Expert questions

I am manager of Upgrade Department and SENCO for The Henley College.

I manage one to one support and applications for Access Arrangements for over
400 students this year who have been assessed as having dyslexia/dyscalculia
dyspraxia and other related specific learning difficulties.
Experts disagree and new research changes what we know and how we define
dyslexia. However a significant number of young people with normal intelligence,
who are highly motivated and who may have achieved good results in their
exams so far, can still find that they have great difficulty mastering the basic
skills of reading, writing and/or spelling. These difficulties may have already been
recognised by parents or teachers in school as characteristic of one of the many
types of dyslexia. For others they are not diagnosed and so a student may
gradually fall behind with his/her studies. Working harder may no longer be
enough for the higher-level courses at College and extra help may be needed.
Individuals with dyslexia process things differently to those without it. For
many tasks this can be very useful.
http://www.key4learning.com/dyslexia.htm
Dyspraxia can result in difficulties with organisation and fine motor control,
time-management and organisation of assignments and homework.
http://www.key4learning.com/dyspraxia.htm
Dyslexia is different in every person. No two people show the same signs. A
specialist assessment, using age appropriate tests, is used to find if a student
requires exam access arrangements such as extra time, a reader, scribe, smaller
room or laptop. Dyslexia does not necessarily affect a person socially although
many dyslexics may feel that they have struggled in class, worked harder than
their peers
Dyslexia is known as a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) which can affect the
education and learning of a dyslexic student because those with SpLD often have
difficulties with reading, writing and spelling.
Because of changes to the law regarding disability education systems must
support students with disabilities. Upgrade provides support from a prospective
students initial contact with The College right through to their destination in the
workplace or in Higher Education. As part of the Upgrade service the SENCO can
attend interviews in order that we are fully aware of the students background
history and the support that may be needed. Upgrade focuses their attention at
the beginning of the academic year on students who have:
access arrangements at school
evidence of ASD/physical impairment
an Educational Psychologists Report
an Occupational Therapists Report
previous dyslexia/processing screening tests
previous JCQ Form 8 or copy of an online Application
Medical Reports
CAMHs Report (Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health)
Statement of SEN
1

Upgrade also collates and organises those specialist medical letters, Educational
Psychologists Reports (in liaison with our Examinations Officer) and EHCP annual
reviews. Upgrade encourages ALL students to talk through any issues concerned
with learning with their Personal Tutors who can make referrals throughout the
duration of their course.
Upgrade enables students to do as well as they can in course work and/or
exams. Upgrade provides special assessment tests which can offer a student a
better understanding of why they find specific areas of learning difficult. Upgrade
provides all students who are assessed with a Recommendation (a copy of
which is sent to all tutors). This recommends how best to accommodate the
students specific learning difference in-class. Students may be offered an array
of examination access arrangements once the results of these tests are
approved by JCQ.
Upgrade can provide extra one-to-one tutoring to any student to best support a
student to produce work that reflects their real ability. The 1-1 provision, by a
strong team of specialist tutors, see students on a weekly basis for one/two
hours. Students sign up in the Upgrade office and the session becomes a
compulsory, registered part of their timetable. Upgrade also offers all students
drop-in Study Skills workshops at lunchtimes:
Monday 11.55-12.55 Rotherfield SLC Upgrade area
Tuesday 11.55-12.55 Rotherfield SLC Upgrade area
Thursday 11.55-12.55 Deanfield Upgrade Room D574
Friday

11.55-12.55 Deanfield Upgrade Room D57

Maths Workshops are also held four times each week.

Upgrade organises a Study Skills MOOC which is available to all students and
staff. Learnzone has useful information on:
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Upgrade Services

One-to-One Support

Study Skills Workshops

What if you are struggling but don't know why?

Think you might need help in exams?

Learning Difficulties, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia?

Attention disorders

Asperger's Syndrome

There are common misconceptions and prejudices concerning dyslexia. Many

people still believe that dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties are

somehow connect to IQ or intelligence. However one of the advantages of a

specific learning difficulty is that a person finds unique strategies and coping
mechanisms. This may result in a creative way of dealing with topics studied.
Some famous entertainers with dyslexia are Jim Carrey, Danny Glover, Whoopi
Goldberg, Keanu Reeves, Kiera Knightley. Whether a student becomes famous or
not they will always be supported and to be given the best chance of success at
the Henley College.