ABCD: Aberconwy Base for Children with Dyslexia

Aberconwy Base for Children with Dyslexia (ABCD), run by Conwy Local Authority, is based in Ysgol Aberconwy. The school carries full certification from CReSTeD, The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils, and is inspected every three years for its dyslexia friendly practice.

ABCD students are allocated a place in the resource through a decision made by the Local Authority at a Moderation meeting.

All sudents Study the National Curriculum Core and foundation subjects, but students who are linked with ABCD may be disapplied from a subject, dependent on their individual ALN needs. This enables them to attend specialist teaching sessions in the ABCD resource, with a teacher holding qualified dyslexia teacher status.

ABCD students can come from anywhere in Conwy County Borough, but are full time students at Ysgol Aberconwy. As well as the general dyslexia-friendly provision in school, ABCD students have the added benefit of the support provision given by ABCD staff, who are responsible for addressing the needs of the individual ABCD student.

Socialisation is an important factor in a student’s first few weeks in school, particularly if they have come from a school not within Ysgol Aberconwy’s catchment area, and so they remain in the same tutor groups for the duration of their time in school, and are encouraged to take part in many school activities.

ABCD students follow the regular timetable for their year group and they will receive in-class support where it is deemed necessary. In addition to support in lessons, teachers differentiate (adapt) work, according to individual needs, enabling students to access the whole curriculum fully.

I.T. Provision

The following equipment/support is available to ABCD students as necessary:

• Franklin Spellmasters
• Access to PCs and printers
• Specialist computer programmes
• Multisensory equipment
• In-class support from staff qualified with the British Dyslexia Association

Specialist teaching sessions in ABCD are delivered by a qualified Dyslexia specialist and may either be on a one-to-one basis or within a small group situation. This allocated time will be used in multisensory teaching, following phonics programmes and similar Dyslexia-based teaching methods, overlearning of particular subjects and general support with self-organisation.

It is expected, however, that ABCD students take full responsibility for their own work, effort and progress.

It is our policy at ABCD to work in close liaison with parents so as to provide the best possible support network for the individual child. Keeping in touch with parents and maintaining strong home/school links is part of Ysgol Aberconwy’s strong tradition of parental involvement.

TEACHER IN CHARGE
Mrs Helen Samuel, BEd (Hons), CFPS Dyslexia