"worrying about excellent provision first" sounds good to me.  
Kind regards, 
PG
 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Petrie, Joel 
	Sent: Thu 08/07/2010 20:59 
	To: [log in to unmask] 
	Cc: 
	Subject: FW: Group Dyslexia Support
	
	

	The system is a mess & seems to mitigate against the best practice that is happening despite the SFE / DSA / AoN funding methodology.
	
	In the past few weeks my colleagues & I have delivered 1:1 sessions, 1:2 sessions, & group sessions (with students on the same course) in receipt of DSA when it seemed most pedogogically appropriate.  There won't be claims against the DSA / SFE except for the 1:1 as recommended by their AoNs.  It is my suspician that committed professionals around the country in HE are doing the same: worrying about excellent provision first, and considering how / if to claim after.
	
	It would be great if there could be some sort of collective professional response to all this.
	
	Regards, Joel
	
	Joel Petrie
	Advanced Lecturer: SpLD Curriculum Support
	Liverpool Community College
	Duke St
	82 Tradewinds Square
	Liverpool L1 5BG
	
	________________________________
	
	From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. on behalf of Bryan Jones
	Sent: Thu 08/07/2010 16:52
	To: [log in to unmask]
	Subject: Re: Group Dyslexia Support
	
	
	
	There may well be some advantages for some students and this issue has come up from time to time. However, although there may well be some merit in group sessions for some (it won't suit all by any means) the DSA is not available to fund group sessions.  You might well get a different answer from SFE these days as it seems they will agree to anything at the moment.  However, DSA is funding for the individual and is for individual support.  The current guidance (if SFE looked) is below.  And while one might very well these days get one over SFE and persuade them that the guidance doesn't really preclude group sessions, the sector needs to first reflect that if we all start doing it (nice little earner and all that) the annual bill for DSA could sky rocket which is not a good look when the Government is looking at 25% cuts across the board.
	
	The Guidance
	
	110.    Dyslexic students may be eligible for the following support from the DSAs subject to the nature of their learning difficulties and their needs assessment.
	
	Study skills tuition to help manage difficulties within higher education, language and numeracy through the more effective use of dyslexic thinking styles. Individual study support sessions may be required because generalised advice offered by a department may not take into account different learning skills. The Department has not set a ceiling on the number of hours of study skills support that may be provided through the DSAs. However, the aim of such support should be to impart generic skills which, together with any specialist equipment that has been provided, will allow the student to become an independent learner. Therefore, any study skills support recommended should be tailored to the student's individual needs, setting out clear goals and timescales for achieving those goals.
	
	
	Bryan Jones,
	Manager, Disability Support Services
	& North London Regional Access Centre,
	Middlesex University
	Tel: 020 8411 5366
	
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Simon Bloor
	Sent: 08 July 2010 15:47
	To: [log in to unmask]
	Subject: Re: Group Dyslexia Support
	
	Hi there - re Group Dyslexia Support...
	
	We tried this a few years ago...we were keen to offer an alternative type of support experience and ran it more as a "Drop-In".
	
	For the students who accessed the support it was very successful but the particular method of delivery we chose caused us some significant problems...not least the need to have study skills tutors on hand with no firm assurance that students would turn up. Also we had problems of students accessing "more" support than their entitlement allowed...causing us some invoicing difficulties.
	
	Another upside resulted from our choice to have the sessions delivered in a team-teaching fashion - so we always had 2 tutors available...this provided them with the rare opportunity to witness the support methodologies / approaches used by others and also provided an opportunity for resource development.
	
	The tutors involved reported a very high level of satisfaction as a result of this experience and if the DSA was a little more flexible I would like to continue to offer this option. However, the bottom line for us, was that such is the inflexibility of the DSA system when you try to use it in this way, that financially we couldn't make it break even.
	
	I too, would welcome the input of others on this!
	
	Regards
	
	Simon Bloor - Access SUMMIT
	
	
	
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lesley Black
	Sent: 08 July 2010 14:49
	To: [log in to unmask]
	Subject: Group Dyslexia Support
	
	Hi,
	We are looking at ways of managing the ever-increasing demand for dyslexia support and are thinking about a variety of options - one of which is to set up group support sessions. I wondered if anyone else had already done this, what difficulties (or positives!) you have encountered and also how you dealt with funding via DSA if you are providing group support.
	
	Happy to receive replies off list if people prefer.
	
	Many thanks,
	Lesley
	Dr. Lesley Jane Black
	Head of Disabilities and Learning Diversity
	University of Winchester
	
	E: [log in to unmask]
	T: 01962 827341
	
	
	
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