The
Unicorn School is a special co-educational day school for dyslexic
children aged between 6 and 12 years. The pupils all have specific
learning difficulties relating to written language skills.
The classes
are small, with approximately 8 pupils, and every child has half an
hour daily of individual tuition. Although the main emphasis is on
literacy and numeracy, most other aspects of the National Curriculum
are also appropriately differentiated to suit each individual dyslexic
child’s unique way of learning. The staff consists of a highly
dedicated team of specialists, who undergo regular inset training
in order to keep up with the latest theories and teaching methods
relating to specific learning difficulties.
In addition
to catering for the educational needs of the dyslexic child, the school
also aims to meet emotional and social needs by providing a friendly
environment with sympathetic teachers. Personal growth is encouraged
by promotion of a code of conduct, healthy lifestyle, self confidence
and determination.
Educational
needs are met in various ways at the Unicorn School. The primary
target is to enable the dyslexic child to attain the necessary skills
for handling symbolic language in order to make academic progress.
This is done by intensive specialist teaching of reading, mathematics,
writing, spelling and study skills, within an integrated teaching
and learning framework. The Phonographix teaching method is
widely used very successfully with children who have particular difficulty
in learning to read.
The National
Curriculum is appropriately differentiated for dyslexic children,
with emphasis on learning through activity, discussion and multi-sensory
techniques. Pupils are encouraged to use their own individual strengths,
such as pictorial memory and exceptional creativity, to compensate
for such individual weaknesses as poor sequential memory or poorly
developed reading and writing skills.
Every
effort is made to help each child to develop his or her own intellectual
potential by creating an atmosphere which is purposeful, disciplined
and constructive, with regular assessment of progress. As dyslexic
children are frequently gifted in creative, imaginative or sporting
ability, there is considerable emphasis on encouraging them to develop
these talents.
