Is the Certificate Course suitable for me?

The course is suitable for:

• teachers;
• parents with a dyslexic child in school;
• special needs teachers;
• parents home-schooling a dyslexic child;
• private tutors;
• classroom assistants; and
• other specialist educational workers.

What is the difference between the Certificate and the Parents' courses?

Teachers

As a mainstream teacher you may be aware of certain children who need a different approach or some kind of extra help, but you feel unsure of how to help them. You may feel that you do not have the special training to know how best to help them in their lessons with you. This course will give you the understanding and the skills that you need to allow these children to participate fully in your lessons, and to develop their natural enthusiasm for learning in your classroom.

Parent with a dyslexic child in school

If your child is experiencing difficulties with reading, spelling or math/s in school, the course will give you:

• an understanding of their difficulties with learning;
• the skills you need to assist them with their homework, spellings, and basic number work;
• methods to overcome the particular blocks to learning that a dyslexic child experiences;
• a greater awareness of their visual and auditory difficulties;
• the ability to help them see their difficulties in the context of their other strengths;
• the knowledge and understanding you need when you approach the school to see that everything possible is done to assist your child's learning.

Resource/Special Needs teachers

As a teacher of children with some kind of learning difficulties in your school, you may feel that the training you have received is not up to date. You are in contact with dyslexic children (possibly undiagnosed) every day, and you want to learn more about exactly how their learning needs can be addressed. The Dyslexia Certificate course will give you the current understanding of dyslexia, and the teaching methods that can bring about a turning point in a dyslexic child's learning.

There are no 'quick fixes', but you will learn how to help a child break through the particular learning barriers that dyslexia causes, especially with reading, spelling, comprehension and math/s. It is often the case that, having made a breakthrough in these confusing areas, dyslexic children are able to move on and work within the broad average achievement level for their age-group, though with continuing support.

The course will give you the knowledge and practical teaching skills from which you will be able to advise other teachers in your school about how to assist and support the dyslexic pupils in their classes. It will also allow you to advise parents on how to approach their child's homework and self-confidence.

Parents home-schooling a dyslexic child

A common reason for home-schooling or home educating a child is because the child is experiencing failure in school. Parents feel that the school does not respond to the learning style of their child, and parents are upset and angry that the school cannot do more. Sometimes the child is also being bullied because of their difficulties with learning.

However, having decided to home-school, parents can feel that, whilst they are enthusiastic to help their child as much as possible, they lack the special skills required. Whilst the Dyslexia Certificate course is not a general teaching course, it will train parents in the crucial skills they need. With these skills, a home-schooling parent will be able to help a dyslexic child (or a child experiencing similar difficulties) to overcome the learning barriers associated with their learning difficulty.

Private tutors

As a private tutor, you are probably already teaching dyslexic children or teenagers - though they may be undiagnosed. You may find that suitable teacher training courses are not available locally. The distance learning Dyslexia Certificate course will allow you to recognize dyslexia in a child and to broaden your range of multi-sensory teaching skills. It will also give you greater confidence and knowledge of dyslexia when dealing with a child's school, and will allow you to advise parents on how to approach their child's homework and self-confidence.

Classroom and learning support assistants

As a classroom or learning support assistant, you may feel that, whilst you are ready and willing a pupil with learning difficulties, you are not have the necessary training to assist a dyslexic child or teenager. The Dyslexia Certificate course will equip you with the practical skills you need.

Other specialist educational workers

There are other specialists who work with children in an educational context - speech therapists, opticians, counselors, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and many more. You may feel that a lot of children are being referred to you, but you do not fully understand their learning difficulties. The Dyslexia Certificate course will provide you with the knowledge of dyslexia that will compliment your own specialist area.

Feedback about the course from students