Barry Sheerman is President of AchieveAbility
Barry Sheerman MP for Huddersfield
Is the Champion for AchieveAbility. He has extensive experience in educational issues and has played a key role in education policy and debates. He is an energetic social and political entrepreneur having initiated over 30 different social enterprises over 20 years.. He is currently actively involved in Policy Connect, the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety, Urban Mines and the John Clare Education and Environment Trust.
AchieveAbility greatly appreciates that Barry Sheerman has agreed to support the work of the Network.
Katherine Hewlett- The Way Forward
AchieveAbility: Links into Languages talk. 16 /2/11 at the University of Westminster
It is a great pleasure to be back here again with colleagues from and linked to the University of Westminster . It is a particular pleasure to celebrate the achieveability work for Links into languages as a network of experts committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Work is drawn from teaching strategies for those people who might have a specific learning difference.
The range of projects that the Links into Languages have developed and delivered are particularly beneficial to learners in schools and colleges and it is a privilege for AchieveAbility to be part of this work. These projects show just how inclusive Links into languages is for learners of all abilities.
The AchieveAbility project with Links into languages was conceived by Debra Kelly in conversation with colleagues following her key note talk at the House of Commons in 2009. At that time Debra recognised that languages can be a very difficult area of learning for many Specific learning difference students. It is this lateral thinking of language colleagues that AchieveAbility is so pleased to be part of.
From research we now know that Dyslexic learners find it hard to process information and they have to have meaning to ensure depth of learning. To understand the context of the learning that has happened.Tilly Mortimer in her book ‘Dyslexia and learning style’ notes how there is now a growing awareness of language difficulties within mainstream education. For Dyslexics there can be difficulty with receptive language - the processing of incoming verbal information. It makes following instructions and processes hard. Understanding and remembering the spoken word becomes a problem. In turn causing potential alienation in the classroom . A hugely frustrating place for a child.
The proposed range of teaching strategies devised by David Crabtree with teachers will be hugely helpful to these learners with the use of a multi sensory approach that will utilise the main tools of communication for receptive, expressive and non verbal communication ways of learning.I know that there will be a range of resources for teachers to use in schools that will be both innovative and flexible in meeting the needs of these learners . Afterall- We are all a package of learning styles that changes and develops over our life long learning journey. This approach will greatly support this learning journey.
To give an example of a project AchieveAbility undertook. This was a research pilot with the Quinton Kynaston School a partner school with the University of Westminster. The research questions were:
Does increasing student understanding of their way of learning increase confidence?
Does understanding of their skills in relation to their learning have an effect on their overall abilities?
A series of workshops happened with students and this was supported by staff sessions. From learner feedback we found that their ability to understand their own way of learning increased by 69% (from 14% to 83%) and this reflected on their attainment levels.
Following the pilot there was the creation of a virtual and actual hub of resources, advice for teachers and learners about learning styles, study skills . With practice rolled out to other Extended Schools.
The main purpose was to develop learners who are active, independent critical thinkers . In short to enable contextual learning by helping the learner to develop their own personal learning language.
Over the years since 2004 AchieveAbility has delivered a wide range of projects to support this underpinning premise. AchieveAbilty came from a National AimHigher project hosted at the University of Westminster and as from 2006 the Network developed many projects such as:
• The SpLD London Ambassador outreach programme with AimHigher London
East Thames Gateway.
• The National Teaching Fellowship programme InCurriculum to look at different ways to assess learning.
• FE/HE staff workshops to investigate differentiated learning
• We Worked with Youth Offending units, Pupil Referral Units and Look After children by using the practice drawn from our work with SpLD learners.
Infact there is a very high % of SpLDs in these groups of young people. Often emotional behavioural issues are due to frustrations with learning leading to entry to Prison or a PRU.
Over the years we have reached over 5000 learners and what are we doing now!
Since 2010. AchieveAbility has signed an agreement with the Arts Dyslexia Trust to:
• To plan, research and deliver inclusive education and training within the London and wider community in partnership with other like minded organisations
• To provide opportunities for workplace learning and to develop skills for successful employment.
• To capacity build on learning and teaching strategies for students with specific learning differences
Our partnership agreement was signed by Barry Sheerman MP President of AA, Dr Beverley Steffert Chair of ADT and Dr Ross Cooper Chair of AAN. Susan Parkinson CEO ADT.
Through the steer of Barry Sheerman our President . AchieveAbility is now a not for profit social enterprise organisation with an underpinning remit to make a difference through engagement for change. These are exciting days ahead and I would like to thank the University of Westminster for kindly agreeing to be the host institution when we were an AimHigher National Project as from 2004 to 2010. In these times of austerity there is now even more opportunity to make a positive difference for those people who are learning different.
The challenge now is to raise funds to ensure this will happen. For instance we have just submitted a proposal to the Cultural Olympiad to deliver visual learning workshops to some of the most disadvantaged learners in the East End of London. The AAN is busy developing staff training sessions and setting up learner workshops
We are now set to work with Networks such as the National Association for Disability Practitioners, DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro Diversity Association) and existing life long learning networks.
It is really is a great pleasure to be here today to be part of the Links into Languages event where it is recognised that the learner really is at the centre, or heart, of all that we do in teaching. I would now like to hand over to David Crabtree, educational consultant, who will talk about the London Links into languages AchieveAbility project.
