Madeley High School
Madeley High School Dyslexia Friendly Policy Background Information Dyslexia Friendly Schools is an LEA initiative that aims to promote good practice for all children. It follows on from work carried out by Swansea LEA which was seen as a “model of good practice”. Dyslexia Friendly Schools was seen as an appropriate response to Government legislation on SEN including:• • •
The Education Act 1981 The Education Reform Act 1988 The Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of Special Needs.
This policy should be read alongside the following school policies: • • •
Special Educational Needs Inclusion Policy Gifted and Talented Policy
Definition of Dyslexia “Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which is neurobiological in origin and persists across the lifespan. It is characterised by difficulties with phonological processing, rapid naming, working memory, processing speed and automatic development of skills that are unexpected in relation to an individual’s other cognitive abilities. These processing difficulties can undermine the acquisition of literacy and Numeracy skills as well as musical notation, and have an effect on verbal communication, organisation and adaptation to change. Their impact can be mitigated by correct teaching, strategy development and the use of information technology. (Jennifer Owen Adams, Director of Education British Dyslexia Association, 2006/2007
Aim of the Policy This policy describes Madeley High School’s commitment to meeting the needs of pupils with Dyslexia in line with the SEN Code of Practice. The Code of Practice states that these children may require all or some of the following:• Flexible teaching arrangements • Help with processing language, memory and reasoning skills • Help with acquiring literacy skills • Help in organising and co-ordinating spoken and written English to aid cognition • Help with problem solving and developing concepts • Programmes to aid improvement of fine or gross motor competencies. (Code of Practice 7:56)
Madeley High School
Staff Information The school co-ordinator for the Dyslexia Friendly Initiative is Mrs J Jenkins (Co-ordinator of Learning Support). It will be the co-ordinators responsibility to present information on Dyslexia to • • • •
Governors Senior Staff Heads of Department Department SEN Link Staff
The Dyslexia Friendly Initiative will be a regular agenda item for all school meetings.
Staff Training A list of Dyslexia Training undertaken by staff is attached in Appendix 1. The Co-ordinator of Learning Support and members of the Learning Support Department regularly attend courses related to Dyslexia in order to update their knowledge.
Identification and Assessment of Dyslexia The IDP checklist of indicators of Dyslexia is used by all staff, particularly when they are concerned abut the underachievement of pupils. This information is then passed to the Co-ordinator of Learning Support using Department Referral forms. All Year 7 pupils are assessed using Midyis, NFER group reading and Vernon Spelling Tests. The Co-ordinator of Learning Support uses information from these tests to identify pupils at risk of being Dyslexic. The highlighted pupils are then assessed using NFER Dyslexia Screener and other assessments as appropriate. If parents are concerned that their child might be Dyslexic, these concerns are acted upon and the pupil is assessed by the Co-ordinator of Learning Support.
Provision • • • • •
Guidelines for the teaching of Dyslexic pupils are in the Staff Handbook. Dyslexic pupils within school are highlighted in the Register of Dyslexic pupils. Each School Policy will include a statement on Dyslexia where appropriate. Information on the needs of Dyslexic pupils entering school will be distributed to teaching staff. Dyslexic pupils transferring to Further Education Colleges will have opportunities to meet College Staff and discuss their needs prior to transfer.
Madeley High School
Resources Resources are purchased by the school to meet the needs of Dyslexic Pupils. An up-todate list is to be found in Appendix B.
Working with Parents Good communication between parents and staff is important if the needs of Dyslexic pupils are to be met. The Co-ordinator of Learning Support will regularly meet with concerned parents and discuss how the needs of their child can be met in school. •
Invite parents to be involved in the writing of their pupils IEP.
The school through regular newsletters will inform parents of the Dyslexia Friendly Initiative.
Take advantages of other opportunities Madeley High School will take advantage of any opportunities that will benefit its pupils. For example: 1. DDAT initiative – three pupils will take part in an LEA pilot to investigate DDAT as a method of aiding pupil progress. 2. Madeley High School successfully bid for funding from The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to trial the use of PDAs with Bluetooth keyboards to offer an alternative method of recording for Dyslexic pupils. Although these were not a successful alternative method of recording work, they are a valuable organisational tool for some pupils. 3. Madeley High School trailed the use of Reading Pens as part of Mrs Jenkins work as a Lead Practitioner for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. 4. A number of Dyslexic Pupils have trailed the use of Notebook PCs (Eepc) as an alternative method of recording work.
Working with Pupils The pupil will be involved in the planning of their IEP and support. They will be given the opportunity to discuss their needs with a member of the Learning Support Staff.
