Widening Participation
Patoss is well regarded by Government departments and other agencies enabling us to become involved in the latest consultations on matters affecting individuals with SpLD. We report these to members via news updates so that you can keep abreast of potential changes.
Patoss works to strengthen the dyslexia-SpLD voice and community through a variety of means:
- Chairing the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee [SASC]
- Founding member of the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust [DST]
- Co-directing the DST Literacy & Dyslexia-SpLD Professional Development Framework project
- Working closely with the Joint Council for Qualifications
- Working closely with Student Finance England and its Disabled Students Stakeholder Group.
Through our activities, Patoss forges links with broader networks and allied organisations
- Three major SEN Trusts: The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust, The Communications Trust, The Autism Education Trust
- Achievement for All
- SEN Strategic Partnerships headed by the Council for Disabled Children
- NASEN
- Parent Partnership Networks
- British Dyslexia Association
- ADSHE
- many others.
Patoss is a founding member of the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust and strong supporter of the Trust.
The Literacy and Dyslexia/SpLD Professional Development Framework is a key resource developed by the Trust as an easy to use online tool that encompasses the levels of knowledge and skills required across the education workforce to support all learners with dyslexia/SpLD. http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/professionaldevelopmentframework/ Patoss has co-led on its development and dissemination. Literacy and Dyslexia/SpLD Professional Development Framework
The Trust signposts to other key resources for schools and parents developed through the Trust or provided by member organisations. The Trust has produced a 32 page brochure entitled 'Trust Offer to Schools and Pathfinders' available to view or download. The document includes information on all the Trust's freely available resources - a professional development framework, an on-line searchable database of effective interventions, a suite of case studies and models of good practice and a support network to empower parents and carers.
The Trust was established to bring together and provide a combined voice amongst the organisations working to improve outcomes for individuals with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties. It provides reliable, unbiased information to parents, teachers, schools, local and national government and acts as an important communication channel between government and the community and voluntary sector. Currently chaired by Sir Jim Rose, member organisations include: Patoss, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, Springboard for Children and Xtraordinary People.
www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk
This steering committee is a standard-setting group concerned with the diagnostic assessment of specific learning difficulties in an educational setting. SASC serves to
- provide guidance on training, implementation of standards
- oversee and approve processes of awarding SpLD Assessment Practising Certificates.
and through its sub-committee, the SpLD Test Evaluation Committee [STEC]
- evaluate test tools
- review the approved/recommended tests of the SpLD Working Group 2005/DfES
- provide a forum for sharing good practice from a range of interested bodies.
www.sasc.org.uk
The Train the Trainer: Teaching for Neurodiversity project was funded by the Department for Education to provide training and quality assured information about dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties [SpLDs] for teachers and support staff, and for dyslexic individuals and their families. It was held across England and through webinars from September 2016 through March 2017 .
It was led by the British Dyslexia Association in partnership with Patoss, the Dyspraxia Foundation, Dyslexia Action, Helen Arkell, and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Patoss was a major contributing partner in this DfE funded training .
These training sessions are now available as webinars and all the resources mentioned in the webinars can be downloaded following this link. All resources and videos are free to access.
SpLD Resources Charity
Many of you will be aware of the SpLD Resources Charity originally founded by Gillian and Tony Hawley in 2002. The Charity was formed:
To promote the relief of young people and adults with Specific Learning Difficulties by producing and printing a resources booklet to provide information and advice to parents, carers, and professionals working with and caring for such young people and adults.
At the time of their retirement Gillian and Tony approached Patoss with the idea of handing over responsibility for the work of the Charity. Patoss was very pleased to be able to agree to this and to continue the production of the resources booklet. Four members of the Patoss Board of Directors have been appointed as Trustees for the Charity, but the two organisations remain separate administratively and financially.
The SpLD Resources Booklet has now been completely updated. The Booklet contains a wealth of information to help and support parents, carers and other professionals.
Go to resources to download
Patoss can confirm that we;
- have undertaken and completed the Disability Confident self-assessment
- are taking all of the core actions to be a Disability Confident employer
- are offering at least one action to get the right people for our business and at least one action to keep and develop our people.
In continuing our Disability Confident journey, we are ensuring that disabled people and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.
To view our Diability confident Employer certificate