Day: March 9, 2017

Dyslexia support funding to be doubled

Funding for a charity supporting children with dyslexia is being doubled, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced. Dyslexia Scotland will receive £200,000 funding in 2017/18 to support their work, which includes a helpline, dyslexia assessments and tutoring.

New tools to help teachers address the needs of pupils with dyslexia are also being developed.

The Addressing Dyslexia toolkit has been revised to make it more accessible and easier to use. The free online resource helps teachers support children with dyslexia and literacy issues.

Free online training courses are also being developed to help teachers identify dyslexia early and improve support for pupils as they learn and when preparing to leave school.

Mr Swinney announced the funding at the launch of the refreshed toolkit yesterday, where he met young  ambassadors for Dyslexia Scotland and the charity’s president, Sir Jackie Stewart.

Mr Swinney said: “It is vital that young people with dyslexia get the support they need so they can achieve their potential. Today I have met young people who show just how much can be achieved with the right identification and support. But we also know there is more to be done.

“That is why we are doubling the funding we provide to Dyslexia Scotland, to support their work in improving opportunities and supporting children and their families.

“To help children get the right start in life, teachers must be properly equipped to identify dyslexia early and provide the right support, which is why we have refreshed our Addressing Dyslexia toolkit, and created new online training tools.”

Sir Jackie Stewart (above) said: “I cannot emphasise how important it is for all teachers – and I mean all teachers – to use this free, comprehensive and informative Toolkit.

“For the sake of the 10-15% of children and young people with dyslexia in Scotland, my hope is that teachers, schools and local authorities actively promote this invaluable guidance and the accompanying online training. My sincere thanks go to the expert working group that has made this possible.

“My own experience at school scarred me for life due to the ignorance of my teacher – and we know that there are still too many young people not being identified and supported today. Therefore, I am delighted and very grateful that the Scottish Government has supported this initiative and that the Deputy First Minister has today announced that the funding to Dyslexia Scotland will be doubled next year.”

The Addressing Dyslexia toolkit was first launched in 2010.

The first of three online training modules – entitled ‘Introduction to dyslexia and inclusive practice’ – has been developed. It will be available on the Addressing Dyslexia, Open University and Dyslexia Scotland websites and through Education Scotland’s digital sites.

Redhall Walled Garden Easter Open Day

SATURDAY 15 APRIL 12 – 4pm

Redhall Walled Garden is holding a community Easter Open Day on Saturday 15th April (12-4pm).

To summarise what’s on offer :-

  • Easter Quiz & Trail
  • Egg & Spoon races
  • Plants for Sale
  • Historic Garden
  • Cream Teas

 

Redhall Walled Garden

97 Lanark Road, Edinburgh EH14 2LZ

0131 443 0946

 

The garden is open to the public Monday- Friday 9am – 4pm

To find out more about Redhall see our video (below)

or attend our Information day on the first Wednesday of every month – phone to book.

 

 

Turning up the heat on fuel poverty

A pilot will see 220 rural households offered targeted support to cut their energy bills – while an independent review of how fuel poverty is defined is to take place.

Communities, Social Security, and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance set out the developments as she responded to the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force.

Ms Constance said both the pilot and the review will inform the consultation on a new fuel poverty strategy and target – which will be published later this year.

Advisers from Home Energy Scotland (HES) will visit selected homes in rural areas to see what more can be done to reduce their fuel bills. The £300,000 12-month Homecare pilot will be evaluated before a decision is taken on rolling it out to households nationwide.

Meanwhile, an independent panel of four academic experts has been established to consider changes to how fuel poverty is defined. This follows the working group conclusions that the current definition may be impeding efforts to target those most in need.

Making the announcement during a visit in Edinburgh to the home of Donnah Anderson –the 100,000thproperty to benefit under the Home Energy Efficiency Programme since 2013 – Ms Constance said:

“We have made good progress and significant investment in tackling fuel poverty, supporting people who need help, like Donnah and her family. However, there are still far too many people struggling with unaffordable energy costs. That is why we’re developing a new long-term strategy to tackle fuel poverty and will introduce a Warm Homes Bill to set a new target.

“The HES pilot is about providing tailored support to people in the greatest need – helping them lower their fuel bills and hopefully move out of fuel poverty altogether.

“I’m also pleased to announce a review of the definition of fuel poverty, which will look at whether changes are needed to help us better target our efforts to eradicate fuel poverty in the forthcoming Warm Homes Bill.”

Donnah Anderson lives in Duddingston with her husband and two children. She received help under the Home Energy Efficiency Programme, including a gas connection, boiler installation and radiators in place of broken electric heaters and a faulty hot water tank.

She said: “I contacted Home Energy Scotland for advice about my heating but I had no idea that I would qualify for a new boiler and new radiators! I really can’t thank everyone enough for the lovely job that they have done. My son is thrilled to bits and I’m delighted the kids now have a bedroom that’s so warm.”