Course news | Helen Arkell

Three CPD Courses for specialist assessors

Three fantastic courses for assessors are now available to book.

We have been developing our range of CPD training for specialist assessors. All courses are now available to book here: Courses for assessors | Helen Arkell

Introduction to the Intelligence and Development Scales 2^nd Edition (IDS-2)

This presentation includes an overview of how the test battery is constructed, its strengths for assessing the areas of cognition and attainment that are most relevant for dyslexia, and scoring. Sarah Sainty, the course presenter, is an Assessment Consultant for Hogrefe and a highly experienced assessor. She enjoys using the IDS-2 and will explain the wealth of information it yields. We give thanks to Hogrefe for this presentation. For more details and to book: Introduction to the Intelligence and Development Scales (IDS-2) | Helen Arkell

WIAT-III UK: A comparison with the WIAT-III UK-T

This course is for specialist assessors who are familiar with administering the WIAT-III UK-T and would like to understand the additional areas of testing offered by the WIAT-III UK. The course includes an overview of the WIAT-III UK, a comparison of the test materials in both versions, a comparison of the subtests offered in both versions, a recap of the administration of existing key subtests, and guidance on administration of the new subtests in the WIAT-III UK in areas of language, reading, spelling, writing and maths. Helen Barrett, an experienced assessor, presents this course. For more details and to book: WIAT-III UK: A Comparison with the WIAT-III UK-T | Helen Arkell

Alternative Tests of Underlying Ability

This course is for specialist assessors who are considering alternatives to the Wide Range Intelligence Test (WRIT) which will be withdrawn from the SASC list of approved tests at the start of January 2026. The course includes an overview of conceptualisations of intelligence, the structure and conceptualisation of intelligence of 5 test batteries: RIAS-2, IDS-2, WCJIV-Cog, TOD and CAS-2, the subtests in each battery that aim to measure intelligence and/or the ability to find ways to tackle learning tasks, and how these relate to the requirements of the current SASC report format, examples of the kinds of tasks an examinee would be asked to complete in these subtests, and basic test information including age range, approximate costs, administration time, standardisation, validity and reliability. Anita Haigh, an experienced assessor, presents this course. For more details and to book: Alternative Tests of Underlying Ability | Helen Arkell

By Vicky Brighton|2025-11-13T10:01:37+00:00November 13th, 2025|Course news, Latest news|Comments Off

Level 5 & Level 7 Specialist Dyslexia Teachers and Assessors Celebrate Graduation

On Friday 19th September our newly qualified Level 5 & Level 7 Specialist Dyslexia Teachers and Assessors celebrated their graduation ceremony at The Memorial Hall, Farnham with family, friends and staff from Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

Graduates from our 24/25 cohort proudly received their certificates, marking the end of an incredible year of hard work. This year’s graduation ceremony was kindly sponsored by Barrington Stoke, the award-winning dyslexia-friendly publisher, who design their books with the needs of dyslexic and reluctant readers in mind.

A special thank you to Katrina Cochrane who as guest speaker, presented the certificates and gave a fascinating welcome presentation.

Katrina is one of the UK’s leading experts on Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties with senior teaching and management experience gained at major Dyslexia charities, including Head of Education and Policy at the BDA. Author of several books and articles on dyslexia and the owner and founder of Positive Dyslexia Ltd. Positive Dyslexia was set up in 2016 by Katrina to raise awareness of dyslexia to schools and organisations, alongside being a provider of training and assessment, and running events and conferences.

Claire Harvey, Head of Education at Helen Arkell said, “It was an absolute privilege to watch our trainee specialist assessors and trainee specialist assessors develop their skills over the last year as they trained with us. They all worked extremely hard and should be very proud of all they have achieved. These specialist teachers and assessors will go on to help hundreds of individuals with dyslexia in the future, supporting them with their learning and to achieve their chosen goals, ultimately making a real difference”.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this evening so special and a huge congratulations to all our graduates.

