Mar 17, 2016 | DM News Blog
Yesterday, Chancellor George Osborne announced big plans for the Budget of 2016, vowing to invest in England’s schools. Reformation plans include: All schools becoming academies by 2020, or having official plans to do so by 2022 (you can read more on academies...
Aug 13, 2014 | DM News Blog
The popular parenting blog, hellobee.com, recently published an article from one very creative mum who has taken educational summer fun to a whole new level! If you are coming to the tail end of your summer and looking for ideas on how to start getting your kids back...
Nov 8, 2013 | DM News Blog
Fact: In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared that exposure to screens is detrimental to children under the age of two. The Millennium Cohort Study, which tracked the development of UK children born between 2000 and 2002, found that by age five children...
Aug 9, 2013 | DM News Blog
Fact: Up to 40% of new recruits into the British Armed Forces have a reading age of 11 years old. The armed forces recently published details of a report into the academic levels of their personnel, in which this and other statistics were revealed. 38% fail a...
Aug 7, 2013 | DM News Blog
We’re living in the Age of the Apps. Whether you have a smartphone, tablet or regular ‘ol computer, thousands of apps are available to you — and most of the time, for free. Google’s browser, Chrome, has an app store full of educational games...
Jul 18, 2013 | DM News Blog
What will your child find on her desk when she returns to school in September? Michael Gove, education secretary, recently published guidelines for a new curriculum that aims to bring the British school system up to date. The proposals are far-reaching, covering most...
Jun 11, 2013 | DM News Blog
When I was 28 years old, I went back to kindergarten. Not to be a teacher or a volunteer. I went back to be a student again. Since I’d graduated from college, I’d felt lost and let down. I’d worked my tail off in school for 17 years with the vague promise of success...
Mar 8, 2013 | DM News Blog
1 out of every 5 teenagers leave school in Northern Ireland lacking basic literacy skills. – http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/audit-reveals-literacy-shortcomings-29078857.html A recent audit of schools in Northern Ireland...
Nov 9, 2012 | DM News Blog
Since 1983, more than 10 million Americans reached the 12th grade without having learned to read at a basic level. In the same period, more than 6 million Americans dropped out of high school altogether. – A Nation Still at Risk, U.S. Department of Education,...
Oct 31, 2012 | DM Case Studies, DM News Blog, Parent Reviews
Lyn can remember how when her son was at nursery, he was observed as being one of the most promising children in his class. Indeed, Andrew was progressing incredibly well in all areas and staff often commented on how bright he was. Then, he went to school…. From age 5...
Oct 5, 2012 | DM News Blog
Students who test well in the traditional realms of verbal and mathematical abilities are able to show how bright they are. But what about intelligent children who don’t test well in these traditionally tested areas; like dyslexics and strong visual learners who...
Sep 15, 2012 | DM News Blog
One of the many ways one can be a “better” person is to be kind and thoughtful of others. Few people would disagree with the suggestion that empathy is a good thing. Here is an interesting study suggesting that music improves your empathy:...
Jun 29, 2012 | DM News Blog
“The way I write, the way I see the world, is part and parcel of my dyslexia…” These are the words of Benjamin Zephaniah, who alongside being a hugely successful novelist and playwright, is one of Britain’s most celebrated poets. Try as you might you will struggle to...
Nov 26, 2009 | DM News Blog
Iansyst, a Cambridge-based company specialising in assistive technologies for conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia, is currently running the 2009 iansyst Dyslexia-Friendly Best Practice Award, a competition aimed at recognising and celebrating best...
Jul 10, 2009 | DM News Blog
Sir Jim Rose has reported his findings on dyslexia. What he says makes great sense. He makes 19 recommendations, but his two main points are first that dyslexia is related to reading difficulty and should not be expanded into other areas. Here is his definition:...
Mar 10, 2009 | DM News Blog
Here is an article about the vast sums of money being spent on adult literacy: Government pledges £1billion It makes Easyread look pretty good value! The results achieved by adult literacy programmes are usually pitiful. They are almost always based on a weekly or...
Nov 26, 2008 | DM News Blog
Day by day one begins to see more Real Books and Whole Language articles.  Here is another: Phonics or Whole Language Debate As phonics fails to deliver the target of full literacy again, one can feel the pendulum beginning to creak into motion. The truth is that...
Nov 25, 2008 | DM News Blog
We are indeed very pleased with Paul’s progress, (as are his tutors), we have seen a real leap in his skills and confidence. However, Paul is educated outside of the school system ,as we were frankly dismayed at what was on offer in our area for those who did...
Oct 23, 2008 | DM News Blog
Here is another article describing the decline in literacy standards in Australia, despite the budget being tripled over recent years: Literacy Skills Shock for New South Wales Public Schools More evidence that just throwing money at this issue is not the answer....
Oct 3, 2008 | DM News Blog
Here is an interesting post about the influence of genes on dyslexia: Faulty Gene “is the link to dyslexia” Of course, I think this view of the world misses the point really. We know that our genes have a big influence on these things.  So to find an...
