[senco-forum] Re: literacy

"Do you know, Aly, this may be a first, but I agree with you!  With  the 
proviso that the initial teaching is with a bons fida, properly taught SP  
programme, not incomplete phonics mixed with 'look & say'!"

I have no problem with children being taught to read using phonics, never  
have, what I do feel strongly about though is children being taught by  
phonics-only when it is obvious it isn't working. We need a consensus when to  draw 
the line and try other methods, as standard, sooner rather than later,  before 
the child gets into a pattern of failure.

Teaching a child through phonics and noticing their inability to learn  it 
may be the earliest indicator that they have a problem with  phonemic awareness 
(no surprise there) but it should also be a  glaring indicator that they have 
a problem with with sound processing  and may therefore lead to them being 
assessed for APD. Not all children with APD  have a problem with phonics but all 
children with a problem with  phonics/phonemic awareness and/or phonological 
awareness may well  have APD- either with or without hearing loss- and should 
be referred on for APD  testing. I really wish we could make that standard 
practice too.

Best wishes,
Aly

Chair Auditory  Processing Disorder in the UK/APDUK
www.lacewingmultimedia.com/APD.htm 
www.apduk.org