If you want to find out more about these courses, information for the 25/26 entry for our Level 5 and Level 7 courses is available here.

By Vicky Brighton|2025-10-31T10:41:13+00:00September 30th, 2025|Course news, Team blog|Comments Off

Dyslexia Awareness Week – FREE SPOTLIGHT SESSION!

Join us during Dyslexia Awareness Week for a free online talk led by Claire Harvey, Head of Education at Helen Arkell.

Spotlight Title: Top Tips for Supporting the Development of Spelling Skills

Date: 6^th October 2025

Time: 6:00-7:00pm

Cost: Free of charge – book here

We know that learners with dyslexia can struggle to acquire spelling skills leaving many with significant difficulties that persist long-term. This talk will briefly touch on why spelling can be problematic for learners with dyslexia, the potentially damaging impact of weak spelling, and the types of errors commonly seen. Most importantly, this talk will provide attendees with some top tips for how to support the development of spelling skills.

Delivered in Dyslexia Awareness Week and free of charge, this online talk will be of interest to both parents and education professionals.

During the talk, Claire will be introducing the new Helen Arkell Spelling Journal, a super useful personal resource for learners to look up spellings, bypassing difficulties, and allowing all the wonderful words that may lie in their oral lexicon to be used in their writing.

For more information about the spelling journal, please visit our shop.

By Vicky Brighton|2025-10-31T10:40:39+00:00September 9th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Barrington Stoke Sponsors Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity Graduation Ceremony for 2025

We’re thrilled to announce that our 2025 Graduation Ceremony this September will be proudly sponsored by Barrington Stoke – the award-winning publisher making reading accessible for all!

With 25+ years of expertise in dyslexia-friendly publishing, their support celebrates our newest specialist teachers and specialist assessors and our shared mission, helping every child with the chance to become a reader.

Barrington Stoke is renowned for publishing short novels by some of the UK’s most celebrated authors.

Their expertly crafted books are designed to offer a quick, engaging win for confident readers, and a meaningful, achievable experience for those who face greater challenges. Their pioneering use of a specially designed font and carefully selected paper colour ensures that every title is super-readable and dyslexia-friendly, reflecting a mission closely aligned with our own.

“Watching our specialist teachers and specialist assessors graduate is always a deeply moving moment. Each one has worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and we know they’ll go on to change lives. Having Barrington Stoke sponsor this year’s ceremony means a great deal to us, not just because of their generosity, but because they truly understand the power of accessible reading. Together, we’re championing a future where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to read.”

— Claire Harvey, Head of Education, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

By Vicky Brighton|2025-10-31T10:42:46+00:00August 22nd, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Catch Up This Summer with Helen Arkell’s Spotlight Sessions

Summer is here and what better time to dive into the knowledge-packed Helen Arkell Spotlight Sessions you might have missed over the past year?

Whether you’re an educator, parent, or someone passionate about supporting individuals with dyslexia, these sessions offer on-demand access, accompanying handouts, and incredible value at just £10 each. Wherever you are, you can learn at your own pace, whenever it suits you.

Choose From These Insightful Topics:

📖 What Makes Reading Worth It? Reassessing Reading Motivation in the Context of Dyslexia. What makes someone want to keep reading a book? Are people with dyslexia less motivated to read? Find out more here. 📖

🧩 You Don’t Get an EHCP for Dyslexia: Demystifying the Issues Around EHCPs. Decode the complexities around Education, Health and Care Plans and what they mean for those with dyslexia. Book your place here. 🧩

➕ Top Tips for Supporting Numeracy. A practical, easy-to-apply guide to boosting numeracy skills in children who learn differently. Find out more here. ➕

🎓 How to Be a Dyslexic Grade-Riser – And Ace Your Exams. Discover empowering techniques that help dyslexic students rise through the grades with confidence. To book a place and learn more please click here. 🎓

📘 How to Use Toe-by-Toe for Optimum Results – And Improve Reading Accuracy. Make the most of the Toe-by-Toe approach with expert advice on improving reading accuracy. Learn more here. 📘

