Let's have an IT'S ME AWARD for schools and teachers

[Edwilson]

‘Exams are too easy, Too many children are leaving school unable to read and write to a sufficient standard, underfunded schools, special needs not being picked up early enough,’ we’ve all read the stories lately about how our education system is failing children and that they are not achieving as well as they did back in the old days. It saddens me that this is all we ever hear about especially at this time of year when many children are moving from the Early years foundation stage to start in Key stage 1 or starting reception or moving up to secondary school. We never hear about the good things that go on in many schools to help them develop.

In the past 2 years my wife and I been asked 4 times if we think our son might be dyslexic. We did bring the subject up when he was in the Nursery Class of his school, as both my wife and I am dyslexic and could see some of the traits. His teacher couldn’t have thanked us more as she suspected something. Over the past two years, although, he has not yet been assessed, the school have developed a way of teaching him and I suspect every child in his class according to their needs. In that time we’ve always been taken seriously and the school has always taught him with those needs in mind. So when my daughter had her home visit for the Nursery Class guess what one of the first questions the teacher asked was? ‘Do you think she may be dyslexic?’

I’m reminded of the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’ as the school could have left it at just asking the question. But no two years on you can see clearly that they have been working on his weaknesses and pushing his strengths. For instance his teacher was quite clear that when the children who go out for extra support work they don’t miss out on PE because they see this as a way of pushing him and giving him confidence. I’ve often been amazed by what they achieve at his school. There is no question that it’s because they recognise every child is different and so learns in a different way but more importantly there is an expectation that parents and teachers work together. We actually have to go in at the beginning of the year to learn how to support their learning. Added to this is the fact that teaching staff have an understanding of special educational needs and the school has a strategy to work with the children who have them.

Because of my experiences over the last two years I’m led to two conclusions one is of the importance of a nationwide strategy for dyslexia and literacy difficulties that Dyslexia Action are calling for, in fact I can’t believe there isn’t one already. The second is that maybe there should be an IT’s ME Award for a school or a teacher. Let’s face it with inspirational teachers children can get the building blocks they need, I can name at least 4 worthy recipients, but also schools create the right environment for children of all abilities and needs to learn, often just as inspirational as those famouse people recognised through the award. We could give these people a big pat on the back for the brilliant work they do and create a few positive headlines about our children’s education.

[Kate_DA]

Hi Ed

Thanks for your post! We already recognise a learner at the awards dinner (The Young Persons Award) and we have the The Lady Radnor Award for services to dyslexia and the Dyslexia Action Award but the Its Me! Award is the only award nominated by the public. I do however think an award to recognise a teacher or school is a fantastic idea and I will put it to the committee. Great to hear you have such a supportive school and couldn't agree with you educators can be / are just as inspirational! Everyone remembers their favourite teacher don't they!

[Kate_DA]

Hi Ed

Thanks for your post! We already recognise a learner at the awards dinner (The Young Persons Award) and we have the The Lady Radnor Award for services to dyslexia and the Dyslexia Action Award but the Its Me! Award is the only award nominated by the public. I do however think an award to recognise a teacher or school is a fantastic idea and I will put it to the committee. Great to hear you have such a supportive school and couldn't agree with you educators can be / are just as inspirational! Everyone remembers their favourite teacher don't they!

[coolex]

Agree with you 100% - we also have had the advantage of a very supportive school and an inspirational teacher - a positive parent/school relationship with regular communication is essential for moving forward - the teachers at our local school and the teaching staff at Dyslexia Action would get our vote!

[Edwilson]

Hi Kate_DA thanks for the response. Let me know if you want any ideas happy to help.

[Kate_DA]

Thanks Ed

[301606]

Thanks Ed for your post.

If you are in England, check out The Partnership at KIDS. They are a national charity, however, there should be a parent partnership in your area.

You need to access The Codes of Practice and The SEN Toolkit from Dept of Education. Phone numbers can be found on internet. (Free of Charge)

You need to get your child accessed. We found it easier to pay for an assessment at Dyslexia Action.

Do not leave it too late to start him at Dyslexia Action for lessons if this is the road you go down. We took both of hours out of school for this.

Contact Listening books and subscribe.

Dear Kate

Could you talk to your committee about awards for parents?

Could you talk to your committee about training parents to be mentors to other parents?

Could you talk to you committee about forming a young persons committee to represent children with dyslexia? Again see what CLAPPA and Changing Faces are doing.

What's happened to the Dyslexia Action website feedback???

My thoughts about schools, is that Dyslexia Action needs to get into them and educating first before you start awarding teachers!!

[Kate_DA]

Hi 301606

I can certainly talk to the committee about an award for parents - my only concern re this is how would you ever chose! My (personal rather than Dyslexia Action) opinion is that it would be impossible when all parents of dyslexic children work tirelessly to ensure the best for their child and I would query what makes one parent a "better" parent than another would just be too subjective. Just my thought though, others may disagree.

We don't have any plans for a young persons committee at the moment, but this may be something that we look at when we have more resource to do so. Website feedback has been taken on board, thanks for that. The new website should be ready around November and I am really hopeful that is will be a marked improvement on the current one. If you would like, I would be really keen for you to be involved user feedback when we get to that stage if you are interested?

We do work with schools through our P4L projects however this is a focus area for us over the next few months. I do however think there are some excellent teachers out there and raising awareness of them and their teaching methods would be a great way to inspire other teachers in my opinion.