Page 16 - link magazine

16 swindonlink.com • December 2009
Autism unit to open at Greendown

A proposal to have a special autism unit at Greendown school has been
through a parental consultation, and goes before Swindon Council’s
cabinet in December for fi nal approval.
Extended School Services are here in your local community to offer you and your family
a variety of services, activities and opportunities either as individuals or as a family. The 15 place ASD (Autistic Spec- in mainstream classes. Each pupil
So whether you are looking for new social outlets, childcare, information on paying for trum Disorder) centre will enable will have signifi cant individual
childcare, clubs and activities, holiday activities for your children, adult courses, pupils who are capable of following support.
retraining or opportunities to return to work .... a mainstream curriculum to attend Greendown headteacher Clive
. . . it’s all just one click away . . . take a look today at what’s coming your way!” a local school. Without it they might Zimmerman said, “governors have
www.novahreodisambardess.org.uk be forced to be educated separately, gained a clear undertaking from the
For further information contact Sandra Collis or Lisa Parkinson through both their autism and a lack council that both the construction
on 01793 608199 of provision in Swindon. and running costs of the new facility
Around three extra places each will be from additional funds, so
Apply NOW for adult workshops year will be created - specifi cally there will be no detrimental effect
in Healthy Cooking on a Budget, for pupils who have been diag- on the school budget.
Local History, Floristry and nosed with mild autism or related “The reaction of parents at the
. . Every child matters Complementary Therapy conditions - in addition to the 230 parents’ forum was very positive
Year 7 places. - there’s a lot of empathy with the
There will be a new block of two parents of pupils with aspects of
classrooms and other facilities, ASD; people seem to be in full agree-
though a fl exible approach will ment that they should be given the
mean some are taught largely in the chance to be educated with their
specialist unit while others may be friends in a mainstream school.”
English, Mathematics and Science
For age 7 upwards Dyslexia is a gift says author
Personal workplans Well known children’s author and illustrator Sally Gardner visited
Fully qualifi ed teachers Red Oaks Primary School in November to celebrate achieving the
Preparation for SATS & GCSE exams Dyslexia Friendly Schools Quality Mark.
Free assessment and fi rst lesson

NEW
Childcare
vouchers
accepted

The Blackthorn School of Photography
Evening, day and weekend courses in our Red Oaks children holding the Dyslexia Friendly School certifi cate presented
specialist teaching centre near Cricklade by Sally Gardner, with learning advisor Ian Abbott, and Clare Owens
Sally told an assembly that she dren’s learning differences and en-
was called word blind at school - sure we teach the way our children
before dyslexia was recognised - and learn. It is a team effort involving our
was put in a school for maladjusted children, parents, teachers, teaching
children because no other would assistants and governors.”
take her. “I started reading when After the assembly Sally toured
I was fourteen and there was no the school to see how classroom
stopping me,” she said. “My mother displays are designed to make it
A course voucher makes a great Christmas present told me if I passed fi ve GCSEs that easier for children to understand
I could go to art college and then I information and talked with chil-
Evening, day and weekend courses: went on to university. My message is dren about how they have learnt
if you work hard you will overcome different methods to read.
• Digital photography and Photoshop diffi culties with the help of teachers. She autographed copies of her
“But I do think dyslexia has too book and drew illustrations for chil-
• Digital printing and colour management many negative meanings; we have dren throughout the lunch break.
• Portraiture and landscape to change this perception. For me Jayme Obloj said he enjoyed the
it’s good to be dyslexic, it’s a gift visit. “I struggle with writing a bit
Courses for beginner, intermediate and children have because it brings so I use highlighted lines to write
advanced photographers out different aspects of their per- on and go to groups for reading
sonalities.” and spelling to help me. I feel a lot
Learning inclusion manager more confi dent.”
New Year courses now booking Claire Owens said, “at Red Oaks Finlay Skelton is a keen Sally
www.photography-courses.com we believe being dyslexic is being Gardner reader. “I was really
someone amazing and Sally was excited when we heard she was
Tel: 07920 116492 or 01454 416937 an inspiring visitor who supported coming. I go to a group to practice
everything we try to do. We work sounds and it helps me read more
extremely hard to understand chil- of her books.”

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