🔤Reading High Frequency Words – How to Improve Reading Accuracy and Fluency. Enhance fluency with tips and techniques for mastering high-frequency words. Find out more here.🔤

🧬 New Thinking About Dyslexia – The New Delphi Definition. Take a look at the latest research and thought-leadership redefining dyslexia today. Learn more here. 🧬

🗣️ Listening to Children with Dyslexia – Delivered by Margaret Rooke. Why being listened to is so important for children with dyslexia by renowned author Margaret Rooke. Find out about the spotlight here. 🗣️

Browse all available Spotlight Sessions on our courses page.

By Vicky Brighton|2025-09-08T15:47:41+01:00July 10th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Morph Mastery Course: Practical Tools for Supporting Dyslexic Learners

Join Louise Selby at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity on Monday 29th September for a Morph Mastery training course – a hands-on opportunity to explore effective ways of teaching spelling, reading and vocabulary through morphology.

Based on research, this course introduces ten adaptable strategies ideal for learners with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties. Designed for ages 9–13 (but easily extended to other age groups), the approach is structured, multi-sensory and flexible enough for classroom, group or one-to-one teaching.

Spaces are limited; book early to secure your place.

To book please visit Louise’s webpage here.

About this Course

Morph Mastery is both an intervention and a resource book offering practical ways to teach spelling, reading and vocabulary using morphology (the system of language based on prefixes, suffixes and roots). It is based on research into what works for learners with specific learning difficulties and dyslexia. It’s multi-sensory, structured and can be adapted and personalised. The intervention is aimed for ages 9 – 13 but the strategies can be used with a wider age range in groups and class.

This is a practical course in which you learn ten key strategies in Morph Mastery which you’ll be able to adapt to your setting, whether it is whole class teaching, group work, or 1:1.

Venue: Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, 24 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR

Date: Monday 29th Sept 9:30 – 3:30

Cost: £125 per person

Audience: This course is suitable for SENCOs, SEN teachers, English leads, teaching assistants, and tutors

By Vicky Brighton|2025-06-30T12:53:59+01:00June 30th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Get 50% Off Our HELP! Dyslexia Course for Parents This March!

Are you looking for practical ways to support your child with dyslexia? This March, we’re offering an exclusive 50% discount on our insightful, on-demand HELP! Dyslexia Course for Parents – a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and strategies at half the price!

What is the course about?

Hints, Encouragement, and Liaison for Parents (HELP!) is a unique dyslexia course designed specifically for parents of children with learning difficulties. Whether your child has recently received a dyslexia diagnosis or you simply want to better support them at home, this course provides the essential tools to help them learn to learn.

The course is completely online and available on demand, meaning you can watch and learn at your own pace, from the comfort of your home.

What will I learn?

Understanding how dyslexia impacts learning at school and at home is crucial in providing the right support. This course covers a broad range of topics, helping you develop a deeper understanding of dyslexia, its challenges, and how to turn them into strengths.

The course provides expert guidance on the following key areas:

Session 1: Introduction to Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)
Session 2: Working Effectively with Your Child’s School, Talking to Your Child About Dyslexia & Building Self-Esteem
Session 3: Understanding How Your Child Learns Best, Study Skills & Homework Support
Session 4: Supporting Your Child’s Reading
Session 5: Supporting Your Child’s Spelling
Session 6: Supporting Your Child’s Writing
Session 7: Supporting Your Child’s Maths

Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer. Sign up now and get 50% off our HELP! Dyslexia Course for Parents this March.

Let’s work together to empower children with dyslexia and help them reach their full potential!

By Helen Arkell|2025-05-01T09:56:58+01:00March 17th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Level 5 and Level 7 Diplomas in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/SpLDs and Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/SpLDS

Join our Level 5 and Level 7 courses!

At Helen Arkell we have been successfully delivering the Level 5 and Level 7 Diploma courses for many years. Our next courses begin September 2025 and are running from the Centre in Farnham.

