To assist children who are struggling in the attainment of literacy skills, I use a method based on the strategies of The Spalding Method® to instruct children in handwriting, spelling, writing and reading. This explicit multi-sensory language program uses all the senses to ensure that a child's weaker areas are supported by those which are stronger. Children use all their senses (see, say, hear and write) simultaneously during the integrated lessons.

Instruction commences with teaching, over a period of weeks, correct letter formation, in conjunction with learning, the 70 phonograms (letter symbols) that represent the sounds of spoken English in written form. As soon as these are memorised, and able to be written with no contextual clues, they are quickly combined into words and written (from dictation) in a spelling/vocabulary notebook using markings and rules.

The learning of 70 symbols (phonograms) are characterised by either single letters, or fixed combinations of 2, 3, or 4 letters. It is paramount that children grasp this sound/symbol relationship, as it forms the basis of how the language operates and, ultimately, teach them to read. A basic vocabulary is developed by writing the “Ayres Word List” (most frequently used words), which is an essential component in whole word recognition, automatic decoding, and reading comprehension. 

Unlike other literacy programs, reading is taught as a natural progression through writing. Children do not copy work but create letters, words and sentences by using the skills they have been taught during the lessons. This encourages higher analytical thinkers and lifelong learners.

What is SLT?

We aim to help children:

• Understand what others say;
• Remember words and what they mean;
• Put words together to make sentencesl
• Pronounce words correctly (as expected for their age);
• Interact socially with others;
• Develop phonological awareness skills; and
• Improve auditory memory skills.

We assist children with:

• Language delay / disorder;
• Speech delay / disorder;
• General learning difficulties;
• Specific Language Impairment;
• Phonological Awareness Difficulties;
• Auditory memory difficulties;
• Dyslexia;
• Communication disorders;
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders;
• Downs Syndrome;
• Stammering;
• Hearing impairment including Otitis Media (known as ‘glue ear’); and
• Verbal Dyspraxia (a motor coordination difficulty affecting pronunciation).

SERVICES PROVIDED:

We provide the following services:
• Specialist numeracy teachers
• Initial consultations: detailed case history, initial assessment and reports;
• Review assessments;
• Statutory assessments;
• Individual or group therapy sessions depending on the child’s needs;
• Input into Individual Education Plans (I.E.P.s) and Annual Reviews;
• Advice and tailored targets / programmes to suit children’s needs;
• Informal training to parents / carers / schools / nurseries etc and formal training packages upon request;
• Telephone consultations.

We liaise with:

• Parents / carers and families;
• Teachers and learning support assistants; and
• Other professionals: GPs, Clinical Psychiatrists, Educational Psychologists,

Paediatricians, E.N.T specialists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists.