Literacy difficulties (including dyslexia)
The Inclusion and Monitoring team are working with a specialist dyslexia teacher and assessor to improve the understanding of how to support children and young people within their settings, through a free training programme. This is in line with the recommendations by PATOSS and the British Dyslexia Association who recognise that most children and young people do not require a diagnosis of dyslexia but do require teaching and support staff to be well trained to support children with literacy difficulties. The Southwark Dyslexia Service has created an information pack which can help schools support pupils with literacy difficulties, including dyslexia. Download the information pack here. (pdf, 688kb)
2024-25 Training Programme:
- The training programme was offered, without charge, to all Southwark primary and secondary mainstream settings.
- There will be three training sessions for schools. These will be offered for primary and secondary staff separately.
- The local authority will also purchase three key school-based assessment tools. These will be available for SENCos to borrow from the local authority. One of the training sessions will focus on using these tools – this must be attended in order for schools to borrow the assessment tools.
- All schools who attend the training will be provided with resources to take the training back to their setting, with the expectation that SENCos deliver training for their school staff.
- All school who attend the training should add this information to their website.
(This training offer will be amended after the 2024-25 school year and will again be opened to all schools).
Training offer
|
Training Module |
Intended for |
Length |
Delivery |
|
Using school-based assessment tools for literacy:
|
Primary SENCos / SEN teachers Secondary SENCos / SEN teachers |
2 hours |
In-person training |
|
Identifying dyslexia in the classroom |
Primary school staff CPD Secondary school staff CPD |
1 hour |
Webinar (recorded and provided for participants) – intended to be used for after-school CPD, as part of normal school CPD delivery |
|
Classroom strategies for supporting pupils with dyslexia |
Primary school staff CPD Secondary school staff CPD |
1 hour |
Webinar (will be recorded and provided for participants) – intended to be used for after-school CPD, as part of normal school CPD delivery |
Assessment tools ‘library’
Southwark local authority are purchasing sets of the assessments tools as listed above. Once a school has received training on assessing with those tools, they will be added to the ‘borrower’ list. This will allow them to borrow the tools. The tools must be returned within TWO weeks (SENCos must ensure they have allocated enough time in their diaries to complete the needed assessments within this time). There will be no cost to maintained schools (including free schools and academies), as long as the resources are returned on time and in good condition.
Specialist dyslexia assessment for pupils with high-level needs
The specialist assessor will assess a limited number of pupils where the school can demonstrate that they have been providing effective interventions, led by trained staff, and the pupil is both achieving below age-related expectations and not making progress in their learning. These assessments will be available with no cost to all maintained schools (including free schools and academies). NB: These assessments are not currently available while the training programme is under way.