These are a nationally recognised qualifications and we have consistently been recognised by CPD External Verifiers as being one of the ‘gold standard’ centres for delivering these qualifications.

Our Level 5 and Level 7 courses are accredited by the CPD Standards Office and our Level 5 course is approved by Patoss (Professional Association for Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

We are unique in providing a very high proportion of tutor-to-candidate contact time to ensure that each candidate achieves to the very maximum of their ability.

The tutor group system at Helen Arkell encourages candidates to share their wealth of knowledge and experiences during their weekly contact with each other.

Please note that you do not need a university degree or to be a qualified teacher to attend our Level 5 course. Those looking to do Level 7 need to hold a Level 5 qualification.

Find out more:

Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties – with teaching practice in KS2-KS1

Level 5 Diploma In Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties – with teaching practice in KS2-KS3

Level 7 Diploma in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/ Specific Learning Difficulties

By Helen Arkell|2025-03-17T11:48:58+00:00March 17th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary provides free training for schools

Thanks to the Theo Paphitis Dyslexia Bursary, launched in November 2023, an incredible 176 teachers and teaching assistants from UK state schools have already received free specialist training, enabling them to better support learners with dyslexia back in their classrooms.

The continuing generosity of Theo and Ryman Retail Limited means that we are able to offer even more teachers and teaching assistants from the state school sector free places on the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity’s six-week online Supporting Learners with Dyslexia course!

This practical course comprises six sessions on Fridays from 9.30 am, starting on 25 April 2025 and provides lots of useful, tried and tested strategies for supporting learners effectively. Recordings of each session are sent out after the live session for anyone who is unable to attend.

To apply for a bursary-funded place on this course, simply complete a short application form here.

Here’s what one of our past attendees had to say about the course:

‘I would like to say what an amazing course this has been!! I am a literacy practitioner at a secondary school, and the course was everything I was looking for and more! It has given me so much confidence delivering my literacy sessions, and I have gained so many tips and ideas. The presenters’ wealth of knowledge and information has been amazing, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every week.’

Please note, if you have already received a free place for this course, you will not be eligible for another free place. If your team found this course helpful you can book a paid-for place.

Helen Arkell’s aim is to remove barriers to learning, employment and life for more and more people with dyslexia, regardless of ability to pay, and we are indebted to Theo Paphitis and Ryman for helping us to achieve this.

By Helen Arkell|2025-03-25T13:48:58+00:00March 14th, 2025|Course news, Fundraising news|Comments Off

Farnham Literary Festival – Reading High-Frequency Words Accurately and Fluently Talk

Reading High-Frequency Words Accurately and Fluently

March 9 at 10:30am – 12:00

Join us at the Farnham Literary Festival on March 9 to learn how to enhance high-frequency word reading!

Marlene Caplan will lead the session and is an Educational Psychologist and Specialist Teacher with extensive experience in teaching and assessment. Marlene is a Tutor on the Level 7 Diploma Course and has worked as a SENCo and Specialist Teacher at Yale University and the Institute of Education. She co-authored Anyone Can Spell It and Just in Time(s) and also created the reading game Phrase It®.

Research shows that the first 1,000 high-frequency words account for 90% of reading material. Recognising these words is key to improving accuracy and fluency for any child learning to read. This talk covers what these words are, where we see them, and why we need to learn them. It also explores ways to improve high-frequency word recognition both in terms of accuracy and fluency. The session will highlight resources and strategies suitable for parents and teaching staff, including Phrase It®, a new game designed to boost high-frequency word reading skills.

Tickets are on sale here.

By Helen Arkell|2025-03-14T17:20:08+00:00February 20th, 2025|Course news|Comments Off

Choose From These Insightful Topics:

Browse all available Spotlight Sessions on our courses page.

About this Course

Venue: Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, 24 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR

Date: Monday 29th Sept 9:30 – 3:30

Cost: £125 per person

Audience: This course is suitable for SENCOs, SEN teachers, English leads, teaching assistants, and tutors

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