[SENco-forum] Literacy

Whether vested interest, commercial or research driven - the child does not
get what they need.  My children have SpLD dyslexia - they need to be taught
in a specific way - sadly one that is specific to each of them, not to their
generic labelling. At the moment at school little of their teaching comes in
a form that they can readily understand and so targets are set to nibble
away at 'their' problem, which is really a problem generated by the
education system itself!

There are a myriad or 'cures' or support programmes all of which are
expensive, untested and even if one worked for one of my children it is
unlikely ( due the different difficulties they have) that it would work for
another.

I have trained as a SpLD tutor to try and help, but even specialist teachers
are part of the problem in supporting the idea that the child can go outside
of the mainstream teaching arena to get what they need.  It is immaterial
whether the support is in or outside of the classroom or in or outside of
school hours - it is not what they need.  What is needed is a completely
different training method for teachers with specialised 3 year degree
focussing on all aspects of teaching all children as well as professional
development training.  This was recognised by the recent Education & skills
committee but will take for ever, if ever, to implement.  In the meantime my
children and others flounder.

Even if the teachers were perfectly trained for all SEN there would still be
the vested interest brigade who continue to argue phonic/real reading, or
cochlear implants or sign, conductive education or wheelchair.  It is not
for government or any individual to impose one or the other, but make it
easier to achieve whatever mix best suits the individual and helps them be
as independent as possible.

Sharon