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, diagnostic assessment, counselling, 1-2-1 tailored tuition and literacy therapy. It provides specialist teaching that is not currently available in schools. Although an independent organisation it likes to work with other educational services to insure good continuity of learning skills. We continue to fulfil our aims of providing a service that supports a dyslexic to reach their potential in a world that is continually changing by continuing to improve our skills through regular training.

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.
For a diagnostic assessment you should allow 2-3 hrs. We provide you with a report that is sent on to you in the post.

We look at the student's abilities in the following areas:-

• Visual
• Auditory
• Sequencing
• Short term memory
• Reading age and comprehension
• Spelling age
• Writing

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.

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.

We aim to improve a student's confidence and self-esteem.

Lessons are available from Monday to Friday during and after school. We follow the local school holidays.

We run summer schools during August.

We run insightful workshops for businesses and organisations interested in developing an understanding of dyslexia.

The groups are kept to a maximum of 12 participants. This way we are able to take you through a process where you gain a perceptive of living with dyslexia.

The areas that we cover are as follows:-

• What is Dyslexia?
• Living with Dyslexia
• How do I know if I am Dyslexic?
• Supporting a Dyslexic Person

Each workshop is tailored to your professional requirements; therefore a minimum of one month’s notice is required when booking.

The Centre has three qualified tutors.

Helen Deeley, who is dyslexic herself, started the centre after training with Starcross Educational Research who offered dyslexia training to use with both adults and children. She had trained with the London Montessori centre for pre-school and nursery teaching. She worked as a Montessori teacher in Clapham London. She worked as a nursery schoolteacher in Thorpe-le-Soken. She trained with Read America's Phono Graphix system, used for specialising with children and adults with reading and spelling problems. She has undertaken training in Rogerian counselling skills with Essex Adult Education and has completed an Intuitive Colour Counselling skill course with Julia Kubler-The Association of Natural Medicine. She works with all age groups on a 1-2-1 basis and carries out all assessments.

Sue Gardner, who also carries out assessments at the centre, started the Thorpe Dyslexia Centre with Helen, has taught both adults and children who are dyslexic. For 25yrs she worked for the Local Education Authority as a Special Educational Needs Teacher and subsequently as a Co-ordinator. She also trained with Local Education Authority as a counsellor for adults with learning difficulties. She spent many years researching the various teaching methods used to help dyslexic students and has written her own work 'Step by Step' manual for parents and teachers working with dyslexic children and adults.

Mr Timothy Chante works for Essex County Council as an adult education learning support and literacy tutor. He trained in journalism and has studied English in the UK and California. He has also taught English as a foreign language, been active in Home Education, and qualified as a Phono Graphix Reading Therapist in July 2003. He is also qualified in Rogerian counselling. He joined the staff of Thorpe Dyslexia Centre in September 2003.