| News Items |
Dyslexia News
Coloured paper can help with some of the difficulties of dyslexia . It is hard to believe that a problem that can impact on a person’s education, career and self-esteem, may be helped by something as simple as using different coloured paper and text . Did you know almost all school writing pads in the USA are yellow – why? Try it for yourself – even if you do not have dyslexia – you may find it easier to read on a yellow, blue, green or lilac background. This effect can be magnified many times for people who have dyslexia. |
CENTRA Education 1 has opened a new Dyslexia CENTRE 2 in Preston Docklands, where they combine these simple and practical techniques with personalised support and a computer-based learning system . Progress with the system is monitored and assessed and the sense of achievement, for a child or adult, when real progress is made is wonderful to see. Because of the way people learn with this system, benefits gained are permanent. Adults and children can book an affordable, individual assessment and one or two hours of support sessions each week. Teachers, lecturers and support staff in colleges and schools can join a free workshop in January / February, that will guide them towards some of these simple, practical ways of identifying and supporting their students, who have (or may have) dyslexia. (Telephone 01257 244990 for further details). CENTRA Dyslexia Centre Manager, Ros Hynes, is available for interview on 07726 332161
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Early Support News
CENTRA Early Support training moves from strength to strength. In the last few months our approved trainers have been engaged in training projects in support of the City of Hull and Blackburn with Darwen Children's'Services.
Success with our recent, approved 'Training the Early Support Trainers' programme has enabled us to offer both accredited and non-accredited training for 'Working in Partnership through Early Support', which adds to our portfolio of courses which currently include 'Introduction to Early Support', 'Using the Early Support Service Audit Tool' and from April we expect to be approved to offer 'Early Support Parent Training'.
Following the 'graduation' of our own approved trainers, CENTRA has been at the cutting edge by providing amongst the first 'Working in Partnership through Early Support' training in the country for Hull City Council. It is expected that 42 Early Support practitioners in Hull will be trained in this first series of events. Training involves 3 days and 3 half days of tutorials and work based assessment.
Delivery of Early Support training with Blackburn and Darwen Children's Services has led to CENTRA being invited to discuss development of training in preparation for 'Early Years Foundation Stage'.
STOP PRESS: CENTRA now has a new Early Support approved 'Parent Trainer', Angie Mullen. This will allow us to offer workshops for parents and carers in the very near future. In the meantime we are working on a debrief for our other potential Early Support Parent Trainers.
(Our new CENTRA WiP Trainers with their Trainers Joyce Humphreys and Andrea Vaughan)
National roadshow for ABC's Youth Work qualifications
ABC Awards is planning a series of Youth Work qualification events which will be held nationally throughout March and April 2007. These roadshows are aimed at extending support to centres currently offering Youth Work qualifications and to enable their future development. In addition, this event will bring together professionals in the field as well as those new centres interested in finding out more about the qualifications. It is a unique opportunity for organisations in this sector to meet a large number of delegates from related areas, gain the opportunity to see demonstrations of packages which will assist with assessment processes and to enter into discussions with the awarding body.
Venues
- 22 March 2007 Birmingham
- 29 March 2007 Taunton
- 17 April 2007 Wigan
- 19 April 2007 Tower Hamlets
abcawards
PUPILS VOICES MATTER
Pupils from seven schools in Sefton came together on 19 October 2006 for a day of speaking, listening and sharing ideas and thoughts. The event was planned and co-ordinated by The Partnership, an EiC Action Zone of which all seven schools are members, and facilitated by CENTRA, a local educational training charity.
Members of the School Councils of five primary schools and two secondary schools (one special and one mainstream) jointly attended the one-day conference. Delegates' ages ranged from 6 to 18 - there were just under 150 young people in total and several members of staff attended from each school.
The day began with a brief introductory session conducted by the lead trainer, Netta Cartwright, on the importance of School Councils and how they were recognised nationally as a vital part of the organisation of a school.
Pupils then broke into workshops - the first covered speaking/listening/co-counselling and the second dealt with anti-bullying strategies. At the same time, headteachers attended a workshop of their own which covered how best Councils can be used as a vital part of the organisation of a school.
When asked about what they learnt at the conference, the responses included:
- School Council is important. People need us.
- How to stop bullying
- I learnt that you should listen to others' comments and suggestions
- To help people and be more confident
- How to be a better school representative
- That it was not bad to say what you think
- How to deal with difficult situations
- Thank you for the day
DFES Choice Advisers
In partnership with A4e, CENTRA have been contracted to establish the DfES Choice Adviser Support Unit. The unit will assist Advisers give timely and informed support to parents, professionals and children in informed decision making in the business of school selection, nationwide.
Training for the over 50s
Focus at 50, (funded by European Social Fund and Co-Financed by the Learning and Skills Council, Lancashire) is a project that looks to engage the development of enterprise and support individuals alike. It has been developed to support those who are over 50 and are working within the retail, tourism and leisure industries within Blackpool, The Fylde, Preston, Chorley and South Ribble. It is a proven fact that living longer, fitter lives means that we need to make it easier for people to remain/engage in employment and therefore extend their working lives. This project aims to stimulate demand for investment in skills from employers and adopt a Skill Brokerage system to provide high quality responsive support in order to meet regional skills priorities within the Leisure, Tourism and Retail sectors.
Accreditation
Agreement has been reached through Edge Hill University, for teachers attending all CENTRA training events to be entitled to accreditation free of charge, under the Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) Accreditation Agreement, operating between CENTRA and Edge Hill.
New board members bring new skills and experience to CENTRA (7/06/2006)
CENTRA is pleased to announce that three new members have been voted on to the Board:-
- Craig England is Headteacher of Stanley Junior School in Blackpool, which was recently named as a particularly successful school in HM Chief Inspector's report.
- Felicity Greeves is Principal of Blackpool Sixth Form College. She has previously held roles as Vice Principal, Assistant Principal, Director of Quality Assurance and European Development Officer in FE Colleges.
- Bill Moorcroft is Principal of South Trafford College, the first college to get a perfect score under the new OfSTED inspection system.
CENTRA has been contracted by the Manor Partnership to deliver 'IT Support in Schools' to enhance IT provision in schools in the Education Action Zone for North Sefton.
