We have summer dates for our personalised learning one-to-one tuition sessions!
Book as many or as few as you like and give your child a boost in study skills, literacy, writing, spelling and memory and learning techniques. Maths sessions are also available.
We have had a flurry of requests from top universities to help recruit for various dyslexia research projects. Supporting dyslexia research is an important part of what we do here at Helen Arkell because the more that is known about dyslexia, the better we can be at understanding it and providing support.
All the research projects we promote have been approved by the appropriate university ethics committees and, in turn, by us at Helen Arkell.
We have three research projects. If suitable, we would love for you to take part. Some of the projects offer a small financial reward for taking part:
Supporting Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties is a very practical online course for Teaching Assistants or anyone supporting learners. You will be shown lots of useful, tried and tested strategies to enable you to support learners effectively. You will also have the opportunity to make attractive, practical resources that you will be able to use with your learners. The course starts on Friday 19 April and comprises six three-hour sessions:
Each session can be booked individually and recordings of sessions will be available if you cannot attend.
Book here
Martyn is a lecturer and Ph.D. student at the University of Greenwich, working within the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with a focus on Video Games Development. He is currently researching reading and phonics and have developed an augmented reality application designed for phonics instruction. He is reaching out to schools in the hope of gaining expert opinions from teachers and additional learner support professionals regarding the application and its potential applications in teaching phonics.
Are you an education professional who can help with this study? Do you have experience using classroom-based tools and techniques for phonics instruction?
You can access the Participant Information Sheet here
You can find out more about the app and the study here
You can contact Martyn and join the study by emailing him at m.p.broadhead@greenwich.ac.uk
One of the greatest influences on children’s success in learning is the involvement of parents in their education. When a child has a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, this involvement is even more crucial. Many children who find learning difficult can get frustrated and demotivated which may lead to low self-esteem.
The ‘Hints, Encouragement and Liaison for Parents’ course helps demystify dyslexia and gives practical ideas and strategies to help you support your child at home with their learning.
This online course is now available on demand
The video and handout downloads are then emailed to you and you can watch them at your leisure.
Free or subsidised courses for lower-income families – please email courses@helenarkell.org.uk
We are delighted to launch a new assessment service for children who are too young for a dyslexia diagnostic assessment.
Our Literacy Learning Assessment is aimed at children in Years 1 and 2 (and early into Year 3) who are working below the level of their peers and whose progress is giving cause for concern.
This new service offers a non-diagnostic assessment, by a Helen Arkell Specialist Teacher of reading, writing and spelling skills, as well as some cognitive processing, in order to identify strengths and areas of development, as well as recommendations to support teaching and learning. As a result, appropriate early intervention can be delivered, rather than children having to wait until they are old enough for a formal dyslexia assessment.
If you feel this would be useful for your child, there are more details and you can make an enquiry here.
We are able to offer financial assistance for this service to families on lower incomes.
This talk from our Head of Education, Claire Harvey, will touch on some of the reasons why many learners with dyslexia and related specific learning difficulties struggle with reading, potentially becoming reluctant readers and why reading matters so much. Most importantly, this talk will provide attendees with simple, practical strategies, activities and resources to help improve the reading development of a weaker reader and encourage even the most reluctant reader to re-engage with the wonderful world of reading.
We were absolutely delighted to welcome Thierry HENry to the Centre in West Street at the beginning of this month. This honoured guest was brought along by the Howard family who also brought a very welcome cheque for the charity for £1,000.
Brian Howard has been organising a charity event in Haslemere since 2017; there have been hogs, hares and hounds and this year was the turn of the hens. Thierry HENry is a three-foot fibreglass model hen – just one of 80 sponsored hens that have been decorated, hilariously named and sold in aid of local and national charities. Other hens included an artistic HENri Matisse, a super-heroic Cluck Kent, a musical EGG Sheeran and a nature-loving David AttHENborough. The events have raised a huge £190,000 since they began.
Thierry HENry is the brainchild of Brian’s grandson Charlie who is an avid Arsenal fan. Eleven-year-old Charlie was diagnosed with dyslexia at here at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre 18 months ago and decided that his footballer hen should raise money to help children like him to get the support they need.
Charlie’s mum Lorraine said, ‘[the diagnosis] really changed Charlie’s life. We know first-hand what amazing work the charity does supporting children and adults with dyslexia as well as their families. Charlie wanted to give something back.’
Charlie’s dad Douglas is CEO of the Real English Drinks Company which sponsored the Arsenal-kitted hen. The hen was bought by a determined and enthusiastic club fan for an amazing £1,000 – all for the benefit of the dyslexia charity.
Our CEO Andy Cook said, ‘It was so lovely to welcome Thierry HENry and the Howard family and to hear Charlie’s story. He’s proof that the right kind of support can make a world of difference. As a charity, our aim is to make this support available to as many people – children and adults – as we possibly can. The £1,000 donation goes a long way to helping people, so thank you to Charlie, Brian and the family and to the very keen Arsenal fan.’
One of the greatest influences on children’s success in learning is the involvement of parents in their education. When a child has a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia this involvement is even more crucial. Many children who find learning difficult can get frustrated and demotivated which may lead to low self-esteem.
The ‘Hints, Encouragement and Liaison for Parents’ course helps demystify dyslexia and gives practical ideas and strategies to help you support your child at home with their learning.
Online – Tuesday mornings starting 21 March 2023 (recordings are available so you can still sign up!). Click here to book.
We look forward to seeing you soon. Please contact enquiries@helenarkell.org.uk if you have any questions.
**We have free or subsidised places on this course for families on lower incomes.**
We have a new book in our specialist shop, recommended by Claire Harvey, our Head of Education.
Teaching children to read is one of the most important tasks in primary education and classroom practice needs to be underpinned by a secure foundation of knowledge. Teachers need to know what reading entails, how children learn to read and how it can be taught effectively.
The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading is an essential guide for primary teachers that explores the key technical and practical aspects of how children read with strong links to theory and how to translate this into the classroom.
You can order here or pop into the Farnham Centre.
Registered charity in England and Wales (1064646). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, company number 3432423.
