to use a private Educational Psychologist to perform an Assessment to speed up the process, others on restricted incomes were being marginalised. I mentioned the inconsistency of specialist training for teachers, SENCO's and Teaching Assistants in understanding how to teach and support children with dyslexia.
(From an article by Royce Mitchell in the SDA newsletter.)
Contact details for PACCS can be obtained from the office (01743 231205) or Email via the contact page.

Adult helpliners required
The SDA office receives regular ‘phone calls from dyslexic adults who need advice. At present these callers are referred to the two help-liners.
Joy and Beverley already answer many calls from parents about their dyslexic children so to ease the load, is there anyone who has experience of dyslexic adults who would be willing to be available occasionally - perhaps in the evenings, to answer these calls?
It could be arranged on a temporary basis initially. Useful information of the type adult dyslexics often need could be provided.
Please think about whether you might be able to help and if so, get in touch by leaving a message on the SDA answerphone 01743 231205. Carol or Joy will get back to you.

Useful Websites for Adult Dyslexics


For information and resources about dyslexia and being dyslexic:
www.dyslexia-adults.com
Adult Dyslexia and Skills Development Centre
www.adultdyslexiacentre.co.uk Tel: 020 7388 8744
Adult Dyslexia Organisation (ADO)
www.futurenet.co.uk/charity/ado/adomenu/htm
British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk
Disability Employment Advisor at JobCentre Plus:
Email: marches-dea-helpline@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0800 032 1181