Before the summer, we put a call out for research participants in dyslexia and sleep on behalf of University College London’s Katrin Jeffcock. Katrin has now completed her work and is presenting her ground-breaking findings on the evening of Wednesday 25 January.
We would love you to join us to listen to this exciting talk. Suitable for parents and for education professionals as CPD.
Book your place here.
Lillian is a busy girl; she loves dancing and is part of an invitation-only dance crew, she loves fashion, designing useful objects (rainbow toilet roll holder anyone?) and making animated movies. Her dad thinks her amazing problem-solving abilities could make her a great engineer one day.
Lillian goes to a very tiny school in Oxfordshire – there are just two other children in her year and they both seem particularly good at reading. This is something Lillian struggles with, as well as with spelling, organisation and remembering things at school, so she and her mum Kirstie came to see us here at Helen Arkell.
Lillian’s assessment was a revelation. She’s in the top 1% for two particular skills and this and the other feedback she was given have elevated her self-confidence enormously.
This gave Lillian the boost she needed so when World Book Day came around in March, Lillian set to work to educate everyone at school about dyslexia. She didn’t read in assembly and she didn’t write a report; Lillian wrote all her newly-discovered facts on her school shirt in multi-coloured pens!
Lillian received so many lovely comments and encouragement wearing her decorated shirt to school. One mum, whose son has dyslexia but who is not ready to let everyone know yet, told Lillian that she was very proud of her and that she’d made her son feel better about being dyslexic. The school thanked Lillian for being so brave and so open about her dyslexia. Thanks to Lillian, lots of people at school now understand dyslexia better and Lillian is really happy that they know about it.
Writing to us at Helen Arkell, Lillian’s mum said, ‘I just wanted to share my proud moment with you. Lillian’s diagnosis has brought her a great deal of comfort in why she struggles and has allowed her to identify areas that there are easy solutions too. She has embraced lots of coping mechanisms and is a much happier little girl – thank you.’
We’re very proud of you, Lillian!
Thank you to all those who joined us for our Big Walk for Dyslexia!
The day dawned sunny and warm and stayed that way for the walkers who enjoyed the gorgeous scenery around Frensham Little Pond.
On their return we had well-earned tea and cakes at the ready.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the walk and to our volunteers who helped make it happen.
If you would like to join us next year, sign up to our e-newsletter where we will let you know the date.
We have one-to-one tuitions sessions to offer children in Key Stages 2 to 4 over the summer holidays. Book one session or several to help your child get ahead for the new school year.
All sessions are run by our qualified specialist teachers and will take place at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre in West Street, Farnham, Surrey.
We have one-to-one tuitions sessions to offer children in Key Stages 2 to 4 over the Easter holidays. Book one session or several to help your child get ahead for the new term.
All sessions are run by our qualified specialist teachers and will take place at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre in Frensham, near Farnham, Surrey.
Find out more here.
Do you know dyslexic children who take forever to go to sleep? Or others that zonk out in minutes? Either way, please help us understand more about whether dyslexia impacts sleep!
I am researching the connection between Dyslexia and Sleep at UCL London. Very little is currently known about it. We want to learn more about sleep in dyslexic children and provide ways that might help improve their sleep.
If you care for a dyslexic child aged 7 to 13 in the UK, please fill in the 20-minute survey.
The survey will help us gain a better understanding about how daytime activities can impact sleep and mental health in dyslexic children.The more we learn about it, the better chances we have to develop further ways to help.
At the end of the survey, you can apply to participate in an optional second part of the study in which we objectively measure sleep behaviour and cortisol levels of dyslexic children.
Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity held a very special graduation ceremony on Wednesday for students of its professional qualifications.
The 41 graduates now hold Level 5 Diplomas in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties or Level 7 Diplomas in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties.
Both year-long courses are run from our Centre in Frensham and consist of weekly lectures as well as teaching practice in local primary and secondary schools. The teaching practice demands a level of creativity from the students, and they were congratulated on their inspiring and memorable teaching methods which included a pop-up pirate, funky glasses and dressing up hats!
Graduation certificates were presented by long-time friend of the Charity, Fintan O’Regan, an expert in the world of neurodivergence, and the ceremony was attended by families of the students, course tutors, charity trustees, and members of the Helen Arkell team.
The graduation was all the more special because some of these students had waited over a year to celebrate their graduation with their courses disrupted and their qualifications delayed by the pandemic. These students were delighted to be back at the Centre to hear all the news from the charity about how it has stepped up to support more children and adults with dyslexia than ever.
CEO Andy Cook said, ‘Congratulations to all our graduates. We are so proud of them. Being ‘Helen Arkell trained’ really means something in this field and these graduates are valued ambassadors and members of the Helen Arkell family.’
Find out more about our professional courses.
As you know, we have been supporting children and adults with dyslexia since 1971, and after 50 years based in Frensham village, we have now moved our Centre to 24 West Street in the heart of Farnham.
This is the beginning of an exciting new era for the charity; our in-person dyslexia services will be more accessible to those who don’t drive, and we will be more visible on busy West Street.
Our CEO Andy Cook says, ‘We are very excited to be moving to Farnham town centre and looking forward to helping even more people with dyslexia. We will be offering all our tried and tested services to individuals with dyslexia, as well as to schools, teachers and workplaces, and will very much enjoy being part of the Farnham community. This is an exciting new chapter for the charity as we embark on the next stage of our mission to remove barriers for people with dyslexia so that they can maximise the positive attributes that dyslexia brings.’
The new Centre is in a lovely Grade 2-listed Georgian house once lived in by the architect Harold Falkner who had a profound influence on the architecture of the town. You will find us between The Wheatsheaf pub and the Adult Education Centre, within walking distance of local bus routes and Farnham railway station.
We’ll be holding an Open Evening at 6pm on Wednesday 29 June, as an opportunity for anyone to pop in and see the charity’s new home. If you would like to come along, simply email events@helenarkell.org.uk to let us know.
If you have the opportunity, please take the time to listen to the Reasons to be Cheerful latest podcast on dyslexia and dyscalculia and how we need to improve recognition in society and understand the contribution people with neurodiversity can make.
The podcast is hosted by Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, and Sony Award-winning radio host Geoff Lloyd and, as well as Andy, features Kate Griggs from Made by Dyslexia and Rob Jennings from the Dyscalculia Network.
Registered charity in England and Wales (1064646). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, company number 3432423.
