Real Story with Fiona Bruce: The Teacher Squad airs on BBC1, Wednesday 13th December 2006 at 7pm.

Kate Griggs, founder of Xtraordinary People and mother of a dyslexic
child,
is available for interview.

Xtraordinary People went into Walworth at the request of the Southwark
Local Education Authority to find out why so many of the children were
failing and to help the school to offer more effective provision.

According to research carried out by the BBC during the making of the
programme, 60% of teachers believe that if a child fails SAT's at 11
they will continue to fail academically.

Xtraordinary People believes that there is a direct link between
children
who are failing - and the British education system's lack of recognition
and support for children with dyslexia and other Specific Learning
Difficulties.

Teachers were given four days training to gain a better understanding of
dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) and to see how
by
adapting their teaching, they could better help the children in their
school. Specialist teaching for pupils was provided for two terms. The
maximum support was 35 hours, with some children receiving as few as
nine hours before testing.

The project involved all children in Year 7, (11yrs)

* 45% had a reading age below 9
* 66% had achieved unacceptable SAT levels; 3 out of 5 of these had
Specific Learning Difficulties including dyslexia.
* 2 out of 5 children were considered children with SpLD.
* Many had been labelled as having behavioural problems; several had
been
excluded.

In addition, 26 children with SpLD were supported with literacy, as well
as
maths and skills in organisation, planning and concentration. As the BBC
documentary shows, all the children made dramatic progress. Five
teachers
have also been trained to carry on the specialist teaching throughout
the
school beyond the end of the project.

That sounds interesting - thanks for pointing it out, DQ.

THANKS FOR THAT INFO ooops caps lock

Shall have to tape that cos its school play time. Thanks for putting it in DQ. I would definately have missed it.