Egerton Rothesay School in Hertfordshire provides a mainstream curriculum for children from 6 - 19 years who have Specific Educational Needs. These can range from dyslexia, dyspraxia, and speech and language needs, to an autistic spectrum condition.
Many of the students struggle to write by hand. Frustration at their limited output often hampers their progress and creates a significant barrier to their learning. Assistive technology such as headsets with in-built speech-to-text facilities, helps the students to express themselves on paper and work independently. This in turn increases their confidence and self-esteem.
Interactive whiteboards are another innovation which greatly assists the learning process. They enable students (many of whom are visual and kinaesthetic learners) to experience the benefits of more ‘hands-on’ learning. Triland is providing the funding for a number of headsets and for interactive whiteboards in three classrooms.
The teachers at the school are delighted with the provision of the additional IT equipment, and say that it will revolutionise the way they work. It will not only have a beneficial impact on the way the students learn, but will help them develop the skills they need to become independent learners and adults.
The children are now passing on the Act of Kindness by writing postcards to the elderly residents of a local care home.