Katherine Hewlett, Director. 16 February 2011
Is the Champion for AchieveAbility. He has extensive experience in educational issues and has played a key role in education policy and debates. He is an energetic social and political entrepreneur having initiated over 30 different social enterprises over 20 years.. He is currently actively involved in Policy Connect, the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety, Urban Mines and the John Clare Education and Environment Trust.
AchieveAbility greatly appreciates that Barry Sheerman has agreed to support the work of the Network.
Katherine Hewlett- The Way Forward
AchieveAbility: Links into Languages talk. 16 /2/11 at the University of Westminster
It is a great pleasure to be back here again with colleagues from and linked to the University of Westminster . It is a particular pleasure to celebrate the achieveability work for Links into languages as a network of experts committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment. Work is drawn from teaching strategies for those people who might have a specific learning difference.
The range of projects that the Links into Languages have developed and delivered are particularly beneficial to learners in schools and colleges and it is a privilege for AchieveAbility to be part of this work. These projects show just how inclusive Links into languages is for learners of all abilities.
The AchieveAbility project with Links into languages was conceived by Debra Kelly in conversation with colleagues following her key note talk at the House of Commons in 2009. At that time Debra recognised that languages can be a very difficult area of learning for many Specific learning difference students. It is this lateral thinking of language colleagues that AchieveAbility is so pleased to be part of.
From research we now know that Dyslexic learners find it hard to process information and they have to have meaning to ensure depth of learning. To understand the context of the learning that has happened.Tilly Mortimer in her book ‘Dyslexia and learning style’ notes how there is now a growing awareness of language difficulties within mainstream education. For Dyslexics there can be difficulty with receptive language - the processing of incoming verbal information. It makes following instructions and processes hard. Understanding and remembering the spoken word becomes a problem. In turn causing potential alienation in the classroom . A hugely frustrating place for a child.
The proposed range of teaching strategies devised by David Crabtree with teachers will be hugely helpful to these learners with the use of a multi sensory approach that will utilise the main tools of communication for receptive, expressive and non verbal communication ways of learning.I know that there will be a range of resources for teachers to use in schools that will be both innovative and flexible in meeting the needs of these learners . Afterall- We are all a package of learning styles that changes and develops over our life long learning journey. This approach will greatly support this learning journey.
To give an example of a project AchieveAbility undertook. This was a research pilot with the Quinton Kynaston School a partner school with the University of Westminster. The research questions were:
Does increasing student understanding of their way of learning increase confidence?
Does understanding of their skills in relation to their learning have an effect on their overall abilities?
A series of workshops happened with students and this was supported by staff sessions. From learner feedback we found that their ability to understand their own way of learning increased by 69% (from 14% to 83%) and this reflected on their attainment levels.
Following the pilot there was the creation of a virtual and actual hub of resources, advice for teachers and learners about learning styles, study skills . With practice rolled out to other Extended Schools.
The main purpose was to develop learners who are active, independent critical thinkers . In short to enable contextual learning by helping the learner to develop their own personal learning language.
Over the years since 2004 AchieveAbility has delivered a wide range of projects to support this underpinning premise. AchieveAbilty came from a National AimHigher project hosted at the University of Westminster and as from 2006 the Network developed many projects such as:
• The SpLD London Ambassador outreach programme with AimHigher London
East Thames Gateway.
• The National Teaching Fellowship programme InCurriculum to look at different ways to assess learning.
• FE/HE staff workshops to investigate differentiated learning
• We Worked with Youth Offending units, Pupil Referral Units and Look After children by using the practice drawn from our work with SpLD learners.
Infact there is a very high % of SpLDs in these groups of young people. Often emotional behavioural issues are due to frustrations with learning leading to entry to Prison or a PRU.
Over the years we have reached over 5000 learners and what are we doing now!
Since 2010. AchieveAbility has signed an agreement with the Arts Dyslexia Trust to:
• To plan, research and deliver inclusive education and training within the London and wider community in partnership with other like minded organisations
• To provide opportunities for workplace learning and to develop skills for successful employment.
• To capacity build on learning and teaching strategies for students with specific learning differences
Our partnership agreement was signed by Barry Sheerman MP President of AA, Dr Beverley Steffert Chair of ADT and Dr Ross Cooper Chair of AAN. Susan Parkinson CEO ADT.
Through the steer of Barry Sheerman our President . AchieveAbility is now a not for profit social enterprise organisation with an underpinning remit to make a difference through engagement for change. These are exciting days ahead and I would like to thank the University of Westminster for kindly agreeing to be the host institution when we were an AimHigher National Project as from 2004 to 2010. In these times of austerity there is now even more opportunity to make a positive difference for those people who are learning different.
The challenge now is to raise funds to ensure this will happen. For instance we have just submitted a proposal to the Cultural Olympiad to deliver visual learning workshops to some of the most disadvantaged learners in the East End of London. The AAN is busy developing staff training sessions and setting up learner workshops
We are now set to work with Networks such as the National Association for Disability Practitioners, DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro Diversity Association) and existing life long learning networks.
It is really is a great pleasure to be here today to be part of the Links into Languages event where it is recognised that the learner really is at the centre, or heart, of all that we do in teaching. I would now like to hand over to David Crabtree, educational consultant, who will talk about the London Links into languages AchieveAbility project.
Katherine Hewlett, Director. 16 February 2011
Barry Sheerman MP hosts the 2009 AchieveAbility reception at the House of Commons
The Reception profiled the work with the West London Life Long Learning Network on Inclusive Learning.
The Reception profiled the work with the West London Life Long Learning Network on Inclusive Learning.