The dyslexia-friendly Microsoft software, which includes ‘dictation’ and ‘read aloud’ technology, is helping our dyslexic and dyspraxic students, who range from Primary age through to Sixth Form, to overcome any barriers they may have to reading and writing, and, as a result, students are making faster progress.

Mr Nick Goodman, Frewen College Principal, said: “Some of our dyslexic and dyspraxic students find it a challenge to write longer pieces of text, and we are delighted that they now have the option to use the ‘dictation’ software in Word or Powerpoint which helps to overcome any problems of fine motor difficulties and poor spelling. From September, students will also be able to dictate into any text-based application such as web browsers.” Mr Goodman continued: “A number of our dyslexic students find reading difficult and our new ‘read-aloud’ software is making a real difference to them as it not only reads text out loud but simultaneously highlights each word and that improves decoding, fluency and comprehension. We are seeing great results.”

As part of the new Assistive Technology software, Frewen has also adopted cloud-based electronic storage. Mr Gregoire Godin, Vice Principal of Frewen said: “This means our students are now able to access their work anytime- anywhere, such as from home, giving pupils the benefit of being able to continue their work independently should they wish to. Crumpled and mislaid homework is becoming a thing of the past as students no longer need to remember to bring work back in! The dictation software can be downloaded and installed at home too, so students can also benefit when completing any homework.”

Head of English at Frewen, Neil Stanley, said: “We continue to use traditional methods, such as pens, alongside technology, and within a classroom you often find students using a variety of tools to record work. Students are able to choose the best method for them which will give the best results.”

See what the education supplement of The Wealden Times said here: http://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/60324166/education-