Member Article

Children's literacy levels being given a helping hand

A specialist clinic run by Newcastle University is helping to reverse falling literacy levels.

Working closely with six to 16-year-olds and their parents, the Literacy Clinic uses a holistic, multi-sensory approach to teaching that builds upon each child’s existing strengths and abilities, rather than focusing on their weaknesses.

Specialist speech and language therapist Carol Moxam, the clinic’s director, said, “When these children come to us, their self-esteem is in their shoes. We aim to pick them up and give them and their parents the skills they need to move in the right direction.”

One success story is eight-year-old Nathan Davison, who lives near Morpeth, Northumberland. Two years ago, most of his schooling took place in a school corridor while his fellow pupils were doing ‘hard work he couldn’t do’ in the classroom. However, today, after two 12-week sessions at the clinic, he’s taking a far more active role at school, is brimming with confidence, and has just scored a perfect ten in a spelling test.

His father Ian explained that Nathan’s hearing problems had led to speech difficulties and as a result, he had trouble understanding what teachers said to him and vice versa.

“We know he has a difficulty and rather than sweep it under the table, we want to do what we can to help. The change in him is wonderful to see; he now reads with his grandma for half an hour every night and will attempt to read and spell words now.”

Nathan’s parents’ early intervention will hopefully help prevent him becoming just another Government statistic: one in five 11-year-olds leaving primary school today is unable to read to the minimum standard for this age group.

The Newcastle University clinic is also a base for training speech and language therapy students, working alongside qualified staff. Since it was set up in January 2004 to provide a service for children with literacy difficulties such as dyslexia, over 50 children have attended a 12-week session. The next session starts at the end of this month.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .