Projects
Wednesday 4th November 2009
First Year Projects
The DST is in its early stages, having been launched in March 2009 but some preliminary work is now taking place. The DST will provide exciting opportunities for a wide range of stakeholder groups to work
together. Over the first year the DST will pursue these projects:
1. Using Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) Materials to Identify & Augment Existing Good Practice
We want to encourage schools to identify ways to improve staff confidence in working with students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). In particular we want to encourage schools and SpLD specialists to use the IDP materials to enhance or develop staff and parental confidence. To achieve this we will collect and report case studies to evidence existing good practice to help inform the work of the Rose Expert Advisory Group (click to that web site or info section on our web site) and identify how centres are using IDP materials to best effect. Some excellent examples of good practice have already been collected via the No to Failure project and this DST project will link with and build on that database.
The aims of this project are:
- Schools will be encouraged to audit their existing practice and look at how they can use the IDP materials to augment their CPD.
- Independent SpLD specialists will be encouraged to develop training and support opportunities based on IDP materials to work with schools in the maintained sector.
- Independent sector schools will be encouraged to identify ways they might assist schools in the maintained sector to use the IDP materials to improve staff confidence in working with students with SpLD.
- This project will collect case studies documenting the range of approaches, and promote these approaches so they may be adopted by other schools.
- Share the good practice through this DST web site
2. DST Self-Assessment Tool
The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust is inviting those participating in IDP staff-development to complete a self assessment questionnaire. This questionnaire has been adapted from the National Strategies IDP self
assessment tool to help the Trust to evaluate the impact of this phase of the IDP.
The Inclusion Development Programme provides a self evaluation tool which will support participants in gathering base-line information on their skills and knowledge. This information, if gathered before and
after using the Programme, provides useful information for participants’ CPD portfolios. The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust has adapted these materials to develop an on-line questionnaire so that the Trust can
also assess the impact of this phase of the IDP and collect some further relevant information.
The DST Self-Assessment Tool, www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/questionnaire/, incorporates all of the IDP questions that focus on Dyslexia but has an additional section which asks for information about specialists. Like the National Strategies self evaluation tool, participants will be able to save copies of their responses to add to their CPD files. Whilst retaining some of the questions (Q 1-23) the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust on-line tool has added a further 10 questions designed to elicit information about the range and spread of specialism in schools. It will also provide the opportunity to collect centrally data from a
number of schools and local authorities to assess the impact of this phase of the IDP.
If you prefer to use the National Strategies IDP self assessment tool follow this link
3. Mapping the IDP to Existing Teaching Standards
The DST will map the Inclusion Development Programme Dyslexia/SpLD strand to existing teaching standards. This will help teaching staff identify how pursuing this CPD can aid them in meeting QTS and Core teaching standards.
NB. This mapping has been complete. The guide can be found on this website under Resources: www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/resource/8/idp-map-to-professional-standards
There is also a useful resource using this mapping alongside Notes for Effective IDP Staff Development to be found under IDP Resources
4. Trust Dissemination Events and Launch Activities
The Trust has held 4 dissemination events around the country to launch the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust and disseminate the full results of the No to Failure project. The No to Failure project produced some startling results in its interim report and the final report will be of great interest to anyone involved with children and young people with Dyslexia-SpLD. The venues for the launch and dissemination were London, Calderdale, Cornwall, and Manchester.
The 'No to Failure Final Report' is available in hard copy or DVD format from the project office. Please see under our articles section on the main menu for details or click on the link
www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/article/20/no-to-failure-final-report-is-published
Future Projects:
Dyslexia-SpLD Qualifications Framework
The DST supports the pyramid structure of SpLD qualifications put forward by the No to Failure project. This pyramid demonstrates, in general terms, what level of knowledge and qualifications are needed by teachers and teaching assistants in schools to be able to properly support Dyslexic-SpLD pupils. . Further development of a much more detailed Dyslexia-SpLD Qualifications Framework will be one of the first major projects of The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust. This Qualifications Framework will enable those working with Dyslexic-SpLD pupils to identify what they should know and how they can gain requisite knowledge and understanding through various CPD activities. As the trust progresses the DST will further expand this Dyslexia-SpLD qualifications framework.
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