Dyslexia Information Day

Chokolit

Louis Stars again! Our very own chocolate supremo
and lovely lad to boot, has won another national
and well earned award. Louis Barnett, at 17,
chocolatier and the founder of Chokolit,
won the second Lord Carter Memorial Award for
innovation in food. He was presented with the prestiege
trophy at a dinner in the House of Lords by Justin King,
Chief executive of Sainsbury’s, which stocks Chocolit’s
creative chocolate-box products.
The business is based in Bridgnorth on Stourbridge Road.
Sweet taste of success, Louis!. 

The Shropshire Magazine March 2009 (pg 67 – 68)

Say ‘No To Failure’ Project
 (Part 1)

Contrary to the message received by
Elizabeth & Sue at the education show
seminar back in 2008, the No to Failure
(NTF) road show in Calderdale, 2009,
has painted a much more descriptive & positive
picture of what the NTF project was about.
 
In a nut shell NTF set out to communicate to
the government; Why SpLD training is essential
as well as to demonstrate types of provision
and expectations for children – how to get it right.

No to Failure advocate:

A specialist teacher in every school (or small school cluster group).

All teachers trained in dyslexia and SpLD recognition and support.

Training.

The British Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Action
Helen Arkell Centre
The Professional Association of Teachers
of Students with Specific learning difficulties (PATOS)
Xtrodinary People
Are all voluntary dyslexia organisations and have
pulled together for the NTF project. The hope is
that they will continue to do so through the SpLD-Trust.

 
The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust exist to:

Promote understanding and awareness
Enable practitioners to access training and expertise
Promote best practice in supporting those with dyslexia or SpLD
Enable organisations to work together to build on good practice

for more info please visit:
http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/

See (Part 2) to find out a bit more about NTF

What is ‘No to Failure’? (NTF)
Part 2

As you may be aware I (Elizabeth Wilkinson) had the great pleasure of attending the NTF road show in Calderdale, Halifax, at the Heath Training centre.

I left the day feeling empowered and relieved; relieved that such things as the No To Failure project are happening. This now of course leaves me full of energy and questions that I would like to ask out local education authorities (LEA)!

As far as I am aware, the No to Failure project is the first
project to have bought the following organisations to work together for the greater good rather than individually for their own agenda;

• British Dyslexia Association,
• Dyslexia Action,
• Helen Arkell Centre.
• PATOSS; (The Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific learning difficulties)
• xtrodinary People.

‘Xtrodinary people’ was founded by a lady called Kate Grigg and the Helen Arkell Centre. They did a very public and star studded fundraising campaign, they called on many of us
to sign their online petition (which I know many of us did).

Xtrodinary people managed to raise not only the profile of dyslexia but managed to get it noticed by government! Kate Grigg was able to ask for help from people such as Sir Richard Branson and in my opinion should be very proud of what she has achieved.

“Thank you Kate Grigg & NTF”.  

I was informed at the road show that NTF was not an intervention or even a research project, it was simply to show the government that things can and should be done and that it is not, as I so often tell my students ‘rocket science’! It is hoped that findings from the project will highlight the need for:

• The earlier the intervention the better
• That 1:1 tuition 1 hour a week can make a difference,
• That training for teachers and TAs can have a positive impact.

NTF recommends;

• SpLD training for all teachers and TA’s
• Specialist teacher in every school or cluster of schools if small schools

i.e. invest in staff to invest in pupils.

The No to Failure project was lead by Rosie wood (lady in yellow jacket in the NTF photo) who is a specialist Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) Advisor.

As far as i am aware the findings from the No to Failure project are due to go to the government and Sir Jim Rose on APril 10th 2009.

See part 3 for more info…

No to Failure, Calderdale Road Show part 3


I had the pleasure of meeting Jack the 74 years young local dyslexia association chairman, Jack is also dyslexic so we had a bit of a chat over lunch as to how things have progressed
in Calderdale over the years.

Jack informed me that when he was a lad at school, his school had been named the worst in the country! So it is understandable that he is overjoyed at the progress that Calderdale has made, from having the worst school in the country some 58 (ish) years ago to being one of the
trailblazers in the No to Failure project.

I am sur eit is safe to assume after listening to Jack, the progress that Calderdale has made and the knowledge that the dyslexic children of Calderdale are now in safe hands, that Jack is to retire in July. I am sure this will probably be a well deserved and long overdue break for Jack, but after meeting Jack I imagine his retierment will be a sad loss for Calderdale.

One thing is for sure though, Jack was delighted that his last public event was one that was a wonderful as the NTF road show in Calderdale!

Dyslexia Information Day joins Facebook.

How about adding the Dyslexia Information Day Facebook page, to your facebook account.

You will find photos from the last Dyslexia Information Day that was held on the 1st November 2008, at New College in Wellington.

If you don't have a facebook account then keep an eye out on the website for the photos as Elizabeth will be up loading them to the Dyslexia Information Day website soon!

For more information please email info@dyslexiainformatinday.org.uk.

The new Dyslexia Information Day (DID) website has launched in time for our next event on the 1st of November at New College, Wellington.  DID is a free to all exhibition that brings the best sources for information and advice about Dyslexia under one roof.

With over ten exhibitors the event is run with the aim of promoting the advantages of Dyslexia and helping those who are having difficulty find the right information without the hassle that is so often associated with doing so.

The site will hopefully provide an extension to the event and help others around the UK run similar events.