Criteria for evaluating the success of the school’s Dyslexia Friendly Policy 1. Successful identification of pupils with Dyslexia (methods already detailed in the policy) 2. Raising Achievement of pupils with Dyslexia Measurable by • Testing • Achieving objectives of IEP targets • Termly reviews
Madeley High School •
•
Examination results – Internal SAT’s GCSE’s Awarding of school credits
3. Appropriate and effective use of Resources Measurable by • Monitoring of support, through departmental link staff. • Effective record keeping • Appropriate use of capitation in meeting the needs of pupils. 4. Good communication between parents and school • Parents are active partners in the education process. • Parents have full information on IEP, IE Previews, school reports • Parents have access to the SEN staff on a flexible basis as well as on formal occasions. 5. Effective liaison within school Measured by • Successful dissemination of information • Successful links with all faculties, monitored through link staff who will attend one learning support meeting per term. • SEN involvement in the HoD meetings, Pastoral Meetings and Staff Meetings. • Effective record keeping.
Madeley High School
Appendix 1 – Staff Training •
All Link Staff and Senior Management Team have received training on the Dyslexia Friendly Initiative.
•
All LSA staff have received training on Supporting the Dyslexic Pupil in the classroom.
In addition •
Mrs Jenkins (Co-ordinator of Learning Support) Advanced Certificate in SEN – 1993 Diploma in SEN – 1994 Certificate in the theory and practice of the management and teaching of Spld (1995) ICT to support pupils with Spld ICT to support pupils with Spld – Maths 18.11.04 What makes a Dyslexia Friendly School Dyslexia Friendly Schools 2004 Spld and Vision Educational Implication of Dyslexia Sept 2008 – 2010 Post grad certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties - MMU
•
Mrs Winter – (Tutor) Course)
1998 Dyslexia in the Classroom (Dyslexia Institute 10.2.04 – ICT and Dyslexia Blackfriars Educational Implication of Dyslexia Devising Individual Plans for specific difficulty learners. 11.04.03 Dyslexia Workshop 21.05.02 Dyslexia Friendly Initiative 23.01.06 Dyslexia Training 05.09.06 Dyslexia Friendly Status 07.07 Precision Teaching
•
Mrs Robinson (Librarian & LSA)
OU – Developing Inclusive Curricula (including supporting the Dyslexic pupil) 23.11.05 Dyslexia / Dyspraxia for Learning Support
Audrey Gunston (Teaching Assistant) 2006 5 x ½ day training Dyslexia Awareness Cathy Holdcroft (Bloor) (Teaching Assistant) 2006 5x ½ day training – Dyslexia Awareness
Sharon Armstrong (Teaching Assistant) Jan 09 – Cross laterals in the Classroom Tracey Deakin (Teaching Assistant) 30/04/08 Dyslexia Training
Madeley High School 18/01/08 – DDA training and Dyslexia Friendly Update Yvonne Howells (Teaching Assistant) 23/01/06 Dyslexia Sept 06 5 x ½ day training Dyslexia Awareness
Mary Biddington (Teaching Assistant) Jan 06 Dyslexia Training Sept 06 Dyslexia Friendly Status Sept 06 5 x ½ day Dyslexia Awareness July 07 Precision Teaching Nov 08 – Practical Workshop Spld. Shawne Shanahan (Teaching Assistant) Sept 06 5x ½ day Dyslexia Awareness
Madeley High School
Appendix 2 – Resources for Dyslexia ICT Software • Numbershark • Wordshark • Starspell Other Resources • Alpha to Omega Flashcards Reading Books Barrington Stoke Readers Various Titles that are regularly added to. Alpha to Omega Readers • Anasisi and the Spiderman • The Watercress Girl • The Pied Piper of Hamelin • Robin Hood • Alfred the Great • The Elephant Man • Robinson Crusoe • Macbeth • Titanic • Dracula Workbooks etc. Easy Learn • Reading Roundabouts 1 and 2 • Stop it Editor Heinemann Educational • Alpha to Omega Stage 1 Activity Pack • Alpha to Omega Stage 2 Activity Pack • Alpha to Omega Teachers Book 4th Edition • Alpha to Omega Teachers Book 5th Edition
Madeley High School LDA • Ace Spelling Activities • Ace Spelling Dictionary • Beat Dyslexia Book 2 • Beat Dyslexia Book 3 • Beat Dyslexia Book 4 • Beat Dyslexia Book 5 • Beat Dyslexia Book 6 • Unit of Sound Stage 1 • Unit of Sound Stage 2 • Unit of Sound Stage 3 • Style Dyslexia Hilda King Education • Spell it out • Ward Virus 1-4 LETTS • A resource pack for specific Learning Difficulties The Chalk Face Project • Activities to Support Dyslexic High Achievers Robinsonwood Press • Spotlight on Suffixes Book 1 • Spotlight on Suffixes Book 2 • Lifeboat Book 3 • Lifeboat Book 7 • Spotlight on Words Book 1 • Spotlight on Words Book 2 • Spotlight on Blends Book 1 • Spotlight on Blends Book 2 Games • Scrabble • Syllabification • Wordchairs • Lexican • Dominoes • Racer Chaser • Penalty • Match and Rhyme Dominoes Teacher Books Introduction to Dyslexia Successful Inclusion in the Secondary School Study Skills in the Secondary School – A practical Approach