The Centre

Aims

Assessment

Tuition

Counselling

Tutors

Thorpe Dyslexia Centre has been providing help for children and adults experiencing specific learning difficulties in the form of dyslexia since 1999. The Centre offers advice, assessment, counselling, tuition and literacy therapy. It provides specialist teaching that is not currently available in schools.

Although an independent organisation it likes to work with schools and colleges to insure good continuity of learning skills.

The aims of the Centre are two-fold:-

• to encourage the student to achieve their best academic potential,
  gaining sufficient proficiency in the reading, spelling and expressive writing skills necessary to benefit from the school or college curriculum,
• to regain the confidence and self-esteem necessary to achieve
  their ambitions for adult life.

An initial meeting with both student and parent (if the student is of school age) is undertaken. Discussions as to both the student and parent's difficulties are discussed and an assessment of the student's abilities and the type of dyslexia experienced are made. An assessment of reading and spelling ability is calculated using the Aston Index. Further discussion ensues as to the way forward, which may include a suggestion that the student attends the Centre for tuition.

The type of tuition is chosen depending on the type of dyslexia experienced by the student. No one method is exclusively used but the main programmes are Alpha to Omega, Read America's Phono Graphix, Step by Step, and Montessori. A comprehensive selection of multi sensory equipment is available. Mrs Dooley is also trained to offer Brain Gym.

Students usually attend for one to two hours per week. For primary aged children and severely dyslexic students we encourage tuition during normal school hours, as dyslexic children must work twice as hard to achieve the same literacy level as non-dyslexic children in school, and maybe too tired after school. For Secondary school children and adults tuition may be offered after school or working hours. Periodic assessments may given to show students progress.

The study room used at the Centre is quiet, with a relaxing ambience where students work on a one to one basis with their allotted tutor, away from the stress of school and peer pressures. We do not teach in groups.

Some of the older students may have experienced extreme stress trying to cope with dyslexia, bullying or teasing at school. This often severely diminishes their self-esteem. Building their confidence is an intrinsic part of the Centre's practise. All the Tutors have attended courses in counselling.

The Centre has three qualified tutors.

Sue Gardner qualified as a teacher in 1959. In 1975 she undertook training with Essex Education Authority for Adult Literacy specialising in special needs. She undertook research into Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties in Cambridge. She has also undertook a course in counselling skills with Essex Health Authority, and in 1983 she became Tutor Co-ordinator of Special Needs for Clacton's Dorson House and Green Lodge. She is a founder member of the Thorpe Dyslexia Centre.

Helen Deeley trained with the Montessori Institute in 1983 and went on to worked as a Montessori teacher in Clapham, London. In 1993 she worked as a Nursery schoolteacher in Thorpe-le-Soken. She then trained with IDL and their computerised system for dyslexics, and went on to create the Thorpe Dyslexia Centre in 1999. Helen is also qualified in the Read America's Phono Graphix system, for specialising with children and adults with reading and spelling problems. She has undertaken training in various forms of counselling including person centred counselling with Essex Adult Education.

Tim Chante is experienced in Young Persons Advocacy, Home and School Liaison, and as an Adult Education Literacy tutor with Essex County Council. He has studied both in the UK and the US, and holds qualifications in Teaching, Literacy, and Journalism. He has taught English as a foreign language, both in the UK and Europe, and qualified as a Phono Graphix Reading Therapist in July 2003. He is also qualified in various forms of counselling. He joined the staff of Thorpe Dyslexia Centre in September 2003.