More support ‘needed’ for children with learning difficulties November 13, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Additional Support, Autism, SFL, inclusion , add a commentHolyrood reports that according to a new study Scottish children with learning difficulties are not receiving an appropriate level of educational care and support.
The study by charity Mindroom estimates that nearly a fifth of Scottish school children have a recognised learning difficulty. This would put the figure at around 120,000 affected pupils, much higher than the official figure of 30,000 children receiving learning support.
Mindroom believes that many children are suffering from a lack of expert supervision, particularly if they have disorders on the autistic spectrum. As part of a proposed package of reforms, the charity is calling for greater training for staff and more investment in learning difficulties research.
‘Parents as Partners’ November 3, 2008
Posted by Morna McDonald in : Additional Support, Literacy, Resources, SFL, reading , 1 comment so far‘Excellent!’ “A really enjoyable afternoon,” “It’s great to see what our children do”
These were some of the many very positive comments made by parents who attended our “Parents as Partners: Supporting Learners at Law” open afternoon last week. Our aims for the session were simple - to introduce parents to the Support for Learing team (in the wider sense), to share some of the games and activities we use, to look at the displays and resources and to encourage pupils and parents to play together. A bonus was to meet parents informally in a relaxed setting.
The room was soon buzzing with chatter and laughter as parents had a go at some games, tried ACE dictionaries, looked at some reading resources and enjoyed the displays of children working together. Laptops were set up with a range of web-based games and activities which proved to be extremely popular. The children joined their parents when classes finished and were soon sharing favourite games and websites with their families - it was delightful to see parents and children having fun together!
The focus was on literacy and Support for Learning teachers had prepared a range of handouts covering reading, spelling, writing, websites and internet safety. Parents helped themselves to these and had an opportunity to ask staff about mind mapping, strategies to support reluctant readers, paired reading and a host of other questions.
The children themselves were very involved in planning this successful event. They enjoyed using mindmaps to make the invitations, choosing their favourite games, acting as guides and having their photos taken for displays. Our in-house ‘paperazzi’ photographers came along too so there’s a lovely record of the afternoon.
Parents and childen were so busy in fact that they didn’t have time for coffee and juice!
Literacy - Reading in pairs October 24, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Additional Support, Literacy, Resources, SFL, Training, reading , add a commenthttp://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6004293
Local authorities looking to use paired reading to improve literacy can now access tutor and trainer manuals and a parents’ leaflet on line.
From 2005 to 2008, Learning and Teaching Scotland worked with youth volunteering organisation ProjectScotland and pilot authorities to place young volunteers aged 16-25 in schools to support the development of literacy skills through paired reading.
Relationships and Participation with Pupils and Parents October 7, 2008
Posted by Joan MacRae in : Additional Support, Early Intervention, Home Teaching, NHS ASL, SFL, Uncategorized, inclusion , add a commentI listened to Charles Leadbeater at the Scottish Learning Festival and was excited by his notions of :”Learning with rather than teaching to pupils ;the learner as participant not an empty vessel; and community being crucial to the learning process”
I reflected on my work with a P.1 pupil who had cognitive difficulties. Her barriers to learning were compounded by social and emotional deprivation and her family had difficulty in providing an environment to offset some of the disadvantages she was born with.
Unfortunately working and learning with parents is time consuming and costly. Leadbeater says that we may have exhausted other avenues for further development in education except in “Personalisation and collaboration.” A redistribution of resourcing and flexibility of provision might reach pupils currently missed.
TESS (3/10/08), reporting on several speakers at the Learning Festival says the emphasis needs to be on “Relationships”.
Martin Rouse called on schools to focus on “relationships,respect and recognition” while Professor Teese said that Scotland should be strengthening relationships within its schools.
Teaching support service in Renfrewshire is axed June 9, 2008
Posted by Hilery Williams in : Additional Support, SFL, inclusion , add a commentThe Herald reports that a teaching support service which helps some of the most needy youngsters has been axed. The team of 35 teachers forms part of the Renfrewshire Specialist Peripatetic Service which provides teaching support to children with a wide range of support needs - including dyslexia numeracy and writing - in schools at all levels. There is concern that the demise of the service is connected to a £4.5m education budget cut which is hitting all primary, special and secondary schools in the local authority.
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