Popular start for DDC secondary school scheme

Isle News, 7 April 2009 – AN initiative to revolutionise education for children with specific literacy difficulties has proven popular with local teachers.

Organised by the Dyslexia Day Centre (DDC) and the Education Department and funded by Investec and the Lloyds TSB foundation, the scheme will teach secondary school teachers how to further recognise and support students with dyslexia.

Originally organisers were hoping to have classes of 8 people in the first series of lessons, but due to popular demand, there will now be 11 teachers undertaking the training.

Taught by Alison Barnett, an employee of the DDC, the first session will take place April 21 with sessions held every week over a period of three months.

In the past, DDC teachers have given private tutorials only to children in primary schools to help them with their studies. Teachers of the island’s secondary schools have never before been targeted.

Chairman of the DDC, Mike O’Hara said the programme was a more sustainable way of supporting students, as once the teachers have been trained and the knowledge is in place, less input will be needed from the DDC and Education and therefore, fewer resources required from the States of Guernsey.

He was pleased by the response from teachers and happy that so many had shown an interest at this early stage.

“The idea has always been to train if not all, then most of the secondary school teachers in the very best methods of working with dyslexic students. I’m excited to say that there has been a wonderful amount of interest from teachers so I am hopeful that our plans will come to fruition!” said Mr O’Hara.

The programme is a fore-runner in methods of dealing with dyslexia, with only a handful of communities across the United Kingdom pioneering the initiative.

Investec has worked in partnership with the DDC for the past five years, donating money as well time, facilities and manpower in order to raise funds for the centre.

The Lloyds TSB foundation is also supporting the scheme, having provided the salary for one teacher for the first year.

The DDC also benefitted from the support of the 2008 Swimarathon, organised by the Lions club and the Guernsey roundtable and sponsored by Cable & Wireless. This raised £20,000 for the refurbishment of the centre.

Investec Trust managing director, Jane Kerins said: “This scheme is the culmination of a plan that we have been working towards for some time. I am so pleased that there has been such a good uptake from local teachers; this could potentially revolutionise the way literacy difficulties are handled in Guernsey.”

ENDS

Issued by Samata Russell, Orchard PR Tel, 01481 240600

NOTES TO EDITORS:

•    Investec Trust, part of the Investec Group, comprises: Investec Trust (Guernsey) Limited, registered company number 11453, regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission; Investec Trust (Jersey) Limited, regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission in the conduct of trust company business; Investec Trust (Mauritius) Limited, regulated by the Mauritius Financial Services Commission; Investec Trust (Switzerland) SA, regulated by the Association Romande des Intermédiaires Financiers and Investec Trustees (UK) Limited registered in England with company number 3731270, registered office 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP.  Investec Private Trust Limited, incorporated in South Africa, is a member of the Investec Group and operates in conjunction with Investec Trust.

Please visit our website www.investectrust.com for further information

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